The home of Aotearoa New Zealand design since 2009.
Since being established Design Assembly has become the home of New Zealand design –providing a collaborative digital and physical platform for kiwi designers to learn, keep up-to-date and be inspired.
In 2019 Design Assembly celebrated 10 years. Over this decade, we’ve got to know our own incredibly talented and passionate New Zealand design community, and along the way with the help of our community we’ve gathered the insights and ideas that have contributed to many great conversations about what goes on here, how it happens, and why it matters.
With thousands of visitors each week to the website, sell-out workshops, interviews and a nation-wide event series, Design Assembly provides a safe and positive environment to share knowledge, experiences and challenges – where designers can connect with their peers as well as support others and learn; a chance to upskill in workshops – tailored for kiwi visual designers.
Why we exist
Design Assembly is the home of Aotearoa New Zealand design – bringing New Zealand’s designers together as a community.
Mission
Design Assembly supports Aotearoa New Zealand’s design community to inclusively connect, educate and inspire each other.
Our Values
Inclusivity
Everyone is welcome at every age and stage.
Diversity
We want to inspire every visual designer on their individual journey.
Safety
Design Assembly provides a safe and positive environment to share knowledge, experiences and challenges.
Celebration
Showcasing, sharing and celebrating NZ visual design in all its diversity.
Celebration
Design Assembly provides unique opportunities for visual designers to connect with and support each other
Louise Kellerman – Director and Founder
Louise has a background in graphic design, she studied at AUT University and has worked for 19 years in Auckland and London. In August 2008 with a desire for events and a community for New Zealand graphic designers, Louise founded Design Assembly with a series of evening speaker events in Auckland. Since then Design Assembly has grown to hold events and workshops throughout the year in Auckland, Hamilton, Napier, Wellington and Christchurch. The website publishes fresh regular content every week profiling and celebrating New Zealand visual designers, studios, students and design work.
Louise Kellerman
– Inspiration is the drawing in of air.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lkellerman/
louise@designassembly.org.nz | 027 360 5090
Nicole Arnett Phillips – Editor
Nicole has 20 years’ experience in publication design, visual communication and art direction working in New Zealand, the UK, Australia and the US. She now lives and works on the Coromandel peninsula, and is passionate about championing the design happening in our regions and the diversity of design practice in Aotearoa. In addition to her role with Design Assembly, Nicole is a document designer, printmaker, and as TYPOgraphHer she writes, designs and produces publications about typography, culture and politics for design audiences. Nicole also regularly teaches at design schools in Australia and New Zealand. She has been invited to speak at several international events – including keynotes at the Typism (2013), and The Design Conference (2016).