Short answer: Australia’s packaging design studios still cluster in Melbourne and Sydney, about half of them (50%), but Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Hobart now have genuine depth. Most studios are food and FMCG generalists, and pet, supplement and beauty packaging remain the most thinly served specialisms.
To understand the shape of Australia’s packaging design industry, we analysed the 67 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 still clusters in the south-east
Of the 67 studios, 19 are based in Melbourne and 15 in Sydney, together 34, about half the directory. But the regional picture is healthier than that headline suggests: Adelaide and Perth have five studios each, Brisbane and Hobart four each, Canberra three, with Newcastle, the Gold Coast and Darwin represented too, and four more operating nationally without a single base.
Australian-based studios by home city (n=67). Source: PackagingDesigner.com.au directory, July 2026.
Most studios are food & FMCG generalists
The typical studio works across 3.1 categories, and the centre of gravity is grocery. 46% work in FMCG and 50% in food & beverage, with drinks strong at 32%. 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=68). Source: PackagingDesigner.com.au directory, July 2026.
The under-served categories
The data points to clear specialism gaps. Beauty (15%), pet (4%) and supplements (1%) 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 have more local options than you might think. Beyond Melbourne and Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Hobart all have genuine packaging studios, worth a look if you value working with someone in your state.
- But you don’t need a local studio. Most packaging projects run 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. Brief a short shortlist the same way, it’s the fastest route to the right fit.
Methodology
Figures are drawn from the 67 Australian-based studios listed in the PackagingDesigner.com.au directory as at July 2026 (a 68th listed studio is international). 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.