About us

    Meld Studios is an award-winning design company with studios in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Perth.

    Our mission is to improve the everyday lives of people as they interact with the world around them.

    We believe that we can, and should, always make things better; and that small changes can have a big impact. As designers by heart and by trade, we believe that an inclusive, collaborative, iterative design approach is the best way to do this, and we advocate for it not only in the way we work but how we run our business.

    We believe design leads to better outcomes.

    Using a design approach is beneficial because it provides a structured way of bringing complex stakeholder groups together to tackle complex challenges in a collaborative, iterative, and low-risk way. See our award-winning case studies.

    We believe diversity of thought leads to better outcomes.

    We are very deliberate about bringing people from all walks of life into our projects and into our business. We believe that elevating the voices of people who are often underrepresented in society will improve everyday life for all. Read about our Advocacy Framework.

    We provide independent, evidence-based direction.

    We are independently owned and are not linked to any particular solution. Our recommendations are driven by what we learn to be best for your organisation, staff, customers and communities – not by our own agenda or expert opinion only. 

    We have strong proof points about the impact of our work.

    We have won multiple awards for the social, environmental, organisational and economic outcomes that we've helped organisations to achieve. See Public recognition of our work.

    We have a strong team. 

    Our people have formal qualifications and deep experience in design, psychology, sustainability, business, and technology; and are recognised globally as influencers of our industry. We have a strong reputation for delivering quality work in a pragmatic, humble way. 

    We are location agnostic.

    We enable hybrid ways of working. What does this mean for your project? We focus on outcomes first, then people (on your side and ours), then on how and where we work together to achieve those outcomes. We think strategically about the value created when working in person and virtually.

    We are Employee Owned by Trust (EOT)

    About Meld Studios

    Meld Studios was founded in 2009 by Janna DeVylder, Steve Baty and Iain Barker, when a desire to create studios of like-minded people brought them together.

    In 2021, after a year-long journey of influencing Australian legislation, Meld Studios became the first Australian company to become Employee Owned by Trust (EOT). 

    Being an EOT means that:

    • over time we transition shares from our three founders (owners) to the Meld EOT
    • all permanent employees are beneficiaries of this Trust
    • as a beneficiary, every Meldster has indirect ownership of Meld
    • every Meldster wears two hats: practitioner and business owner
    • every Meldster has a direct say in the direction of the company through established engagement structures
    • every Meldster gets the benefit of equal profit distribution due to our collective efforts.

    The value this brings to you is: we care deeply about the work we do and the outcomes we influence together. We think strategically, creatively and pragmatically about how to achieve your outcomes, because through you and your influence we also achieve our mission.

    Read more about our EOT journey.

    Our people

    Janna DeVylder

    Janna DeVylder

    Co-founder, Principal & DIRECTOR
    Steve Baty

    Steve Baty

    Co-founder, Principal & DIRECTOR
    Iain Barker

    Iain Barker

    Co-founder, Principal & DIRECTOR
    Alison Sharp

    Alison Sharp

    MANAGING DIRECTOR
    Karina Smith

    Karina Smith

    Principal
    Chris O’Brien

    Chris O’Brien

    Principal
    Jeremy Yuille

    Jeremy Yuille

    Principal
    Nova Franklin

    Nova Franklin

    Principal
    Paul Merrell

    Paul Merrell

    Principal
    Alexandra Almond
    Rebecca Hendry

    Rebecca Begbie

    Principal & DIRECTOR
    Nick Leigh

    Nick Leigh

    PRINCIPAL
    Cybelle_framed_780x780

    Cybelle Ledez

    PRINCIPAL
    Morgan Williams

    Morgan Williams

    PRINCIPAL
    Alex King

    Alex King

    PRINCIPAL
    Zoe Green

    Zoe Green

    PRINCIPAL & DIRECTOR
    13_Oli

    Oliver Dykes

    PRINCIPAL
    Jane Tyrrell

    Jane Tyrrell

    LEAD Designer
    Harold Kuan

    Harold Kuan

    PrINCIPAL

    Tanushri 4

    Tanushri Saha

    Senior Designer
    Anna Welford

    Anna Welford

    LEad Designer
    Rae Dyer

    Rae Dyer

    People and Culture lead
    Hannah James

    Hannah James

    DESIGNER