Research Consultancy
Innovation often comes from insight, insight from research, and research rarely moves in a straight line. Point Across Studio brings a design-thinking approach to research consultancy: questioning assumptions, reframing problems, exploring possibilities, and developing ideas through an iterative process. The aim is to find better ways of understanding a problem and to turn insight into something useful.
Research consultancy may be for you
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You might need research consultancy if you...
- are developing a new product, service, programme, or initiative and need to understand the problem it should address
- have an existing service or product that no longer seems to fulfil its intended role
- have identified a problem but aren't sure what is causing it, or whether you are addressing the right problem
- are developing research for an organisation, programme, or initiative
- are trying to make sense of complex qualitative material
- are looking for new ways to communicate or apply research
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Whether you have a problem to understand, a question to explore, or an idea to develop, Point Across Studio helps you investigate it, question assumptions, and identify useful ways forward.
What research consultancy covers
The focus depends on the problem, but may include:
- Question development
What assumptions are shaping the research? What might be worth exploring instead?
Research design
What approaches, methods, perspectives, or sources could help you investigate the problem?
Exploration & sense-making
What patterns, tensions, connections, or unexpected possibilities emerge from the material?
Reframing & iteration
What changes when the problem is looked at from another perspective? What needs to be tested, developed, or reconsidered?
From insight to action
How can research findings inform decisions, further research, creative work, strategy, or other forms of practice?
The process
Research consultancy is often iterative. As questions are explored and new insights emerge, the problem, research approach, or direction may evolve. While every project is different, the process is likely to involve the following steps:
1. Frame
Clarify the problem, context, aims, and what you are trying to understand.
2. Explore
Question assumptions, examine different perspectives, and identify possible directions.
3. Develop
Work through promising questions, approaches, and ideas. Depending on the project, this may involve literature, qualitative material, workshops, interviews, or other forms of investigation.
4. Reframe
Step back and assess what has emerged. The research question, approach, or problem may change as understanding develops.
5. Move forward
Translate the resulting insights into a research strategy, next stage of investigation, report, publication, creative output, or other practical application.
1. Frame
Clarify the problem, context, aims, and what you are trying to understand.
2. Explore
Question assumptions, examine different perspectives, and identify possible directions.
3. Develop
Work through promising questions, approaches, and ideas. Depending on the project, this may involve literature, qualitative material, workshops, interviews, or other forms of investigation.
4. Reframe
Step back and assess what has emerged. The research question, approach, or problem may change as understanding develops.
5. Move forward
Translate the resulting insights into a research strategy, next stage of investigation, report, publication, creative output, or other practical application.
What you get
Depending on the project, Point Across Studio can support different stages of the research process, from defining the problem to making the findings useful.
Research strategy
Clarifying objectives, identifying the most productive approach, and developing a research strategy suited to the question, context, and available resources.
Research questions
Refining broad or emerging ideas into focused, answerable research questions that can guide the project and generate meaningful findings.
Methodology & research design
Recommending appropriate methods, developing qualitative or mixed-methods approaches, reviewing research instruments, and identifying practical ways to gather and work with evidence.
Collaborative thinking
Facilitating focused sessions to clarify questions, interrogate assumptions, interpret findings, or help teams move from research to action.
Analysis & sense-making
Bringing structure to complex material, identifying patterns and tensions, connecting evidence to the research questions, and developing interpretations that go beyond description.
Research reports & deliverables
Shaping findings into reports and other research outputs for academic, organisational, public, or non-profit audiences.
Research strategy
Clarifying objectives, identifying the most productive approach, and developing a research strategy suited to the question, context, and available resources.
Research questions
Refining broad or emerging ideas into focused, answerable research questions that can guide the project and generate meaningful findings.
Methodology & research design
Recommending appropriate methods, developing qualitative or mixed-methods approaches, reviewing research instruments, and identifying practical ways to gather and work with evidence.
Collaborative thinking
Facilitating focused sessions to clarify questions, interrogate assumptions, interpret findings, or help teams move from research to action.
Analysis & sense-making
Bringing structure to complex material, identifying patterns and tensions, connecting evidence to the research questions, and developing interpretations that go beyond description.
Research reports & deliverables
Shaping findings into reports and other research outputs for academic, organisational, public, or non-profit audiences.
How much will it cost
Prices are indicative.
Final fees are determined according to the scope and requirements of each project.
Final fees are determined according to the scope and requirements of each project.
Limited-scope research support
from $500
Questionnaire review and other focused research tasks
Research strategy & design
from $1500
For projects requiring analytical structuring, methodological clarification, problem reframing, or iterative conceptual development.
Longer-term collaborations
pricing based on scope
Multi-phase or ongoing projects are scoped according to duration, complexity, and depth of involvement.
Start the Conversation
Use this form to get in touch or request an initial assessment. A detailed quote is provided after initial discussion.
To protect confidentiality, any samples and materials are shared only after initial contact.
To protect confidentiality, any samples and materials are shared only after initial contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of research consultancy do you offer?
Point Across Studio provides research support for organisations and projects that need critical thinking, research expertise, or an outside perspective. This can include research design, developing research questions, reviewing questionnaires, assessing research approaches, analysing or interpreting qualitative material, reviewing research reports, and providing critical feedback on projects at different stages of development.
Do you conduct research as well as advise on research?
Yes. The scope of the work depends on the project. I can advise on research design and methodology, work alongside an existing research team, or take responsibility for agreed research activities. The precise scope, deliverables and responsibilities are established before work begins.
What kinds of organisations do you work with?
I work with organisations, institutions, non-profits, research teams and other groups undertaking research or research-driven projects. I am particularly interested in projects involving complex social, cultural or organisational questions.
Do you work with qualitative and quantitative research?
My primary expertise is in qualitative and social research, although I can also contribute to projects that use mixed methods. Where a project requires specialist expertise outside my scope, I will identify this at the outset.
Can you review a research project that is already underway?
Yes. A project does not need to start with Point Across Studio. I can provide a critical assessment of an existing research design, questionnaire, research plan, report or other research material and identify areas that could be strengthened.
Can you help develop research questions?
Yes. Developing a useful research question is often an important part of the work. I can help clarify the problem being investigated, identify assumptions, sharpen the research objectives and consider whether the proposed approach is capable of answering the questions being asked.
How does a consultancy project begin?
Projects normally begin with an initial conversation about your objectives, the stage of the project, the support you need and any relevant materials. I then provide a proposed scope of work, deliverables, timeline and fee.
How are fees calculated?
Fees depend on the scope, complexity and expected duration of the work. Some services have indicative starting prices; larger or more specialised projects are quoted individually.
Do you work on a fixed-fee basis?
Where the scope can be clearly defined, I normally provide a fixed project fee. For longer or evolving engagements, an hourly or day rate may be more appropriate. The basis of the fee will be agreed before work begins.
Will you keep our research and materials confidential?
Yes. Information and materials provided in connection with a project will be treated as confidential unless otherwise agreed or disclosure is required by law. Where a project involves personal data or other sensitive information, additional data-protection arrangements may be required.
Can you sign a confidentiality agreement or NDA?
Yes. If your organisation requires an NDA or other confidentiality agreement, please provide it before sharing confidential materials or commencing substantive work.
Can you work with research data containing personal information?
Potentially, but this needs to be discussed before the work begins. The parties should establish what data will be shared, why it is being processed, where it will be stored, and which party is responsible for the relevant data-protection obligations. Where Point Across Studio acts as a processor on a client's behalf, appropriate contractual data-protection provisions may be required.
Do you use AI in your work?
Any use of AI-assisted tools will be considered in relation to the nature and confidentiality of the project. Client-confidential or personal data will not be entered into third-party AI tools where doing so would be inappropriate or inconsistent with the agreed terms of the project.
Do you guarantee a particular research outcome?
No. Research consultancy can strengthen the design, reasoning and execution of a project, but research findings and outcomes cannot be guaranteed in advance.
Can you also help communicate the findings?
Yes. Depending on the project, this may include reviewing or developing research reports, written outputs, presentations, or other forms of research communication. Developmental editing is available where a project requires substantial work on the structure, argument or presentation of research-based writing.
Point Across Studio provides research support for organisations and projects that need critical thinking, research expertise, or an outside perspective. This can include research design, developing research questions, reviewing questionnaires, assessing research approaches, analysing or interpreting qualitative material, reviewing research reports, and providing critical feedback on projects at different stages of development.
Do you conduct research as well as advise on research?
Yes. The scope of the work depends on the project. I can advise on research design and methodology, work alongside an existing research team, or take responsibility for agreed research activities. The precise scope, deliverables and responsibilities are established before work begins.
What kinds of organisations do you work with?
I work with organisations, institutions, non-profits, research teams and other groups undertaking research or research-driven projects. I am particularly interested in projects involving complex social, cultural or organisational questions.
Do you work with qualitative and quantitative research?
My primary expertise is in qualitative and social research, although I can also contribute to projects that use mixed methods. Where a project requires specialist expertise outside my scope, I will identify this at the outset.
Can you review a research project that is already underway?
Yes. A project does not need to start with Point Across Studio. I can provide a critical assessment of an existing research design, questionnaire, research plan, report or other research material and identify areas that could be strengthened.
Can you help develop research questions?
Yes. Developing a useful research question is often an important part of the work. I can help clarify the problem being investigated, identify assumptions, sharpen the research objectives and consider whether the proposed approach is capable of answering the questions being asked.
How does a consultancy project begin?
Projects normally begin with an initial conversation about your objectives, the stage of the project, the support you need and any relevant materials. I then provide a proposed scope of work, deliverables, timeline and fee.
How are fees calculated?
Fees depend on the scope, complexity and expected duration of the work. Some services have indicative starting prices; larger or more specialised projects are quoted individually.
Do you work on a fixed-fee basis?
Where the scope can be clearly defined, I normally provide a fixed project fee. For longer or evolving engagements, an hourly or day rate may be more appropriate. The basis of the fee will be agreed before work begins.
Will you keep our research and materials confidential?
Yes. Information and materials provided in connection with a project will be treated as confidential unless otherwise agreed or disclosure is required by law. Where a project involves personal data or other sensitive information, additional data-protection arrangements may be required.
Can you sign a confidentiality agreement or NDA?
Yes. If your organisation requires an NDA or other confidentiality agreement, please provide it before sharing confidential materials or commencing substantive work.
Can you work with research data containing personal information?
Potentially, but this needs to be discussed before the work begins. The parties should establish what data will be shared, why it is being processed, where it will be stored, and which party is responsible for the relevant data-protection obligations. Where Point Across Studio acts as a processor on a client's behalf, appropriate contractual data-protection provisions may be required.
Do you use AI in your work?
Any use of AI-assisted tools will be considered in relation to the nature and confidentiality of the project. Client-confidential or personal data will not be entered into third-party AI tools where doing so would be inappropriate or inconsistent with the agreed terms of the project.
Do you guarantee a particular research outcome?
No. Research consultancy can strengthen the design, reasoning and execution of a project, but research findings and outcomes cannot be guaranteed in advance.
Can you also help communicate the findings?
Yes. Depending on the project, this may include reviewing or developing research reports, written outputs, presentations, or other forms of research communication. Developmental editing is available where a project requires substantial work on the structure, argument or presentation of research-based writing.
You will work with Beata, a trained socio-cultural anthropologist with over a decade of experience in social research design and implementation, non-fiction writing, editing books, articles and collections, and advising on multimedia ethnographic projects.
Beata holds a PhD in Anthropology from UCL, an MA in Japan Studies, and a Diploma in Journalism.
Find out more about Beata here.
Beata holds a PhD in Anthropology from UCL, an MA in Japan Studies, and a Diploma in Journalism.
Find out more about Beata here.
