KSDP spreads its wings with office in Australia

South Africa’s biggest design consultancy KSDP Pentagraph has opened an office in Sydney as part of its plan to be able to offer design capabilities to clients at all its offices worldwide.

KSDP Australia is headed up by Digby Beckley, formerly a director at the Johannesburg office and chief architect there for nine years, and has two other staff.

Group chief executive officer Joe Kieser wants to get the Sydney outfit up to 12-strong by the end of the first year. Most staff will be recruited locally.

“We believe there is a synergy between retail and environment design [between South Africa and Australia] and Sydney is the gateway to Australasia,” says Kieser.

KSDP Pentagraph has been working with Australian client TNT Worldwide on a corporate identity review, and is also pitching for a second local project.

No further offices are planned at the moment. “We will grow these offices into fully fledged design consultancies,” says Kieser.

Two senior design posts have been added to KSDP’s UK office in Maidenhead, and a Cape Town office was opened late last year.