As the property sector flourishes, the need for an innovative, high-performing, quality design consultant grows. If you’re looking for the best design consultant in the UK property sector, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we will rank and review some of the top design consultancies in the country.
We’ll discuss why they are a tier-one design consultant for businesses and talk about some of their key offerings. So without further ado, let’s get started!
What is a design consultant?
A design consultant is a professional who provides any form of design services to clients. They can be employed by a design consultancy or work independently.
A design consultant usually has a degree in architecture, interior design, or engineering. They may also have post-graduate qualifications in these areas.
What do design consultants do?
A Design consultant can work on a range of projects, from small domestic renovations to large commercial developments, and are usually the creative types who help bring an idea or concept to life.
Their roles can include:
- Producing concept designs and sketches;
- Preparing planning applications and working drawings;
- Liaising with planning authorities and other professionals;
- Managing the project from start to finish.
7 Top Design consultants in 2022
CallisonRTKL
Overview
CallisonRTKL is a global architecture, planning, and design consultant and has evolved into a cultural agency to advance positive outcomes in communities. if you’re looking to make a positive impact on the world look no further than CallisonRTKL.
Notable projects
Blackpool Talbot Gateway master plan is a notable sustainable placemaking project by CallisonRTKL.
Chadstone Shopping Centre is another masterplan project, CallisonRTKL has been continuously maintaining and expanding.
Services
- Architecture
- Brand Building Change Management
- Planning and Urban Design
- Health Facility Planning,
- Historic Preservation
- Interior Architecture and much more.
Key Business Information
CallisonRTKL is a global design consultant in 7 regions (Australia, China, Latin America, the Middle East/Africa, North America, South Asia, UK/Europe) with over 1,500 employees in their 19 offices all around the world.
Our Take
CallisonRTKL offers a human-centric approach to design while focusing on the essentials of resilience, well-being, and technology and their influence on the built environment.
RPS Group
Overview
RPS Group is a leading global professional design consultant and service provider. RPS defines, designs, and manages projects that create shared value by solving problems that matter to a complex, urbanizing, and resource-scarce world.
Services
- Design and Development
- Advisory and Management Consulting
- Computer-aided design
- Training & Communications & Creative Services
- Exploration and Development
- Health, Safety, and Risk
- Plannings and Approvals
Key Business Information
Founded in 1970, in the UK, RPS Group is now a global design consultant operating in 125 countries across 6 continents. With over 5000 talented people working in 6 sectors and 12 services.
Our Take
RPG Group is committed to solving problems that matter not only to the property sector but the world. The wide reach of their services and sectors makes RPG a comprehensive design consultant where all professional services are available.
Foster + Partners
Overview
Foster + Partners is a world-leading design consultant for architecture, sustainability, urbanism, design, and engineering services. Foster + Partners is one of the largest architectural firms in the UK.
Notable projects
Bloomberg London, a 10-story office building is one of Foster + Partner’s notable projects. The Bloomberg holds the spot as the world’s most sustainable office building.
Services
- Architecture
- Environmental Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Sustainability
- Urban Design and Landscape
- Interior design consultant
- Applied Research & Development
- Modelmaking
- Project Management
- Construction Review
- Retrofit
Key Business Information
Foster + Partners is headquartered in London, with a team of 1,500 professionals and studios in 13 other cities (Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Dubai, Hong Kong, Madrid, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore, and Sydney).
Our Take
Foster + Partners has sustainability at the heart of all their designs. All projects are checked against global and firm standards. The global design consultant believes the best architecture comes from a synthesis of all the elements that separately comprise and inform the character of a building.
Barton Willmore
Overview
Barton Willmore is UK’s leading independent planning and design consultant. Barton Willmore combines its national influence with local knowledge to offer you the best architecture, planning, and design advice.
Notable projects
Vista, Chelsea Bridge is a notable project, where the external environment has been designed to suit the architecture.
Services
- Town Planning
- Master Planning & Urban Design
- Development Economics
- Architecture
- Landscape Planning
- Landscape Design
- Infrastructure & Environmental Planning
- Identification of heritage planning risks and opportunities
- Graphic Communication
- Communications & Engagement
Key Business Information
Barton Willmore has a network of 13 nationwide local offices spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales, with over 300 professionals spanning all sectors (residential, commercial, industrial, office, healthcare, etc) and numerous specialisms.
Our Take
Barton Willmore is passionate about creating places that are not only commercially viable but also sustainable, dynamic, and progressive. This multifaceted approach to planning and design makes this design consultant perfect for clients interested in placemaking.
HTA Design LLP
Overview
HTA Design LLP is a housing design consultancy focused on creating great places and delivering better housing where people choose to live. HTA Design is focused on applying an inter-disciplinary approach to the design of homes and residential neighborhoods to improve all forms of housing available.
Notable Projects
The Wiltern is a residential Build to Rent development designed by HTA Design LLP. The scheme features a 10-storey base building comprising 278 homes.
The Union Wharf’s modular design was undertaken by HTA Design LLP and it employed considerable expertise in executing this sustainable design.
Services
- Architecture
- Build to Rent & Co-Living
- Urban & Estate Regeneration
- Urban Living, Suburban Living
- Community-led design
- Public Realm, Parks and Play
- Master planning & Urbanism
- Planning Sustainable Futures
- Interior Design
- Landscape Design
Key Business Information
HTA Design has over 200 professionals working across 8 teams (architects, urbanists, planners, interior designers, sustainability specialists, graphic designers and researchers). This design consultant operates in four offices around the UK, supported by our Practice Team, who manage business areas such as Finance, Human Resources, IT, Marketing, and Premises.
Our Take
HTA Design sets out to create great places to live and to work. HTA Design is more focused on residential/community housing design and planning, clients with residential housing projects are better suited.
Johnson Naylor
Overview
Johnson Naylor is an interior architecture and design consultant based in Clerkenwell, London. The interior design consultant is known for its inventive, contextual and elegant design. This can be credited to the firm’s collaborative, rational and open approach to interior design.
Notable Projects
Johnson Naylor designed and delivered an interior scheme for a Chelsea Waterfront Penthouse Show Apartment. The design complements the existing interior architecture and the character of the Chelsea Waterfront.
Also, in Park & Sayer, Johnson Naylor delivered an interior scheme for the entrance lobby, residents’ amenities and common parts.
Top Services
- Interior design
- Furniture design
- Interior Architecture
Key Business Information
Johnson Naylor has a team of over 20 professional design staff, from a range of disciplines – Architects, Interior Designers, Furniture Designers and Graphic Designers.
Our Take
Johnson Naylor values the use of a rational and open mindset to decipher complicated projects, to create enduring interiors that respond to their unique context and surroundings.
DesignAgency
Overview
DesignAgency is an award-winning international design consultant that draws on over two decades of expertise in interior design, architectural and landscape planning, strategic branding, and visual communications.
Notable Projects
Among DesignAgency’s notable projects are UNCLE Wembley residential Build to Rent scheme and Verge Condos in Etobicoke.
Services
- Interior & Branding: architectural concepting, strategic branding
- Objects & Curiosities: custom objects ranging from wall screens, graphic walls, and art pieces, to collectibles, lighting, and furniture.
- Installations & Collaborations: unique installations developed in-house and with trusted collaborators.
Key Business Information
DesignAgency has studios in Toronto, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Barcelona. DesignAgency has worked in 37 cities across 16 countries these projects include residential developments, workplaces, hotels, and restaurants.
Our Take
DesignAgency’s strength is in collaboration and curiosities for unique interior design environments with a job alert focus.
Final thoughts
There are many design consultants in the UK property sector, but these seven offer something unique and valuable to their clients with their conscience job alert thinking.
Whether it is Barton Willmore’s focus on placemaking or HTA Design’s dedication to creating great places to live, these design consultancies have the experience across a plethora of industries to prove they can handle any design consultant jobs.
Our Top Picks for Your Design Consultant Jobs
- Best for Placemaking – Barton Willmore
- Best For forward-thinking development – Crtkl
- Best for the interior – Johnson Naylor
FAQ
Why use a property design consultant?
There are many reasons why businesses might choose to use the services of a design consultant. A property design consultant can help with master planning, developing design concepts, furnishing and styling interiors, branding and marketing, as well as advising on building regulations and construction. They can provide a wide range of specialist skills and knowledge to help make your project a success.
What do you think of our list?
We hope you have found this list of top design consultancies useful.
If you have any thoughts or comments, or if you would like to suggest a design consultancy that should be included that we should have a job alert for, please let us know.
Thank you for reading!
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