Q Designers

What Q Designers does

Q Designers is a Prague-based multidisciplinary innovation and design studio founded in 2016 that helps Czech and Central European enterprises, foundations, government bodies, and startups design products, services, and programs with positive societal and environmental impact. The studio operates a structured five-step innovation process — Understand, Research, Prototype, UX/CX Test, Build — applied consistently across consulting engagements in service design, UX/CX, product design, business model innovation, and foundation program development. Its core service portfolio includes the Innovation Process, Foundation Program Development, Design Mentoring, Team Workshops, and the Innovation Academy for Teams.

The studio has built an extensive portfolio of flagship impact projects for institutional clients: Druhý život nábytku (a circular furniture buyback service for IKEA operating in Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary; 10,000+ users, 4,500+ furniture items rescued), Den pro školu (a volunteer-in-schools program for Nadace České spořitelny reaching 250+ volunteers and 80+ schools), Opora Diakonie (a nationwide caregiver support platform with a 3,800+ service database built for Diakonie ČCE), the Konfigurátor úsporných rekonstrukcí (energy renovation configurator built for ČSOB), and TOP Energy Effect (a banking investment loan product for Česká spořitelna). Additional ongoing projects address affordable housing, mental health at work with NUDZ, active aging, kitchen waste collection with the City of Prague, university student portals with Masaryk University, and 3D-printed eyewear with ONYX Vision. Q Designers also operates four wholly-owned sub-brands: Contiqua (sustainable wallets from rescued Italian leather offcuts), The Greenest Company (indoor environmental quality technology), Sto skupin (a social initiative establishing 100 children's groups across the Czech Republic), and Conscious & Craft (sustainable corporate gifting).

Q Designers monetizes primarily through project-based consulting engagements with durations ranging from several months to over a year, complemented by public workshops, corporate training programs, and e-commerce sales through Contiqua. The studio's customer base spans large Czech enterprises (IKEA, Česká spořitelna, ČSOB), government bodies (City of Prague, NUDZ), foundations and NGOs (Diakonie ČCE, Nadace Komerční banky), educational institutions (Masaryk University), and startups (ONYX Vision). The company is founder-led by CEO Jindřich Fialka, operates with 11-50 employees from its headquarters at Bělehradská 858/23 in Prague's Vinohrady district, and is registered as Q Designers s.r.o. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed and no external funding rounds have been announced.

Name

Q Designers

Legal name

Q Designers s.r.o.

Website

https://qdesigners.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Q Designers is a Prague-based innovation and design studio founded in 2016 that delivers consulting, impact projects, and sub-brands to Czech enterprises, banks, government bodies, and NGOs across sustainability, education, healthcare, and social impact domains.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Design & Innovation Consulting

NAICS

Industrial Design Services (541420)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Creative Concepting & Campaign Development (BPAFAEAD), Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD), UX, Design Thinking & Customer Research for PMs (EDABAHAK)

Keywords

• Innovation consulting
• Service design
• UX CX research
• Design thinking workshops
• Impact project design

Headquarters

HQ city

Prague

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Innovation & Design Consulting: Q Designers provides paid consulting engagements to corporations, banks, government bodies, and foundations. Projects span service design, product design, business model innovation, and UX/CX. Fees are project-based, typically ranging from several months to over a year per engagement.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Q Designers is a Prague-based innovation studio that designs and builds products, services, and impact programs for corporations, foundations, government bodies, and startups. It sells project-based consulting engagements covering service design, product design, UX/CX research, prototyping, and innovation program development, alongside corporate workshops, design mentoring, and impact-project platforms such as Den pro školu, Opora Diakonie, and the ČSOB energy renovation configurator. Fees are project-based, typically spanning several months to over a year, with additional revenue from spin-off brands (Contiqua, The Greenest Company, Conscious & Craft).

Product overview

Q Designers is an innovation studio offering a portfolio of consulting and design services organized around impact-driven themes: sustainable business, environment, people and technology, society, and education. Its core service offering spans the full innovation lifecycle — from problem definition through research, prototyping, UX/CX testing, and solution deployment — through services including the Innovation Process, Foundation Program Development, Design Mentoring, Team Workshops, and the Innovation Academy for Teams. The studio also operates multiple flagship impact projects built for institutional clients: Den pro školu (a national volunteer-in-schools program), Opora Diakonie (a nationwide caregiver support platform with CRM, helpline, and a database of 3,800+ services), Druhý život nábytku (a circular furniture buy-back service for IKEA operating in CZ/SK/HU), and the Konfigurátor úsporných rekonstrukcí (a step-by-step energy renovation guide for ČSOB). Additional ongoing impact projects address affordable housing, mental health at work, active aging, university student portals, 3D-printed eyewear, and workplace food waste collection. Q Designers also maintains four subsidiary sub-brands: Contiqua (premium wallets from rescued leather), The Greenest Company (indoor environmental quality tech for offices), Conscious & Craft (sustainable corporate gifting), and Space Monitor. Prior design projects include the TOP Energy Effect banking product for Česká spořitelna, the XTND electric longboard, and the Květináč Balconia stacking-optimized flower pot.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Contiqua: Sustainable wallets and accessories brand made from rescued leather offcuts from luxury furniture manufacturing
• The Greenest Company
• Sto skupin
• Conscious & Craft

Products and services

• Inovační proces (Innovation Process) Consulting service guiding clients through the full innovation journey from idea to market launch, covering problem understanding, research, prototyping, UX/CX testing, and solution building. Designed for corporations, foundations, government bodies, and startups seeking innovative products or services.
• Tvorba nadačního programu (Foundation Program Development) Design and launch of grant-making or philanthropic programs for foundations, including strategy, governance structure, and impact measurement frameworks. For foundations and NGOs seeking to build or scale programs with measurable societal outcomes.
• Design Mentoring One-on-one mentorship for in-house design and innovation teams, helping organizations build internal design capabilities and culture. Targeted at organizations seeking to grow their internal design maturity.
• Workshopy pro týmy (Team Workshops) Hands-on workshop programs for corporate teams to build practical innovation and design skills, including a validated Design Thinking curriculum. For corporate teams seeking to upskill in innovation methods.
• Inovační akademie pro týmy (Innovation Academy for Teams) Multi-session corporate training program developed with partners like E.ON to build teams' innovation capabilities and methodologies in practice. Designed for corporate teams and innovation leaders.
• Akce a kurzy (Events & Courses) Public events, workshops, and courses on design, innovation, and related topics, including the public Innovation Library sharing curated reading lists. For individuals and organizations interested in design and innovation.
• Den pro školu (Day for School) Nationwide educational program connecting schools with volunteer professionals from practice, built for Nadace České spořitelny, reaching 250+ volunteers and 80+ schools. Designed for schools, foundation program managers, and volunteer coordinators.
• Opora Diakonie (Diakonie Support Program) Nationwide support program for informal caregivers built for Diakonie ČCE, featuring a personalized digital guide, helpline, CRM system, database of 3,800+ services, and corporate engagement offerings. Designed for informal caregivers, social-care providers, and corporate partners.
• Druhý život nábytku (Second Life of Furniture) Circular-economy service enabling customers to sell unwanted furniture back to IKEA, covering the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, with a later refresh adding nonprofit partnerships. For IKEA customers and furniture donors across CZ/SK/HU.
• Konfigurátor úsporných rekonstrukcí (Energy Renovation Configurator) Step-by-step digital guide for homeowners on energy-efficient home renovations, built with ČSOB, covering renovation type selection, financing, subsidies, and contractor matching. Targeted at Czech homeowners planning renovations.
• Sto skupin (100 Groups) Initiative to establish 100 children's groups across the Czech Republic to address the lack of kindergarten spots, particularly for disadvantaged children and returning parents. For municipalities, families, and corporate partners.
• Contiqua Subsidiary brand producing minimalist wallets and accessories hand-sewn in the Czech Republic from premium Italian leather offcuts rescued from furniture manufacturing, with a B2B corporate gifting line. For eco-conscious consumers and corporate gifting clients.
• The Greenest Company Subsidiary startup developing technology for measuring and improving indoor environmental quality in offices, including green walls, air quality sensors, and a machine learning measurement application. For offices and workplace environment managers.
• Conscious & Craft Sustainable promotional products and corporate gifting brand designing quality, eco-designed items reflecting company culture with local production and certified materials. For corporate clients seeking sustainable merchandise and gifts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,500+ pieces of furniture rescued through Druhý život nábytku in first year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IKEAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Q Designers partnered with IKEA to design and launch the Druhý život nábytku (Second Life of Furniture) service — enabling customers to sell unwanted furniture back to IKEA for resale through Circular HUBs. The partnership expanded from a single Czech pilot to operations across Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. Q Designers continues as ongoing Design Partners, providing monthly oversight, collecting feedback, and iterating on the service.
• Česká spořitelnacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQ Designers collaborated with Česká spořitelna to design TOP Energy Effect, an investment loan helping companies save up to 37% on energy costs. The studio also partnered with the bank's foundation (Nadace České spořitelny) to design and launch Den pro školu, a nationwide program connecting schools with volunteer professionals.
• ČSOBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQ Designers partnered with ČSOB to build the Konfigurátor úsporných rekonstrukcí — a step-by-step online guide helping homeowners plan energy-efficient renovations, select subsidies (including the new 'Oprav dům po babičce' program), and choose contractors. The configurator covers financing options, savings calculations, and contractor matching.
• Diakonie CCEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQ Designers partnered with Diakonie CCE, one of the largest social care providers in the Czech Republic, to build Opora Diakonie — a nationwide program for informal caregivers. Deliverables included a personalized web guide with CRM, a helpline, in-person home consultation services, a 3,800+ service database, a volunteer engagement strategy, and a corporate partnership program.
• Národní ústav pro duševní zdraví (NUDZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQ Designers is collaborating with the National Institute of Mental Health to prepare a mental health program for workers in healthcare, social services, and public administration, aiming to improve wellbeing across these sectors.
• Magistrát hlavního města PrahycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQ Designers is partnering with the City of Prague to design a new kitchen food waste collection and utilization service for households, with the goal of making waste sorting easier and transforming food waste into renewable resources.
• Nadace Komerční bankycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQ Designers is building a foundation program for Nadace Komerční banky to help the most vulnerable youth with the start of independent life, creating systemic change pathways for children who did not grow up in family settings.
• Začni Učit!minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFollowing the pilot phase of Den pro školu, operational responsibility for volunteer and teacher coordination was handed to the platform Začni Učit!, which manages onboarding, volunteer preparation, and feedback collection. Nadace ČS continues as financial supporter and communications lead.
• Masarykova univerzitaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQ Designers is improving the student portal for Masaryk University to comprehensively cover student needs and provide personalized pathways throughout their academic journey.
• ONYX VisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQ Designers is exploring the design of an online sales experience for 3D-printed custom-fit glasses, aiming to make perfectly fitting eyewear accessible to everyone.
• Nábytková banka v LiberciminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Druhý život nábytku 2.0 refresh — Q Designers expanded the service by partnering with nonprofit furniture banks across the Czech Republic (including Nábytková banka in Liberec, Diakonie Brno, Kabinet in České Budějovice, and Nábytková farma in Kralupy nad Vltavou) to increase collection capacity beyond IKEA's own stores.
• Contiqua (Spin-off Brand)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQ Designers founded Contiqua as an internal brand venture — a sustainable accessories company producing wallets and goods from rescued Italian leather offcuts from luxury furniture manufacturing. Products are sold through contiqua.co and to corporate clients for promotional gifting.
• The Greenest Company (Spin-off Brand)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQ Designers co-founded The Greenest Company (grnst.co) as a startup focused on improving workplace environment quality through green walls, plant installations, and IoT sensing technology. The venture was recognized in Forbes NEXT as a Czech innovation standout.
• Sto skupin (Spin-off Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQ Designers initiated Sto skupin as a social impact venture aiming to establish 100 children's groups across the Czech Republic to address kindergarten shortages. The initiative has partnerships with corporations (negotiating with Google, IKEA, Skanska), municipalities, and has received support from Nadace Terezy Maxové. It is incorporated as a separate entity at stoskupin.cz.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Livework: European service design studio specializing in public-sector, financial services, and healthcare service design — directly comparable to Q Designers' service design practice targeting banks, government, and NGOs in Europe.
• Designit: Global design and innovation consultancy with strong Nordic/European roots across strategy, product, and service design — directly comparable methodology and client mix (enterprise, public sector, healthcare).
• IDEO: Global design and innovation consultancy pioneering human-centered design and design thinking — closest large-scale analogue to Q Designers' methodology, applied across product, service, and social impact engagements.
• Frog Design (now frog, part of Capgemini Invent): Design and innovation consultancy operating at the intersection of product, brand, and service design with a strong European presence — directly comparable offering to Q Designers' full innovation lifecycle.
• ustwo (studios): Multi-disciplinary digital product studio combining product design, engineering, and innovation consulting — comparable boutique scale and impact-led positioning to Q Designers.
• Method (Method-1): Design and invention consultancy focused on customer experience, digital products, and service design for global brands — closely comparable methodology and engagement model.

Regional players

• Snook: UK-based service design agency focused on government, healthcare, and social impact — comparable niche focus but operates primarily in the UK rather than Central Europe.

Broad incumbents

• Pentagram: Independent design firm spanning brand, digital, and product design — broader portfolio than Q Designers and primarily brand-led rather than innovation-led.
• Fjord (Accenture Song): Design and innovation consultancy within Accenture — comparable design thinking and service design practice but backed by global delivery scale that Q Designers cannot match.
• Doblin (Deloitte): Deloitte's innovation and design practice — overlapping methodology in human-centered innovation and corporate innovation engagements, but as part of a Big Four consulting portfolio rather than a focused studio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ConsciousCraft.Co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Q Designers