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 who are ready to grow without the guesswork.

Pure Hair & Wellness

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.

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.
→ View available dates / Book your session
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.
→ Book a discovery call
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!

Blonde Poetry

Case Studies

Sissa Sorella - Retail & Ecommerce

Pure Hair & Wellness - Beauty

Balancing Book Keeper - Professional Services

Dress Code South Coast - ecommerce

I’ve been working with Rachel from The Design Cure on my current business for over 7 years. That’s a testament to her skill, professionalism and personality that she brings to the table each and every time I interact and work with Rachel. She has continued to bring new and exciting aspects to my marketing strategy, year after year. Rachel 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, I founded The Design Cure to provide brand, web and marketing strategy that’s thoughtful, effective and built with the realities of founders, creatives and small business in mind.

Good strategy and professional branding shouldn't be reserved for businesses with big teams and bigger budgets.

For more than 25 years I've worked across brand, marketing and design. As a small business owner and mum of 4, I know what it means to be running something with no room for things that don't actually work.

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.

→ Read More

I have worked with Rach for over a year now. I was lucky enough to work with her on clients and also work with her on my brand. She just gets it and advises and suggests recommendations in a subtle caring way. She does over and above with the value she offers and understands the business I am in so well. It is not just marketing and branding but also to have someone in your camp who understands your business and your goals. Rach will work with you to smash your goals but also keep you focused, and on brand so you are not going off on a tangent. Love working with The Design Cure, not too sure how I ever did this without Rach.

H, Owner Ecom HQ.
In a short time Rachel has been instrumental in restructuring our marketing within the constraints of a not for profit organisation to provide maximum benefit to the association. Rachel goes above and beyond to ensure work is completed on time to the highest standard. 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 associations values and missions. Her skills and experience as a marketer, combined with her commitment to ensuring everything she starts is finished on time and to the highest possible standard make her an invaluable team member who will drive any organisation forward.

Leah Moloney, Business Manager Strathnairn Arts Association.
“Rachel is an absolute pleasure to work with. She exudes a positive energy from beginning to end of any project. She is approachable, creative, communicates effectively and is incredibly supportive in her understanding of the client’s vision.”

Kate Dawson, Owner Sissa Sorella.
“Rachel has always been there to guide, support, teach, create and grow with me and my business. She is able to use her broad knowledge and depth of experience to determine and pre-empt the marketing needs of my business in all areas from website building, branding to marketing plans. Invaluable.”

- Renae Scott, Owner Nourish & Breathe.
During our meeting, Rachel quickly grasped the essence of my vision. Her attentiveness and empathy, coupled with her hard work, allowed us to create a website that truly represented Jana Ayurveda and Yoga. Rachel's work is marked by subtle, yet powerful, touches of efficiency and clarity that I found really delightful. I'm excited to continue working with Rachel for a long time to come. Thank you very much for your beautiful work.

Géraldine Saint Gilles, Owner Jana - Yoga & Ayurveda.
Working with Rachel on my branding for Hunters Doggy Day Care was effortless for me, she listened and understood my requirements instantly and came back with full brand guidelines, business card designs, and a website design ( built in Square ). I have worked with many designers but Rachel just listens and understands and made it super easy for me. She even put all my social templates in Canva so I can use and create them myself. Highly recommend The Design Cure. Rach just gets it and keeps it simple. Thank you Rach.

Karen, Owner Hunter's Doggy Day Care.
Working with Rachel @ TDC was a total pleasure. She was thoughtful, clear sighted and has an excellent sense of design. I could not be happier with the website she built, and now have Insta and Facebook accounts that work! Rachel took all ideas and suggestions seriously but was able to have a laugh along the way, which made the experience that much better. I would recommend TDC to anyone.

Susannah Begbie

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.