2021 Hot New Things: Tom Graham, Media Design School

Each summer DA profiles a selection of the top design graduates coming out of our tertiary institutions. We welcome these talented emerging professionals to our industry, learn about their passions, final projects, developing creative confidence and ambitions for the future. Today we speak with Tom Graham from Media Design School. Was there someone (or something) […]

4 years ago by

2021 Hot New Things: Darcy Ellis, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University

Each summer DA profiles a selection of the top design graduates coming out of our tertiary institutions. We welcome these talented emerging professionals to our industry, learn about their passions, final projects, developing creative confidence and ambitions for the future. Today we speak with Darcy Ellis from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University     Was there someone […]

4 years ago by

Baggy Pants and Butter Paper… Gabby Pittar, Interaction Design

This interview is the fourth in a series from Hamish Besley (@hamo.b) a third-year student at Victoria University Wellington – Te Herenga Waka, Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation. Each interview was first published in Baggy Pants and Butter Paper, an editorial publication for students by students (conceived in Hamish’s final year of study). The […]

4 years ago by

2021 Hot New Things: Taylor Pahuru — Wintec

Each summer DA profiles a selection of the top design graduates coming out of our tertiary institutions. We welcome these talented emerging professionals to our industry, learn about their passions, final projects, developing creative confidence and ambitions for the future. Today we speak with Taylor Pahuru from  Wintec.               Was there […]

4 years ago by

Meri Kirihimete Ngā mihi nui

Meri Kirihimete from Design Assembly! We wish you and your whānau all the best for this festive period and hope you have a safe, restful, and enjoyable summer break. We acknowledge it has been a challenging year professionally and personally for many. But there have also been many things to celebrate. We are proud of […]

4 years ago by

Design & Books… Railways Studios: How a government design studio helped build New Zealand

Railways Studios: How a government design studio helped build New Zealand is the second title we explore in Design & Books. I (DA editor Nicole Arnett Phillips) was recently talking with an artist about the nostalgia he experienced discovering Ross Murray’s tourism inspired contemporary work. We talked about the use of our landscape in period […]

4 years ago by

Meet our friends… Bryce Groves

We love the opportunity to get to know our DA friends better, so we’re happy to get the chance to speak with Bryce Groves who recently returned to NZ from the UK. Bryce is an eclectic, experienced creative with a head for ideas, a knack for film and photography, and an eye for the practicalities […]

4 years ago by

Holiday Reading

Summer is here and the holidays are approaching with some pace, which for Aotearoa design means time away from the mac! Wherever you recharge over the festive season we hope there is time to relax and unwind. Many of our DA friends and partners are prolific readers so we asked a few to share their […]

4 years ago by

2021 Hot New Things — Kiran Kuruvilla, Wintec

Each summer DA profiles a selection of the top design graduates coming out of our tertiary institutions. We welcome these talented emerging professionals to our industry, learn about their passions, final projects, developing creative confidence and ambitions for the future. Today we speak with Kiran Kuruvilla from  Wintec.   Was there someone (or something) that […]

4 years ago by

Baggy Pants and Butter Paper… Guillaume Martel, Media Design

This interview is the third in a series from Hamish Besley a third-year student at Victoria University Wellington – Te Herenga Waka, Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation. Each interview was first published in Baggy Pants and Butter Paper, an editorial publication for students by students (conceived in Hamish’s final year of study). The interviews […]

4 years ago by

Fresh From The Field — He Puna Taimoana, Hot pools by the sea by Strategy

Chris Flack presented the New Brighton Hot Pools project during our June Under the Hood event. We were in awe with the scale of the project and execution (including the 60ft wide logo on New Brighton beach)! The He Puna Taimoana identity designed by Strategy was recently acknowledged in the Best Awards, has achieved remarkable […]

4 years ago by

2021 Hot New Things: Rob Burrowes, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University

Each summer DA profiles a selection of the top design graduates coming out of our tertiary institutions. We welcome these talented emerging professionals to our industry, learn about their passions, final projects, developing creative confidence and ambitions for the future. Today we speak with Rob Burrowes from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University Was there someone that […]

4 years ago by

This is not an interview — DA x SOUTH

Design Assembly collaborated with Studio South to deliver This is not an interview — Conversations on Studio Life; a panel discussion event for design students (and educators) on entering the industry. Featuring Design Leaders: Caroline Powley, Design Educator (Convenor) Sam Southwell, Creative Director, Studio South Phoebe Ellis, Design Lead, Previously Unavailable Ryan Mark, Creative Director, […]

4 years ago by

Side hustles — YelloHalo, Broadband with the power to save lives.

We are consistently in awe with what our design community achieves in their spare time! Creatives have a lot of heart and DA love’s design for social good projects so we were keen to hear more about Graeme Blake’s new side hustle YelloHalo, which aspires to donate $1m in its first year to ambulance services.  […]

4 years ago by

Fresh from the Field – Pause Breathe Smile for Southern Cross by Voice

Pause, Breathe, Smile is an evidence-based mindfulness program developed for New Zealand schools. Voice Brand Agency developed a playful and positive aesthetic approach for this important initiative. If you have new or recent work that you would like to share in Fresh from the Field email  nicole@designassembly.org.nz  for details. The brief: As part of its […]

4 years ago by

Meet our Friends… Heath Lowe

We love the opportunity to get to know our DA friends better, so were happy to get the chance to speak with Special Group co-founder Heath Lowe. Heath’s career began in the US and Europe, where he worked alongside some of the world’s most ambitious companies to bring their unique vision and products to market […]

4 years ago by

Fresh From The Field – NO BOUNDARIES by Culture&Theory

Vibrant colour and bold typography at the fore, this Fresh from the Field by Culture&Theory showcases editorial design which defies boundaries. If you have new or recent work that you would like to share in Fresh from the Field email  nicole@designassembly.org.nz  for details. The Brief: As part of their continued commitment to becoming a truly […]

4 years ago by

Baggy Pants and Butter Paper… Amelia Best, Industrial Design

This interview is the second in a series from Hamish Besley a third-year student at Victoria University Wellington – Te Herenga Waka, Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation. Each interview was first published in Baggy Pants and Butter Paper, an editorial publication for students by students (conceived in Hamish’s final year of study). The interviews […]

4 years ago by

Meet our Friends… Sara Fraser of Sartoria

We love the opportunity to get to know our DA friends better, so were happy to get the chance to speak with Sara Fraser of Sartoria about her career, creative process, navigating (and learning from) challenges, a love affair with Cuba street, and must do’s for creatives visiting Wellington. Friends want their friends to succeed. […]

4 years ago by

5 minutes with… Toby Morris

Art director, illustrator and comic Toby Morris takes big (often challenging) issues and distils them into digestible engaging visuals. Recently appointed creative director of the Spinoff, Toby’s collaboration with microbiologist and science communicator Dr Siouxsie Wiles informed us all how to stay safe and limit the spread of Covid-19. This important work was shared internationally […]

4 years ago by

Semi Permanent 2020 Highlights

This time last week the DA team attended the 2020 Semi Permanent event at the Aotea centre. It was an incredible day, 27 luminaries of Aotearoa art and design explored diverse creative, social and cultural themes. The entire event is available online to stream for free – you can watch on-demand here https://semipermanent.live/ We reflect on […]

4 years ago by

Fresh From The Field – Green party merchandise by Bryce Groves

Now the final numbers of the New Zealand election are done and dusted, new Design Assembly friend Bryce Groves looks back on some crazy days creating best-selling and infamous fundraising ‘merch’ for the Green Party. The Brief: As a volunteer and de facto creative lead on the Greens’ Marketing and Fundraising committee for several years, […]

4 years ago by

AUT and Lexus partner to support emerging design talent in Aotearoa

Lexus New Zealand has teamed up with the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies to encourage local entries into the International Lexus Design Award, to showcase New Zealand’s innovative design talent on the world stage. The Lexus Design Award competition works with a world-class panel of judges who are some […]

4 years ago by

Wintec School of Media Arts Graduating Exhibition

Haere mai! Come celebrate with us! Wintec’s media arts classrooms and studios will be transformed into gallery spaces as design, contemporary art, and communication students exhibit their creative mahi. While you’re there, seize the opportunity to own an original artwork at Ramp Gallery’s silent auction. Opening night and auction: Thursday 26 November from 4.30pm Exhibition […]

4 years ago by

Auckland Wrap Party

As we approach the end of a challenging year, and with the support of DA’s amazing partners Portfolio, Streamtime, Blutui, mychillibin, we gathered to celebrate, commiserate and share our experiences of 2020. We had a terrific turn out for our Auckland Wrap Party that took place at Objectspace Gallery on Wednesday 4 November. Thanks to […]

4 years ago by