Postgraduate Design Research — Jaime Kapa, Unitec

Welcome to Postgraduate Design Research – an opportunity to profile a selection of current design postgraduate students and their projects across our tertiary institutions. Today, we speak with Jaime Kapa from Unitec. What is your background and how did you get into design? I moved to London after graduating at AUT. I never used my […]

4 years ago by

DA Conversations Podcast with Sam Allan

Kia ora and welcome to Design Assembly Conversations. In this series we talk to NZ designers, hear their stories and celebrate their work. I’m Louise, Design Assembly Founder and Director and today I’m talking to Sam Allan. Sam is the founder and managing director of Onfire Design a specialist branding and packaging design agency based […]

4 years ago by

Kris Sowersby: The Art of Letters

Formist Editions has launched a Kickstarter campaign today to publish Kris Sowersby: The Art of Letters. A visually rich new book which examines the intersection of art, function and form in type design. We are surrounded by letters. Yet how do we perceive them? Are we even conscious of it? For a type designer, letters are something they […]

4 years ago by

Fresh From The Field — Kapsi by MakeBardo

MakeBardo‘s work pushes boundaries, Bren & Luis are masterful at innovating in the categories they design for. Kapsi is nostalgic while also feeling contemporary it is intentionally weird and most importantly distinctive. This Fresh From The Field explores the identity, packaging and campaign graphics which were recently recognised as finalists in the best awards. If […]

4 years ago by

Christchurch 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 Christchurch Wrap Party that took place at Exchange (XCHC) on Wednesday 4 November. Thanks to […]

4 years ago by

Meet our Friends… Sam O’Flaherty

We love the opportunity to get to know our DA friends better, so were happy to get the chance to speak with Designworks Sam O’Flaherty about his career, language as design, favourite (and least favourite) turns of phrase, the power of messaging, work that he is proud of and ‘being a chameleon without becoming invisible’. Friends want […]

4 years ago by

5 minutes with… Bron Thomson

With the creative sector seriously affected by coronavirus pandemic fallout, the Semi Permanent event has been repurposed and reformatted to meet new objectives, inspire and help ‘reboot’ our industry. On Thursday 12 November at Auckland’s Aotea Centre, New Zealand’s leading creative practitioners will showcase the breadth, depth, diversity and potential of the creative industries. Ahead […]

4 years ago by

Fresh From The Field — Hope St by South

Hope St empowers the most vulnerable children and communities to give them hope for the future. Studio South created a colour based brand system that speaks to the power of both giving and receiving. If you have new or recent work that you would like to share in Fresh from the Field email  nicole@designassembly.org.nz  for […]

4 years ago by

Graduate Show Preview: Adapt, Media Design School

We are previewing the talent on show at Media Design School Graduate Show Adapt opening this Friday 6th of November 5:00pm – 9:00pm Kathy Do ‘More than Movies’ The concept of escapism has been around for a long time, and in today’s modern society, it is more relevant than ever. (Even more so with the […]

4 years ago by

Fresh From The Field — Western Springs College by Jasmax

Flexible place responsive design, well-crafted built outcomes and vibrancy are the hallmarks of the Western Springs College signage undertaken by Jasmax, a poutama pattern adapted from tukutuku panels express the story of consistent learning and intellectual achievement, while bold colour and clear directory information allow students to navigate an adaptive and ever-changing learning environment. If […]

4 years ago by

Baggy Pants and Butter Paper… Bella Alexander-Kemble, Communication Design

This interview is the first 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 — Everyday Horrors by Method

This Fresh from the Field features Method‘s recent work on their own project Everyday Horrors Halloween game. 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 Team Method loves Halloween and with everything that has changed this year, and the possibility […]

4 years ago by

Wellington: EOY Wrap Event — Meet our speakers

Wellington DA Event: EOY Wrap Party 2020, November 11, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Join your fellow designers and creatives to celebrate the end of the year and the start of summer! What a year 2020 has been! So let’s get together – celebrate being back in level 1, commiserate and share our experiences of […]

4 years ago by

Fresh From The Field — RAAD

This Fresh from the Field is brought to you by our awesome partners Portfolio Recruitment. The Portfolio team are heavily invested in our design community and reached out to tell us about Creative Director Matt Saunders latest project RAAD. We think this is a phenomenal initiative and admire the kaupapa, the environmental stewardship, the RAAD […]

4 years ago by

Grow, Designed By Media Design School Students: Dannah Angela Soriano, Erika Marasigan, Logan Ware, Yancong Guo,

‘Grow’ is a volunteer recruitment campaign that promotes volunteering to people who are passionate, eager to learn, and are willing to give back to the community. The initiative designed by a collective of Media Design School Students was recently awarded in the Next Gen NG: Digital Design category in the Good Design Awards. Design Assembly […]

4 years ago by

Fresh From The Field — Zuru’s Health by Habit

This Fresh from the Field showcases more category disrupting work from Zuru edge. The Health by Habit wellness range rethinks supplement packaging and makes a bold statement in a crowded market. 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: […]

4 years ago by

Design & Books… Nature—Stilled

This is the first in a new series of articles looking at book design and books on design. We begin with Nature — Stilled a Te Papa press title designed by Inhouse. Publication date: October 2020 NZ RRP (incl. GST): $70.00 Extent: 364 pages Format: Hardback ISBN: 978-0-9951136-9-5 Cabinets of curiosities are not a new concept; wonderous collections housed in an […]

4 years ago by

Christchurch: EOY Wrap Event — Meet our speakers

Christchurch DA Event: EOY Wrap Party, November 4 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Join your fellow designers and creatives to celebrate the end of the year and the start of summer! What a year 2020 has been! So let’s get together – celebrate being back in level 1, commiserate and share our experiences of […]

4 years ago by

Graduate Shows: Tika Tonu, AUT South

As the academic year draws to a close the graduation events ramp up. Each year the Graphic Design Graduate Shows across Aotearoa provides opportunities to discover local talent, see what this generation of designers are thinking about, what they are making and help welcome these emerging professionals to our community. Tika Tonu is the 2020 […]

4 years ago by

Fresh From The Field — Pump Lifestyle Collection by Fly

The Pump Lifestyle Collection was recently recognised with Gold at Pride in Print and is a finalist in the 2020 Best Awards. The playful typography, innovative digital experience and quality print production in this campaign are of the exceptional calibre we expect from Fly. If you have new or recent work that you would like […]

4 years ago by

Semi Permanent 2020

Semi Permanent is back and an unprecedented year calls for an unprecedented lineup and format. One day, ten hours, 27 speakers and performers. Thanks to three key sponsors (ALT, Auckland City Council and Special Group), NZ designs favourite conference will be free to attend. In another first, Semi Permanent will also be live-streamed (so anyone […]

4 years ago by

Graduate Shows: RNDR20 – Victoria University Wellington – Te Herenga Waka

As the academic year draws to a close the graduation events ramp up. Each year the Graphic Design Graduate Shows across Aotearoa provides opportunities to discover local talent, see what this generation of designers are thinking about, what they are making and help welcome these emerging professionals to our community. Victoria’s RNDR20 opens Friday the […]

4 years ago by

Fresh From The Field — Commercial Bay by The Space In Between

The innovative Commercial Bay website is a place for storytelling and wayshowing. In this Fresh from the Field The Space In Between Founder Brendan Jarvis tells us while the UX design was relatively straightforward the development had its challenges. The result is a bold and compelling website that moves people to visit Commercial Bay, by […]

4 years ago by

Auckland: EOY Wrap Event — Meet our speakers

At our Auckland EOY Wrap Party you’ll also enjoy a digital exhibition of Mate Act Now – A protest for the digital generation, curated by Chris Flack and hear from local designers talk about their response to the brief: Clem Devine and Phoebe Ellis Leah Surynt Liam Ooi Wednesday 4 November 6pm – 8pm Objectspace […]

4 years ago by

Fresh From The Field — TEDx CHCH by Strategy

This Fresh from the Field by Strategy Christchurch is a reflection of people, place and culture expressed as a contemporary Tukutuku celebrating TEDxChristchurch new home (the iconic Christchurch Town Hall) and their 10th year.  Te Ao Māori narrative informs the intricate design created in partnership with Ngāi Tūāhuriri, the result is an exceptionally beautiful, sensitive […]

4 years ago by