Branding + Strategy + Marketing + Websites
When your brand foundations are right, everything gets easier.
The Design Cure is a strategic brand and digital studio in Canberra, working with small business owners, artists and organisations around Australia.
Pure Hair & Wellness | Beautiful South Coast Client NSW | Brand Design, Web Design, Social Media Management
Why it always starts with your brand
Whether you're just starting out or you've been building for a while, the temptation is always the same. Do more. Post more, spend more, try more tactics you see on Instagram.
But more marketing isn't the answer when the foundations aren't there. What actually changes things is getting the brand right underneath everything else.
Clear positioning gives your marketing something real to say.
A considered website converts the right people.
Aligned messaging means every touchpoint works together.
That's exactly the work we do - taking what's in your head and your heart and translating it into something your people can find, understand and connect with. Built for clarity, alignment and the kind of thoughtful experience that works for the people engaging with your business - not just the algorithm.
How we work together
Good support should be available to every business at every stage. There's a way to work together wherever you are at right now.
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A focused hour of experienced, strategic input; without the commitment of a full project.
Clinic sessions are held once or twice a month with limited availability. They're designed for business owners who have a specific question, decision or piece of work they want to think through with someone who understands brand and marketing strategy.
This is also the way existing clients can access support outside of an active project; whether you've completed a foundation project, stepped off a retainer, or simply need a focused check-in as your business evolves.
They're not suited to ongoing delivery or larger bodies of work - if that's what you need, a custom project is likely the better fit.
A session might cover: brand positioning or messaging, website structure or UX feedback, Squarespace or Shopify direction, eCommerce setup, SEO basics, reviewing work before launch, design feedback, website updates, email setup or templates, or general marketing approach and next steps.
Sessions are one hour, booked and paid in advance. $250 + GST.
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Some businesses reach a point where adjusting things in pieces stops working. A new logo doesn't fix unclear positioning. A website refresh doesn't fix messaging that isn't landing. The work keeps happening but isn't having the impact you need because the foundations stay shaky.
Foundation projects are for businesses that are ready to step back and do it properly - brand positioning, messaging, website design and build, and the practical systems that support how your business actually operates day to day. Everything is approached as a connected whole, not a series of separate tasks.
The intention is to give you a foundation that is strategic, aligned and reliable - so you're building your brand on solid ground rather than constantly returning to fix things.
Depending on your business, this may include branding, a Squarespace or Shopify website, eCommerce setup and the structure behind how your marketing functions in practice (socials, content, email etc). Every project is scoped and priced individually - because no two businesses are starting from the same place or have the same resources.
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Sometimes you don't need a full project - you need focused time to learn, build and work on the parts of your business you've been putting off, or find too confusing.
Workshops are being developed for small business owners who want practical, structured sessions on the things that actually make a difference - brand foundations, mastering Canva, content strategy, website fixes and more.
Small group, hands-on and designed to leave you with something you can use straight away.
Sessions aren't open yet - join the waitlist to be the first to know when they do.
→ Join the waitlist, and leave a request if you have one!
Our Featured/Recent Work
Designed and launched from scratch. Fully booked within months. Social media management. MORE
DRESS CODE SOUTH COASTA new brand for an exciting new business and a considered digital presence built to compete in a crowded market. MORE
PURE HAIR & WELLNESSClear positioning and engaging messaging meant the right clients started finding them! MORE
SISSA SORELLAA brand and website that supported 7 years of continued growth and innovative business. MORE
BALANCING BOOK KEEPERRachel is not your “rah-rah” marketing consultant, she is calm and approachable, yet very engaging and you will genuinely feel like she cares about you and the success of your business.
Kate - Sissa Sorella
MEET THE FOUNDER
Hi, I'm Rachel! For 25+ years I've worked across brand, marketing and design. I founded The Design Cure to give small business owners, creatives and founders access to the kind of brand strategy and design that actually moves the needle without needing a big team or a corporate budget to get there.
I'm not here to tell you to do more. I'm here to help you figure out what's actually worth doing with your brand, and then build it properly with a strong foundation first.
Free resources - a couple of things worth having, on us.
100 ways to start captions, emails, website copy, and social posts so you never sit staring at a blank page again.
The kind of advice that makes you wonder why nobody said it sooner.
"She immediately understood the needs of our organisation and through excellent prioritising has delivered well beyond expectations. Rachel has re-engaged a disenchanted membership and community and has ensured our branding is consistent across all our platforms and reflects the association’s values and missions."
— Leah Moloney, Strathnairn Arts AssociationReady to put your brand foundations first?
The Design Cure operates on Ngunnawal country. We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as the traditional custodians of the land we work on and pay our respects to Ngunnawal elders past and present. We are committed to a positive future for the Aboriginal community.