Designworks Ltd

It was great to get together with our Aotearoa design community on Friday night to celebrate the Best Awards. We were honoured with 2 Gold, 3 Silver and 1 Bronze. So a huge thank you and congratulations to our clients Great Journeys New Zealand | KiwiRail and University of Otago, creative collaborators and of course our Designworks team. Congratulations also to all the other finalists and winners on the night. It’s always inspiring to see the incredible design coming out of Aotearoa New Zealand. And thanks Designers Institute of New Zealand for bringing us all together!

We're looking for our next talented Designworker.   Think you've got what it takes? Apply below or give us an email at hello@designworks.co.nz.

The University of Otago was the first university established in New Zealand. It has an incredibly rich and proud history. But its brand and identity was no longer a genuine reflection of who they had become and what they aspired to be. After 155 years, it was time for change. To signal a new direction for the University as a leader in Aotearoa me Te Waipounamu New Zealand and the world, embody its vision of becoming a truly Te Tiriti-centric institution, and open the way for the future makeup of staff and students. This project is the culmination of five years of creative collaboration and engagement with alumni, current students, staff past and present, mana whenua, public, academic expertise within and around the region. Beyond a logo, it was a comprehensive identity transformation spanning strategy and positioning, tone of voice and comms, name and wordmark, colour and typography and everything in between. At its heart, it’s about Tuakiritaka – pride in identity. Deepening connections to place, people and culture and restoring pride in Ōtākou as a place of many firsts. Acknowledging the University’s shared history and whakapapa, while speaking to the present, and providing clear momentum to navigate a path into the future. We are immensely proud to have been involved in creating an identity that strengthens a new sense of pride in identity for students, staff, alumni, community and New Zealand as a whole. Thank you Hone Paul Shelley Winsor Tony Ballantyne University of Otago Ephraim Russell, Bethany Ryan Lucy Bell Chas Carroll and everyone that was part of this journey – together, we dare.

We've been working with the crew at Coastguard New Zealand for a few years now, and this latest piece of work has been one of the most significant.    We're proud to have played our part in helping change misconceptions and broaden the appeal of the incredible work Coastguard does, so that they can better care for and protect all New Zealanders in our water-loving nation.    A project that's all about moving forward - and bringing all that heritage with us. Acknowledging Coastguard's past, present and future; people purpose and promise; oceans rivers and lakes. Shifting from an authority to the people you can turn to whenever you need help. Enabling more New Zealanders to enjoy themselves out on the water and get home safely - whether you're fizz-boating, yachting, jetskiing, kayaking, SUP-ing or blow up flamingo-ing. Tautiaki Moana - here for for boaties, whatever your waka.    Cheers crew, it's so great to see it out in the world.

We are excited to share a first look of our newly co-created visual and verbal expression for Te Hekenga Taikoa 紐華源流, Chinese New Zealand Heritage & Community. A valuable, dynamic, and community-owned resource helping build a more inclusive story of experience and identity in Aotearoa. Full case study coming soon.

Over the past five years, we have been working alongside the KiwiRail team to develop a new brand identity for Great Journeys New Zealand. Building on 150 years of rail heritage and thousands of kilometres of rail to celebrate the people, places and culture of Aotearoa New Zealand in an authentic and inspiring way.   Together, we have designed a unique Aotearoa New Zealand premium travel experience that is centred around the idea of Manuhiri, the gathering of the birds, our guests.   The full transformation across brand, comms, digital, uniforms, livery, spatial and everything in between has been a truly collaborative journey with so many amazing partners and contributors (not to mention an incredible client to keep it on track) – and it’s so great to see it out in the world. Mā te huruhuru, Ka rere te manu — with strong feathers, the great bird will soar.   Client: Great Journeys New Zealand | KiwiRail KiwiRail Artists: Ephraim Russell, Wayne Tasker Oscar Ferner   Build: KiwiRail (Hutt Workshops and Wellington based teams)

A special moment this morning to be present at the official unveiling of the new University of Otago / Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka identity. The culmination of five years of creative collaboration and engagement with Mana Whenua, The University and Local Council, this journey was all about building positively upon 154 years of history to set a new direction for the University and open the way for future staff and students from all walks of life. By deepening connections to people and place and restoring pride in Ōtākou as a place of many firsts, the University is taking the lead in tertiary education through a shared sense of identity that can unite us in confronting the challenges on the horizon and create better outcomes for us all. It has been an immense pleasure and priviledge to be involved. Thank you Hone Paul Shelley Winsor Tony Ballantyne University of Otago Ephraim Russell Bethany Ryan Lucy Bell Chas Carroll and everyone that was part of this journey – together, we dare.

We loved kicking off this year’s Designers Institute of New Zealand Best of the Best series at our studio last week. It was an evening filled with insights and outstanding, world-leading design processes crafted here in Aotearoa. Thanks for a wonderful evening and looking forward to the next one.

Excited to be featured on the ZEIL platform, in our search for the next addition to the DW team. 💪 If you're an accomplished Account Director who's ready to hit the ground running and work on some iconic NZ accounts - take a look!

We're thrilled to have our work for LyLo featured on The Brand Identity this week. Check out the feature with a few reflections from senior designer Liam Ooi.