Ara 2021 Graduation Exhibition

We’re giving you a sneak peek at some of the graduating talent coming out of Aotearoa this year, and a taste of what they’ve been working on. Pitch is the final exhibition of Ara third year Bachelor of Design students. This year, the graduates specialisations are represented through a silver balloon. The silver balloons show […]

3 years ago by

AUT Centre for Design Research launches

The Centre for Design Research (CDR), a hub for excellence in design and creative industries research, hosted in Te Kura Toi a Hoahoa — AUT School of Art & Design has launched on the 1st December 2021, with its website showcasing research from across the disciplines of Art & Design. The strategic research centre brings […]

3 years ago by

From The Edges – Toi Ārahitanga, The Art Guide

In our From The Edges series we feature Aotearoa NZ Academic Design Projects. Our practice as designers can be seen to be explored, pushed and perhaps become something entirely new where it exists at the edges of our practice in the world of academia. Free from the constraints of commercial outcomes and clients, designers explore and […]

3 years ago by

Why our studio needed design principles and how we defined them – RUSH’s design principles

Words by Stephen Horner, Chief Product Officer, RUSH.  As an integrated design and technology studio, the team at RUSH are unified in our belief of the exponential benefits thoughtfully designed technology can have for people. As an example, the Graphical User Interface of the first generation Apple Macintosh made desktop personal computing accessible to the […]

3 years ago by

Fresh From The Field — Citizens Advice Bureau Website and Intranet By Somar Digital

The new, easy-to-use CAB website was refreshed by Somar digital, with a focus on modernising it, whilst also improving the user journey but maintaining the knowledgeable and trusted advice that kiwis have come to rely on. Want to submit your own work to Fresh From The Field? Fill out the FFTF form here. The brief: The […]

3 years ago by

Wintec 2021 Graduation Exhibition

We’re giving you a sneak peek at some of the graduating talent coming out of Aotearoa this year, and a taste of what they’ve been working on. Our 2021 Creative Showcase event which details the different ways we are celebrating our graduating students this year. We’ve launched a digital publication in lieu of an on-campus […]

3 years ago by

Kūmara Awards shine a spotlight on great placemaking in Wellington 

Five unique and diverse projects that have connected communities and transformed random spaces into meaningful places have been recognised in the Wellington region’s first placemaking awards. The Kūmara Awards are run by Placemaking Aotearoa and are supported by Hutt City Council.  The Awards recognise and celebrate great placemaking – a collaborative process where people work […]

3 years ago by

AUT AD21 Graduation Exhibition

We’re giving you a sneak peek at some of the graduating talent coming out of Aotearoa this year, and a taste of what they’ve been working on. The online artanddesign.aut.ac.nz exhibition represents the culmination of an educational experience; exploring a range of art and design topics, issues, approaches, and technologies, reflecting the School’s ambition to foster the […]

3 years ago by

Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington 2021 Graduation Exhibition

EOYE 2021 is the annual end of year exhibition of Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington showcasing an impressive range of talent by third-year students from the Te Wāhanga Waihanga-Hoahoa—Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation. These are the creative thinkers, makers, minds, designers and architects of the future—soon to be shaping our Aotearoa, and […]

3 years ago by

Fresh From The Field — Welcome to Nowhere 2022 By Emily Stevens Studio

Emily Stevens Studio worked with Welcome to Nowhere, an independent music and arts festival, to create an updated look and feel for 2022. After initially creating the festival’s 2021 identity, the refreshed identity focuses on the local flora and fauna, using these taonga to express the diversity and uniqueness of the event, along with the […]

3 years ago by

Making your website or app accessible

As the world becomes ever more digital – a process that’s been accelerated by the covid pandemic – it’s even more important that no-one is left behind. Follow these tips for making your website or app accessible – originally published on https://www.belab.co.nz/items/making-your-website-or-app-accessible. Most of us use websites and apps every day, without even thinking about […]

3 years ago by

2021 Graphic Design Graduate Shows

November is always a busy month with the Graphic Design Graduate Shows across Aotearoa. Check out the online exhibitions or head along to discover your local talent, see what this generation of designers are thinking about, what they are making and help welcome these graduates to our professional community. (Check back! This post will be […]

3 years ago by

Fresh From The Field – Te Anau Time Campaign by Strategy

Strategy creates “Te Anau Time”, to inspire Kiwi’s to visit Te Anau. Using captivating photographs and simple typography, Te Anau Time is set to inspire travellers that there has never been a better time than now to experience and explore one of New Zealand’s most diverse regions. Want to submit your own work to Fresh […]

3 years ago by

Now and Then with Tash Vranjes from HeyYou

Written by Annie McCulloch and brought to you by Portfolio Recruitment Now and Then is a series where we catch up with designers who have been recently placed, via Portfolio Recruitment, to get their thoughts and feedback about their roles and their work. Annie recently had a chat to Tash, who is a Senior Art Worker at HeyYou. […]

3 years ago by

Streamtime’s Sunnier Summer Agenda Announced

Get a head start on the future. Do the groundwork for a happier, healthier, creative business in 2022. Save your virtual seat here for the 23 November – 9am – 1pm AEDT / 11am – 3pm NZDT Good times aren’t just for when you clock off! Hold onto your akubras, this is not your normal […]

3 years ago by

Meet The Speakers – DA Christchurch Social Event

Design Assembly is delighted to present our DA EOY Social Events, taking place in Wellington and Christchurch this year. This year’s speakers include: Tim & Honey – Plato Creative   Tim O’Neill – Creative Lead A multi-disciplinary creative with graphic design beginnings, over the past decade Tim has found himself doing a little bit of everything. […]

3 years ago by

Fresh From The Field — Emma Lewisham website By Studio Almond

Emma Lewisham worked with Studio Almond to create an innovative design-led web experience that complemented the brands values of becoming the world’s first carbon positive beauty brand. A minimal and sophisticated approach helps to focus on the products and showcase the simple yet elegant design of the brand. Unique designs and layouts work together to […]

3 years ago by

Fresh From The Field – NZ Vaccine Facts Animation Series

 When we saw the Vaccine Facts series, we thought it was a pretty nifty way to get a the complex idea of COVID-19 vaccines across our wide and diverse Aotearoa population, but in an easy and understandable way – so we got in touch with the team at Daylight Creative to ask them a few […]

3 years ago by

Under The Hood With… Janelle Rodrigues, Creative Lead at Creature

Ahead of our next Under The Hood November event, we learnt more about one of our speakers, Janelle Rodrigues. Janelle is a founding partner and the Creative Lead of the award-winning design company Creature. She combines an enquiring mind with strategic motivations to solve her client’s creative briefs. She sees herself as more than a designer… although […]

3 years ago by

DA Conversations Podcast with Matt Power

Kia ora and welcome to Design Assembly Conversations. In this series we talk to Aotearoa NZ designers, hear their stories and celebrate their work. I’m Louise and today I’m talking to Matt Power from Method. Matt Power is Design Director working across design, art direction and user experience at Method, a creative technology studio based […]

3 years ago by

Under The Hood With… Johnson McKay, Director of Fly

Ahead of our next Under The Hood November event, we learnt more about one of our speakers, Johnson McKay.Johnson is the Director of Fly, he started as an owner / in business development and then slowly shifted to strategy, then creative and now cultural strategy and creative storytelling. Their philosophy then was to reject advertising as a […]

3 years ago by

Fresh From The Field – Engine for Empathy by Optimal Workshop

Optimal Workshop’s 2021 Strategy document needed to be easily digestible, clean, and professional, yet withstand their core values of being approachable, curious, and bold. Using illustrations to visualise complex ideas and concepts in the most simplest of ways, they pulled it all together to create something uniquely playful. Want to submit your own work to […]

3 years ago by

Aotearoa NZ Photographers – Larnie Nicolson

Design Assembly recently got the opportunity to chat with photographer Larnie Nicolson, an Auckland based photographer who shoots for international publications and creative agencies. We talk about developing her distinctive graphic style, her architecture and interiors focus and how she keeps a human element. This article is proudly brought to you by mychillybin. How did you initially […]

3 years ago by

Fresh From The Field – Ahi Kā for BCFNZ by Colenso BBDO

BCFNZ turns to te ao māori to help empower women to get a mammogram. Colenso BBDO created a vibrant and eye-catching campaign, telling the story of wāhine Māori and their journey back to respecting their breasts. Want to submit your own work to Fresh From The Field? Fill out the FFTF form here. The brief: For […]

3 years ago by

Fresh From The Field – EAT… by Onfire

Onfire were asked to create a positive and bright personality to attract a younger and health-conscious audience. By addressing the eternal question of ‘what to snack on?’, the bright colours and bold typography work together to make the positive personality stand out from the shelves. Want to submit your own work to Fresh From The […]

3 years ago by