BESPOKE ON KHYBER is a design studio specialising in kitchens and interiors. I have been working with the lead designer over a number of years prior to her launching this showroom, so I had the advantage of having a fairly good ‘feel' for her personal aesthetic. She's also well known for being very personable and people love working with her.

I wanted to incorporate her personal aesthetic into her new showroom. The branding needed to be luxurious and sumptuous, while still modern and with a bit of an edge.

This project began with logo design, as well as business cards (printed on super gloss laminted stock), advertising postcard, and flyer, as well as the showroom signage. There is more to come with a website and vehicle signage.

The project also included two panels for her current entry into the NKBA awards for 2009 (Robyn entered a bathroom and a kitchen). The biggest challenge for me as a designer, with these panels, was adhering to the many ‘rules' which included the information that was to be included, restrictions on images and more, while still producing a well designed panel which contributes to 20% of the overall ‘score' which determines the award, and in the midst of it all not lose the key goal of showing off Robyn's work.

THE PINK BEAR was a real special project to work on. Maree didn't just want to be ‘another online gift store'. It was really important to her that every aspect of the site reflected her as a person, but also had a ‘special' quality to it. She wanted her users to feel inspired and touched by the site. She had many ideas already when she came to me including the use of quotes throughout the site, an old teddy bear that was hers when she was a child, and her love of things that are different and had history. Maree was delightful in that she had a very clear aesthetic that was ‘her' and her enthusiasm was contagious. She is into all things vintage and a real ‘dyi' person with her creations.

The particular challenge was to take all these elements that were of such high sentimental value to Maree, and turn them into design elements, but without losing any of the sentiment for her, and treating them with the respect they deserve.

In the end its ended up being a really fun project. It included business cards (printed on matt laminated stock), website, magazine advertisments and advertising flyers.

NESS... I was thrilled when Ness approached me to design a logo for her and an EP. I had been fortunate to hear her perform and so knew what a quality performer she was and what her musical style was.

This brand was unique in that it wasn't for a business, it was for a person. It was branding her as an artist. She wanted it to include the meaning of her name (Vanessa: Butterfly). She is commonly known by her nickname ‘ Ness ' and has a butterfly tattoo which she designed, and had shaded in tones of blue (her favorite colour). I used all these elements in designing her brand.

MAKE ME STYLEE .... Fiona Davis is a personal stylist. When she approached me it and I began working on her branding, the biggest challenge was to find a design aesthetic that she consistantly connected with. In the end I asked Fiona to buy some fabrics and items that she liked, and I ended up with several fabrics and some matching dyed paua shell. From there I was able to start developing her brand. That has then evolved into a website that had a slight retro hint to it while keeping with the aesthetic style I established with Fiona.

Some projects end up being a negotiation between the clients desires and what they emotionally connect with, and the designers expertise and intuitions in what they do. I believe client satisfaction is very important, afterall its their story you're telling, but ultimately they are paying you to create good design... so you must find the compromise... and there's a special satisfaction when that is achieved.

GRAEME SKEATES LAW had existing branding, business cards etc. when he commissioned his website. So it was important that it seamlessly tie in with his existing branding, and reflect both the modern approach his business has, with its standing in the legal community. This project was a pleasure in that the existing branding was of a high standard, and easy to tie in with, and be able to keep my integrity as a designer.

I have had projects where clients want existing branding to be integrated into new work, but they have never invested in their original branding. I find in these cases the best thing to do is to explain to them the pitfalls of not having quality branding to start with, and often a simple improvements of design basics in their existing branding allows them to keep the essence of it, while moving forward with a higher quality end result.