Ink Duck

What Ink Duck does

Ink Duck is a Brisbane-based architectural design firm operating a horizontal service model across four verticals: residential, commercial, education, and community architecture. The firm provides end-to-end professional services spanning concept design, planning approvals, construction documentation, and contractor management, serving individual homeowners, commercial developers, educational institutions, and government and non-profit clients across Queensland, Australia. Its project portfolio covers high-end residential renovations, sports facilities, theme park attractions, social housing, NDIS housing, and multi-million-dollar state school builds.

The firm operates with a deliberately small team of approximately seven professionals — Director/Principal Architect Tanya Mathers (20+ years experience), Senior Architect James Lewis, Architects James Kenny and Khai Jie Ng, two Graduates (Lyle Frazer, Monique Brummer), and Interior Designer Giulia Brancatini — and relies on industry-standard architectural software rather than proprietary technology. Its revenue model is straightforward project-based professional fees, with quote-based pricing determined per engagement and no publicly disclosed fee tiers or subscription revenue. GTM is sales-led, anchored by direct consultation, a website portfolio, an Instagram presence, and word-of-mouth referrals.

Notable customer relationships span enterprise (Brisbane Bullets High Performance Centre, Dreamworld Flyer refurbishment, James Hardie Carole Park Administration Centre) and government (Queensland Department of Education portfolio, including Buddina, Chapel Hill, and the $18M Bray Park State High School Innovation Building). Construction-side partnerships with Badge Constructions, KS Property, and Enixr position Ink Duck as an embedded design partner within delivery consortia. The firm is privately held, Queensland-domiciled (ABN 78 615 003 060), and founder-led under Director Tanya Mathers.

Name

Ink Duck

Legal name

Ink Duck

Website

https://inkduck.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

InK Duck is a Brisbane-based architectural firm delivering concept-to-completion design services across residential, commercial, education, and community verticals in Queensland, Australia, serving homeowners, developers, government, and non-profit clients through a small, principal-led professional services team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Project-based architectural services spanning concept design through to construction documentation and contractor management. Revenue generated through professional fees for residential, commercial, education, and community architecture projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Ink Duck is a Brisbane-based architectural studio providing professional design services from initial concept through to final build for residential, commercial, education, and community projects. Engagements cover concept design, planning, documentation, contractor management, and post-contract superintendent duties, delivered by a small principal-led team. Revenue is generated through project-based professional fees quoted per engagement across Queensland and Northern New South Wales.

Product overview

Ink Duck is a Brisbane-based architectural firm offering four core service lines: Residential Architecture, Commercial Architecture, Education Architecture, and Community Architecture. The firm provides end-to-end architectural services from initial concept through to final build, serving individual homeowners, commercial clients, educational institutions, and community organizations across Queensland. Their portfolio spans diverse project types including high-end residential renovations, sports facilities, theme park attractions, social housing, NDIS housing, school buildings, and commercial developments. The small team is led by Director Tanya Mathers and includes registered architects, graduates, and an interior designer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Architecture Services Architectural design services for residential projects including renovations, extensions, and new builds for individual homeowners, ranging from bathroom renovations to multi-residential developments, delivered from concept through construction.
• Commercial Architecture Services Architectural design and project delivery for commercial builds including mixed-use developments, retail spaces, office fit-outs, and hospitality venues, ranging from feasibility concepts to full-capacity traditional procurement.
• Education Architecture Services Architectural services for educational institutions including schools, childcare centers, and university facilities, with projects covering new buildings, refurbishments, and extensions delivered in live environments with tight budgets and timeframes.
• Community Architecture Services Design services for community and public housing projects prioritizing accessibility, safety, comfort, privacy, and cost-effective living, including social housing, NDIS housing, sporting facilities, and amenities.

Named customers10 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

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Badge ConstructionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for Dreamworld Flyer project. Ink Duck collaborated with Badge Constructions on the iconic Australian theme park attraction, contributing architectural design for the thrill ride reaching 7 meters in height and accommodating 64 guests.
• KS PropertycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner enabling the Brisbane Bullets headquarters project. Made the purpose-built High Performance Centre possible through support, with the facility strategically located at the intersection of Merivale and Russel Streets in South Brisbane.
• EnixrminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction collaborator on the Brisbane Bullets headquarters project. Described as delivering a quick turnaround in collaboration with Ink Duck for the purpose-built facility.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Hassell: International architecture practice with a Brisbane office, active across commercial, education, and public-realm projects. Larger incumbent with overlapping capabilities and likely shared competitor for the same clients.
• FJMT (Francis-Jones Morehead Thorp): Sydney-headquartered architecture firm with a national portfolio spanning commercial, education, and community sectors. Larger incumbent bidding on similar public and institutional briefs across Australia.
• Cox Architecture: One of Australia's largest architecture firms with a strong Brisbane office delivering sports, education, and community projects (e.g., similar institutional work to Brisbane Bullets HQ). Larger incumbent competing for the same Queensland briefs at a higher price point.
• ARM Architecture: Established Australian architecture firm with a strong portfolio in cultural, education, and public-sector projects. Comparable in institutional client work, though typically operates at a larger scale.

Direct peers

• Architectus: Australian architecture firm with a Brisbane presence, active in education, community, and commercial sectors. Comparable in delivering public-sector architecture at a similar mid-tier scale.
• Sprout Architects: Smaller Brisbane-based architecture studio active in residential and community work. Comparable in size, geography, and segment focus to Ink Duck.
• Conrad Gargett: Brisbane-headquartered architecture practice with deep Queensland government, education, and community housing portfolios. Closest direct peer given similar geography, sector mix (education/community focus), and mid-sized team profile.
• BVN Donovan Hill: Australian architecture firm with offices in Brisbane and other cities, delivering education, residential, and community projects. Comparable mid-tier peer competing in similar sectors and geographies.
• ClarkeHopkinsClarke: Multi-sector Australian architecture firm with strong education and community portfolios. Directly competes for Queensland Department of Education briefs and similar institutional work.
• Fowler + Architects: Queensland-based architecture firm with a focus on community, education, and residential projects. Comparable mid-sized peer in the same regional market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/ink.duck
• Facebookfacebook.com/inkduck
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tanya-mathers-architecture-design

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Ink Duck