MVP Design and Build

Brand-led product design: how we build brand into the product itself

Why brands die at the login screen — and how a brand-led design system fixes it.

Francesco de Chirico

July 19, 2026

min read

Digital Product Design

Design Systems

Brand Strategy

UX/UI Design

Startup Branding: A Practical Guide for Founders With Limited Time and Budget

Startup Branding: A Practical Guide for Founders With Limited Time and Budget

Startup branding done right at each stage — from pre-seed to series A. Where to spend, where to skip, and the minimum viable brand checklist.

Francesco de Chirico

July 17, 2026

min read

Brand Naming

Brand Positioning

Brand Strategy

Brand Strategy for SaaS: A Specific Playbook for Software Companies

Brand strategy for SaaS is different from generic B2B. A stage-by-stage playbook for software companies between seed and series C, plus what to skip.

Kaga Bryan

July 17, 2026

min read

Brand Strategy

Top 10 Branding Agencies in Australia (2026)

Top 10 Branding Agencies in Australia (2026)

The top 10 branding agencies in Australia, ranked. Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth studios covered. Strategic depth, creative quality, pricing, and how to choose.

Kaga Bryan

July 19, 2026

min read

Brand Naming

Brand Strategy

Brand Positioning

Brand Refresh vs Rebrand: How to Know Which One You Actually Need

A brand refresh is a tune-up. A rebrand is a transplant. Five signs of each, a decision framework, and what it costs for B2B SaaS.

Francesco de Chirico

May 28, 2026

min read

Tech Startup Branding: How Engineering-Led Companies Build Brands That Compound

Tech Startup Branding: How Engineering-Led Companies Build Brands That Compound

Tech startup branding for engineering-led teams. Where to invest, common traps, and how to build a brand the engineering team will actually defend.

Kaga Bryan

June 7, 2026

min read

6 Brand Design Trends Shaping 2026 (And How to Use Them)

The 6 brand design trends actually worth your attention in 2026, from motion identity to accessible design. Honest verdicts on what to adopt, watch, or skip.

Francesco de Chirico

June 10, 2026

min read

How Much Does a UX Audit Cost — And What Should You Actually Get?

How Much Does a UX Audit Cost — And What Should You Actually Get?

A UX audit in Australia runs from $2,000 to $40,000. Here is what each price tier actually gets you, and how to spot an audit worth paying for.

Berty Bhuruth

June 7, 2026

min read

What Does a Branding Agency Actually Do? (And Do You Need One?)

What Does a Branding Agency Actually Do? (And Do You Need One?)

What does a branding agency actually do? We break down branding agency services, costs in Australia, and how to know if you need one. Honest guide from a Sydney studio.

Kaga Bryan

June 10, 2026

min read

Company Rebranding: When and Why to Do It (and When Not To)

Company Rebranding: When and Why to Do It (and When Not To)

Company rebranding done right — five good reasons, five bad ones, what it costs, how long it takes, and the questions to answer before you start.

Kaga Bryan

July 19, 2026

min read

Designing AI Products: UX Principles That Actually Work

Designing AI Products: UX Principles That Actually Work

AI products break the usual contract between user and interface. Outputs are probabilistic, the system can be confidently wrong, and users don't know whether to trust it. Here are eight UX principles we use at UntilNow to design AI products that people actually keep coming back to.

Berty Bhuruth

May 26, 2026

min read

What is a design system? (And why your product team needs one)

What is a design system? (And why your product team needs one)

A practical explainer on what a design system really is, why product teams need one, when to invest, and what good looks like in Figma — plus why systems matter more in the AI era.

Charles Hoang

June 9, 2026

min read

UX vs UI: What's the Difference, and Why It Matters for Your Product

UX vs UI: What's the Difference, and Why It Matters for Your Product

UX makes a product make sense; UI makes it feel effortless. Here's how the two disciplines differ, where they overlap, and which one your product is missing.

Francesco de Chirico

July 19, 2026

min read

What Does a UX Agency Actually Do? (And How to Choose the Right One)

What Does a UX Agency Actually Do? (And How to Choose the Right One)

What does a UX agency do? Learn what services to expect, how to evaluate agencies, and when it's time to hire one. A practical guide for founders and product leaders.

Francesco de Chirico

March 21, 2026

min read

Why founders should still care deeply about their website

Why founders should still care deeply about their website

Discover why founders should still care deeply about their website. Learn how your website serves as a stable digital headquarters, vital for business growth and credibility.

March 14, 2026

min read

The design process is changing. Here's how our product design process adapted.

The design process is changing. Here's how our product design process adapted.

Every week there's a new AI tool. A new model. A new capability. When anyone can build software, the thing that separates the products people use from the ones they don't is how they feel. That's product taste — and it's the moat.

Francesco de Chirico

March 15, 2026

min read

The 10 Best UX Design Agencies in Australia (And How to Pick the Right One)

The 10 Best UX Design Agencies in Australia (And How to Pick the Right One)

Francesco de Chirico

July 19, 2026

min read

What Is UX Design? A Practical Guide for Founders and Product Teams

What Is UX Design? A Practical Guide for Founders and Product Teams

UX design is how you make sure your product works for the humans using it. A practical guide for people who buy UX design, not people who do it.

Francesco de Chirico

July 19, 2026

min read

Building Great Brands in a World of AI Slop

Building Great Brands in a World of AI Slop

AI is making brand content faster — and more generic. Here's how to protect your brand identity, sharpen your positioning, and keep human judgement at the centre of your creative strategy.

Kaga Bryan

July 16, 2026

min read

Brand Guidelines

Design Systems

Ad Creative

Visual Identity

How We Work at UntilNow

UntilNow is a Sydney-based design agency that works as part of your team — not outside it. We co-create brands, digital products and experiences through close collaboration, honest communication and a shared commitment to real business outcomes.

Kaga Bryan

February 6, 2026

min read

Why Understanding What Makes a Good Logo is Essential for Your Brand Success

Discover what makes a good logo essential for your brand's success. Learn key characteristics and design principles that lead to a strong brand identity.

Kaga Bryan

January 31, 2026

min read

Top 5 Branding Companies Near Me for Business Growth

Top 5 Branding Companies Near Me for Business Growth

Discover the top 5 branding companies near me and unlock your business's potential! Learn how these experts elevate brand identity and growth.

January 31, 2026

min read

UI UX Design Agency: Where Brand Promise Meets Reality

How the best UI & UX design agencies transform brands by turning promises into experiences that users believe

Francesco de Chirico

April 30, 2026

min read

The Rebrand Rollout Guide

Learn how to plan a rebrand rollout that drives impact and avoids misfires. This guide covers key stages, communication planning and best practices for a seamless launch.

Kaga Bryan

January 26, 2026

min read

How to Conduct a UI/UX Design Audit

Explore proven methods to conduct a UI/UX design audit. Learn key steps, tools, and checklists to uncover usability issues, enhance flow, and elevate digital product experiences with UntilNow.

Berty Bhuruth

March 5, 2026

min read

Unblock Product Decision Making With UX Research

Unblock Product Decision Making With UX Research

Unblock Product Decision Making With UX Research by mastering information collection and strategic UX research methods. Enhance user experience and business outcomes efficiently.

Mikaela Larkin

June 7, 2026

min read

Why Webflow is Our Go-To Website Builder: 4 Key Reasons

Why Webflow is Our Go-To Website Builder: 4 Key Reasons

Discover why UntilNow, a certified Webflow Partner agency, uses Webflow for rapid, scalable website development. Learn how we deliver custom design without code limitations.

Ben Smith

January 26, 2026

min read

Why Tech Startups Should Rethink In-House Hiring

Why Tech Startups Should Rethink In-House Hiring

Discover the strategic benefits of outsourcing for tech startups. Learn why rethinking in-house hiring can improve flexibility and reduce costs.

Francesco de Chirico

June 7, 2026

min read

Venture Studios: A primer

Is it a VC? Is it an accelerator? Is it an incubator? Come find out.

Nico Alexiev

June 7, 2026

min read

3 things to consider when naming your start up

3 things to consider when naming your start up

When it comes to brand assets, it is your name that ranks as the most important. Names exist without colour, shape, typography or jingle. They exist above it all.

Kaga Bryan

June 11, 2026

min read

Product designers take note - Tokens save time and money

Product designers take note - Tokens save time and money

Design tokens are a foundational technology that supports the present and future.

Charles Hoang

April 30, 2026

min read

Considering UX when screens disappear

We’re about to eclipse physical displays. What will this mean for product design?

Berty Bhuruth

April 30, 2026

min read

Unpacking the Minimum Viable Brand

For most people the idea of a Minimum Viable Brand or MVB is a new concept, but for many founders or those in venture communities it is not, so let’s step through this accordingly. It’ll be fun, I promise.

Kaga Bryan

January 20, 2026

min read

Concept Validation

MVP Design and Build

Android App Development

iOS App Development

Digital Product Design

UX/UI Design

Design Systems

App Development

Website Development

User Research Agency

FAQs

MVP Design and Build Services

How long does an MVP take to build?

Most MVP engagements run 8 to 12 weeks from kickoff to launch. Tighter scopes built on no code can sometimes ship faster. Larger MVPs with custom code, complex integrations, or regulated requirements can extend to 14 to 16 weeks. We scope tightly against the bet you're trying to prove, not against feature wish lists.

Should we build no code or code?

Depends on the product. No code wins when the product is mostly content, simple workflows, marketing automation, or standard SaaS patterns. Code wins when there's complex custom logic, heavy transaction volume, strict data residency, or specialised UX. We help you make the call based on the product, the bet, and how you want to evolve it post MVP.

What's a typical MVP budget?

No code MVPs typically start at smaller project budgets, with code based MVPs running into more substantial engagements. Cost depends on scope, stack, integrations, and whether design and validation are part of the engagement. We scope every MVP tightly against the specific bet so you know what you're paying for.

Can you keep building after MVP?

Yes. Many founders run MVP plus post launch iteration with us as a single relationship, evolving the product based on validation signals and user feedback. Post MVP work usually shifts to a retainer or sprint based engagement once the launch dust settles.

What if we don't know what the MVP should be yet?

Then we run idea validation and concept work first, before any build. Building the wrong MVP fast is worse than not building one. Idea validation helps you find the right version of yes worth building, before committing engineering capacity to it.

Do you do MVPs for funded startups, bootstrapped founders, or both?

Both. The work changes shape depending on funding stage. Funded startups often want production grade MVPs that scale into long term products. Bootstrapped founders often need lean no code MVPs that prove the bet without burning runway. We scope to fit the situation rather than running one playbook.

What's the most common MVP mistake you see?

Building too much. Most MVPs aren't minimum, they're moderate, and they take twice as long and cost twice as much as they should. The real MVP is the smallest version that can prove the specific bet you're testing. Defining what to leave out is usually more important than defining what to include.

Can you take over an MVP that's already in progress?

Sometimes. We've taken over MVPs that have stalled, hit capacity issues, or need design and product judgment alongside the engineering. Whether we can pick it up depends on the existing stack, code quality, and how far along the build is. We'll do a quick technical and product audit before committing.

Engagement

How we work

We offer three engagement models — Projects, Retainers, and Fractional support — designed to meet teams where they are. Each can be tailored to your scope, pace, and internal structure.

Projects

For work with a clear shape: defined scope, fixed timeline, and deliverables that can be quantified end-to-end.

Fixed Scope

Websites, brand identities, design systems, and apps where the deliverables and timeline are locked in upfront.

Discovery

Strategy, positioning, and innovation work where the answer emerges through research and iteration, not a brief.

Retainer

For ongoing work where you need a design partner, not a one-off engagement. Plug in an individual or an embedded team.

Design and Development

Continuous product design support: feature work, UI iteration, and design QA delivered across sprints.

Go To Market

Ongoing brand stewardship: campaign design, content systems, and brand evolution as your business grows.

Fractional

Senior expertise on tap, across design, product, brand, tech, and ex-founders. The experience without the full-time hire.

Integrated

A specialist embedded in your team for a defined stretch: leading projects, training hires, or filling a gap.

Advisory

An external sounding board for founders with the day-to-day handled. Hard problems, decisions on demand.

Additional

Venture Investments

When it makes sense for everyone involved, we exchange our services for equity. This is typically done on a part cash, part equity basis (just think of us as a value-adding angel investor). In select cases, we will also act as the design co-founder on a new venture.

Project-based

Suitable for short projects where the scope and team are well defined and the project can be accurately quantified end-to-end.

Retainer-based

Suitable for projects where the scope is subject to change and/or where resources are needed on an ongoing basis.

Co-Creation

Tell us what you need and we will work with you to define the best approach.