The Studio
About
The Design Guru
Founder & Creative Director
Founder
The Design Guru was founded on the belief that exceptional beauty brands deserve exceptional representation. With over twenty years working at the intersection of product design, fragrance development, and luxury retail, we have built a reputation for delivering the kind of work that earns — and keeps — placement in the world's most discerning retail environments.
Our founder Colin Barthelmy began his career in product development for a leading European fragrance house before moving into retail consultancy, working with brands across the full spectrum of the prestige beauty market. That experience — spanning concept through to counter — is the foundation of everything we do.
Today, The Design Guru works with a select portfolio of clients, from emerging independent brands to established international houses, providing the strategic and creative expertise required to compete at the highest level of global retail.
Disciplines
Credentials
Our Philosophy
Precision over volume.
We work with a deliberately small number of clients at any one time. This is not a limitation — it is a commitment. Every project receives our full attention, from the first brief to the final launch. We do not take on work we cannot do exceptionally well.
Retail Relationships
Trusted by the world's leading retailers
Our work has secured placement and sustained relationships with the most prestigious retail names in global beauty.
New Enquiries
Work with us
We work with a limited number of new client engagements each year. If you have a project that demands the highest standard of beauty consultancy, we would like to hear from you.