Short answer: Australia’s packaging design talent is heavily concentrated — 80% of studios are based in Melbourne or Sydney — and most are food and FMCG generalists. Pet, supplement and beauty packaging are the most thinly served specialisms.
To understand the shape of Australia’s packaging design industry, we analysed the 35 Australian-based studios in our directory — their location and the categories each one works in. It is a curated sample, not a census, but it is one of the few structured views of the local market. Here is what it shows.
Talent is concentrated in two cities
Of the 35 studios, 18 are based in Melbourne and 10 in Sydney — together 80% of the market. Only one has a home base in Adelaide, and 6 operate nationally without a single city base. We found no studios specifically based in Brisbane or Perth, though national studios serve brands in both.
Australian-based studios by home city (n=35). Source: PackagingDesigner.com.au directory, June 2026.
Most studios are food & FMCG generalists
The typical studio works across 3.1 categories, and the centre of gravity is grocery. 57% work in FMCG and 46% in food & beverage. Drinks is strong too. But the further you move from the supermarket aisle, the thinner the field gets.
Share of studios working in each category, studios can appear in several (n=35). Source: PackagingDesigner.com.au directory, June 2026.
The under-served categories
The data points to clear specialism gaps. Beauty (20%), pet (9%) and supplements (3%) are served by only a handful of studios each, despite being some of the fastest-growing consumer categories in Australia. For founders in these spaces, the practical implication is that category-experienced designers are scarce — so when you find one, it is worth more than a generalist with a bigger portfolio.
What this means if you’re briefing a designer
- You don’t need a local studio. With talent concentrated in two cities, most founders elsewhere already work remotely — choose on category fit, not postcode.
- In a niche category, prioritise experience over size. A small studio that has shipped packs in your aisle beats a large generalist.
- Compare two or three. The market is varied; briefing a short shortlist the same way is the fastest route to the right fit.
Methodology
Figures are drawn from the 35 Australian-based studios listed in the PackagingDesigner.com.au directory as at June 2026. Category tags reflect the sectors each studio publicly demonstrates in its work; studios commonly span several. This is a curated directory rather than a complete census of every packaging design studio in Australia, so treat the percentages as indicative of the visible professional market. We update these figures as the directory grows. To cite this data, link to this page.
General information to help you plan, not legal or professional advice. Always confirm current requirements with the relevant body or your designer before you print.