If you're starting something new, or your brand has grown in ways your logo and colours haven't kept up with, I can help. Sister is a small, independent studio with 15 years of design experience behind it. I create brand identities and custom logos for New Zealand organisations of all sizes, from a postpartum doula service starting out to the country's largest independent science organisation.
Start-ups, SMEs, product brands, not-for-profits and member organisations that want a brand that looks like it belongs to them, and senior thinking without big-agency fees. That includes food and drink producers launching a new product or range, who need an identity that works on shelf as well as online. It's also for agencies and studios that need a senior designer to help build one, or to roll one out.
Every project is scoped to what you actually need, but a new brand identity usually covers:
Once your identity is ready, I can carry it through to a clean, simple website. I design it in Figma and build it in Webflow, so you can easily update it yourself or leave it to me to look after. It suits small businesses, product launches and organisations that need a clear, well-crafted site rather than a complex build.
If your brand mostly works, a refresh is often the answer. That can be anything from optimising your logo to a full review of your brand and how to build on it.
I start by listening: who you are, who you're talking to, and what's not working now. From there I look at the big picture, develop design routes, then refine one with you until it's right. It's a journey, and you deal with me the whole way, from first chat to final files. No account managers, no hand-offs. I'm relaxed and easy to work with, so the process feels more like a good yarn than a board meeting. If a project needs more hands, like a copywriter, photographer or developer, I bring in trusted specialists and keep it all running smoothly, on time and on budget. I work remotely from my studio in the Waitākere Ranges, so you don't need to be in Auckland. I work with clients across New Zealand and can work with you wherever you are.
Type does a lot of the work in a brand, and it's where I've spent the most time training. I studied typeface design at Type@Cooper in New York, so I can draw letterforms rather than just choose them. That means a wordmark that's truly yours, and a type system that holds together everywhere it appears.
No. I'm based in Auckland, but I work remotely, so I can work with clients anywhere in New Zealand and wherever you are.
Often a refresh is enough. If people already recognise your brand, a careful evolution keeps that goodwill while fixing what isn't working. That's what I did for Cawthron. We'll work out which one you need in our first conversation.
Yes. Guidelines are part of most identity projects, so your team and suppliers know how to use your logo, colours, type and graphics consistently.
Thinking about a new brand or a refresh? Tell me a little about your organisation and I'll be in touch.