Trusted by organizations across health, education, nutrition, gender equity and technology
We apply Human-Centered Design to complex challenges in Africa, from field research and co-creation through prototyping and scale.
Their genuine desire to co-create solutions that are innovative, rooted in women's needs, and locally relevant has been a driving force behind the success of our project.
I was consistently impressed by both the visionary perspectives reflected in their approach, and by the efficiency and quality of the work they managed to deliver in a complex and multi-dimensional field environment.
Derz Consulting adapted well to research pivots and collaborated effectively across geographies and disciplines, balancing strong local insight with cross-context comparability.
Derz is a strategic design consultancy based in Addis Ababa and Nairobi. We work with development organizations, government programs, and private sector clients to understand users deeply, design solutions collaboratively, and test them before they scale.
Most design firms operating in our region work from a distance. We don't. Our team is embedded in the communities we design for, which means our insights are sharper, our co-creation is more genuine, and our prototypes are tested in the real conditions they'll live in.
We combine contextual depth with rigorous design practice, drawing on Human-Centered Design as our primary methodology, bringing genuine cross-sector experience across public health, agriculture, economic empowerment and education.
Our process is iterative, not linear. We move between research, design, and testing, adapting to what we learn. Every engagement is built around direct contact with the people who matter most to your challenge.
Designing demand-generation communication materials for DMPA-SC self-injection with PSI Ethiopia and FGAE, from insight gathering through a production-ready media toolkit.
Applying the Living Labs HCD model to identify barriers and co-design solutions for zero-dose and under-immunized children and adolescent girls across three Ethiopian cities.
Partnering with Catapult Design in Nairobi to prototype and test Gender Equality Design Labs, building the methodology for gender-responsive HCD in Africa.
Insight gathering, tool adaptation, and creative direction for graphic design, adapting the Smart Start SRH toolkit for three distinct regional contexts in Ethiopia.
User research, journey mapping, ideation, and prototype development to design a practical construction manual for Kubik, making technical building knowledge accessible to informal builders and tradespeople in Ethiopia.
Toolkit testing, co-creation workshops, and prototype development for a school feeding program using HCD to improve nutrition outcomes.
Landscape assessment, quantitative research, and market entry recommendations to guide the launch of ALX's Pathways product in Ethiopia.
Working with UCSF, KEMRI, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC), and University of Michigan to redesign contraceptive counseling services in Addis Ababa and Nairobi, from insight gathering and persona development through prototype testing and solution finalization.
Prototyping and testing tools to revitalise community-based newborn care and integrated case management for frontline health workers.
Insight gathering, persona development, and user journey mapping for ALX Ethiopia, shaping the learning experience for young African professionals.
