The name was changed to frog design in 1982 (the name originating from an acronym for Esslinger's home country, the Federal Republic of Germany; it was originally styled exclusively in lower-case as an expression of its belief in a democratic place of work, where ideas are openly and freely shared, and in opposition to the capitalization of nouns in German[8]).

The brand was once again restyled as frog in 2011 to signify an expanded portfolio of services that included strategy and organization activation.

[17] In August 2004, the company announced that Flextronics International, a large electronics manufacturing services provider, was taking an equity stake in the company for approximately $25 million; in 2006, frog was part of a deal through which private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) acquired nine of Flextronic's assets.

Esslinger was the company's first Chief Creative Office (CCO), and with his wife, Patricia Roller (who later served as CEO), frog grew and achieved international prominence.

[22] In parallel to the company's creative leadership, several individuals have been CEO or president, including Harry West (2015–18) and Andy Zimmerman (2013–15 and 2018–21).