Designgroup Stapleton Elliott

What Designgroup Stapleton Elliott does

Designgroup Stapleton Elliott is a New Zealand architectural practice headquartered in Wellington, founded in 1975 and operating with 101–250 employees. The firm delivers architectural, planning, and interior design services for commercial and public-sector projects across New Zealand, organized around a horizontal (use-case) segmentation approach targeting clients seeking building design grounded in empathy, regeneration, and bicultural values.

The firm's product is end-to-end architecture and design services rather than a packaged software or platform offering. Specific underlying technology is not disclosed; the firm's positioning references "future-ready" practice and the use of "innovative tools and technology" to solve design challenges, but the input material identifies no proprietary technology stack, no API surface, no patents, and no software products. Differentiators center on a uniquely Aotearoa design language, bicultural practice honoring Te Tiriti o Waitangi, a regenerative (not merely sustainable) design philosophy, and a face-to-face ("kanohi ki te kanohi") client engagement model. No specific named customers, no pricing, no awards, and no formal partnerships are disclosed.

The business model is project-based professional services: the firm is private, for-profit, and operates across New Zealand only (no global footprint claim). Revenue mechanics are typical of mid-sized architecture practices — fees billed against project scopes — though no fee structure, billing model, or contract terms are publicly disclosed. The practice has no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, no subsidiaries, no M&A activity, and no leadership changes on record in the available material.

Name

Designgroup Stapleton Elliott

Legal name

Designgroup Stapleton Elliott

Website

https://dgse.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Designgroup Stapleton Elliott is a Wellington, New Zealand-based architectural practice (founded 1975, 101–250 employees) delivering architectural, planning, and interior design services for commercial and public-sector clients in New Zealand, with a bicultural and regenerative design philosophy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Interior design services
• Urban planning services
• Commercial building design
• Public architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Core offering

Designgroup Stapleton Elliott is an architecture firm providing architectural design, interior design, and urban planning services for commercial and public sector projects. The firm creates meaningful, community-serving built environments guided by empathy, bicultural values honoring Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and a regenerative (beyond-sustainability) design philosophy rooted in a uniquely Aotearoa design language.

Product overview

Designgroup Stapleton Elliott is an architecture firm offering comprehensive architectural and design services. The company provides architectural design services focused on creating meaningful architecture that serves clients and their communities, with a philosophy centered on empathy, understanding, and bicultural values through Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design
• Interior Design Interior design services delivered as part of the firm's commercial and public project commissions.
• Urban Planning Urban planning services for commercial and public sector clients, focused on community-focused built environments.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves3 records

Broad incumbents

• Hassell: Major international architecture practice with studios in Australia and Asia. Comparable for large-scale commercial, public, and interior design commissions where DGSE would compete in the broader APAC market.
• Woods Bagot: Global architecture and design firm with significant APAC presence. Comparable for integrated architecture and interior design engagements on commercial and public projects of similar scale.
• Gensler: The world's largest architecture and design firm, with global scale across commercial interiors and workplace design. Represents the upper-bound competitor for large corporate and commercial commissions that DGSE may target.
• Bates Smart: Established Australian architecture firm with a long history of commercial and public-sector work. Comparable in scale and heritage, and a credible competitor when New Zealand clients look across the Tasman.

Direct peers

• Architectus: Trans-Tasman architecture firm with a significant New Zealand presence. Direct peer for commercial and public architecture work, with similar scale and a comparable multi-disciplinary service offering.
• Studio Pacific Architecture: Wellington-based architecture practice with a strong public-sector and cultural portfolio. Direct peer in the same Wellington market, often competing for the same institutional and government commissions.
• Warren and Mahoney: One of New Zealand's largest architecture practices, with comparable mid-to-large scale and a portfolio spanning commercial, public, and cultural projects. Direct competitor for the same Wellington and broader NZ institutional client base.
• Jasmax: New Zealand architecture and design firm with strong public-sector and bicultural credentials. Direct peer in terms of integrated architecture, planning, and interior design services and a shared Aotearoa design philosophy.
• Athfield Architects: New Zealand architecture firm with comparable scale and a heritage of public, residential, and civic work. Direct competitor for similar client types in the New Zealand market.

Emerging players

• Weta Workshop: Wellington-based design studio with capabilities in experiential design, environments, and built environments. Comparable as a creative design peer in Wellington, though operating in a more entertainment- and experience-focused niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/designgroup-stapleton-elliott

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Designgroup Stapleton Elliott