Semper Semper™

And here we have Episode 2 of Business Spotlight with Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce. Great kōrero with Sam Ashby. And yes really enjoyed hearing the story behind the same Semper Semper and some of the challenges we are navigating as small businesses at the moment. Thanks Sam And special thanks to Casey Morton for the tech magic at the start and end of the episode. Ka mau te wehi e hoa.

Last week I (Sam) had the pleasure of speaking with Darryn Gray and the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce about my design practice Semper Semper™. I thought I’d take a moment to expand on something we spoke about. It’s time for New Zealand to retire the No.8 wire. I said it. It’s time. Sorry. I’ve been living in Aotearoa New Zealand for four years now. I have the benefit of an outsider’s perspective and some things are astonishingly clear. The country’s economy has been struggling since Covid, interest rates are biting hard, productivity is close to the bottom of the OECD, confidence is down and it’s all being intensified by deep public sector cuts. Consequently brain-drain is becoming a big issue. What really confounds me is that there’s no sign of a plan or a roadmap out of this. So here’s my suggestion; New Zealand needs to form a national vision for its future. A picture of where it’s going and how it’s going to get there. A vision of a prosperous nation is a huge multifaceted thing, with many more factors than I understand. So I want to make a suggestion within a sphere that I do. New Zealand is no longer an isolated outpost. It’s time to engage with the world in a greater way. That’s a path to prosperity. The country’s exports are dominated by dairy, meat, foods and primary industries. These are industries to be proud of. But other areas of the economy need to be promoted and encouraged for the country to increase its productivity and prosperity. Digital industries, design, creativity, science, technology, industrial design and other services – these industries are genuine strengths and should be greatly encouraged to grow and expand out into the wider world. NZ should be exporting its creativity, skills and knowledge far and wide. There are many leading the way; Xero, Sharesies, PikPok, Resn, Weta Digital, Rocket Lab, and FTN Motion to name a few. But more need to follow. I’m impressed by the work that Callaghan Innovation and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise do in supporting these organisations. But it all needs to go further and aim higher. And so It’s time to retire the No.8 wire. There needs to a nationwide shift away from a make do / ‘she’ll be right’ attitude to one of quality. These industries mentioned; Digital, design, creativity, science, technology and industrial design etc – they thrive in an environment of quality. In a business culture that embraces and pays for quality, understands its benefits and integrates it deep into every facet of business – companies grow and thrive that can compete and win on the world stage. Encouraging and cultivating a culture of quality boosts New Zealand’s reputation across the board. Until one day, that reputation is so strong that the world comes to you. So for the sake of New Zealand’s future, ‘she’ll be right’ isn’t good enough. It’s time to strive for excellence. https://lnkd.in/ed4Jt8GV

Cubro is New Zealand’s leading supplier of medical technology, hospital equipment, community and aged care services. A healthy combination of fast growth, acquisitions, new services and enhanced high-tech offerings drove a need for a rebrand that would modernise, unite and represent the business moving forwards. Piece by piece, we worked with Cubro to overhaul their brand and digital presence from top to bottom. The visual identity joins the two halves of the business; care and technology, with Cubro’s visual identity sitting at the intersection of the two. These two halves are represented by the circle and square and brought together to form a unique logotype that positions the business for international growth. The new brand has methodically found its way through the entire operational chain and presents a unified face to industry, partners and patients alike. We worked with Cubro to deliver the visual identity, enhanced web and ecommerce experience, social, brochures, photo library, templates, vehicle livery and more. With heartfelt thanks to Cubro for their wonderful partnership. Credits Client: Cubro Creative direction & design: Semper Semper™ Digital design: Semper Semper™ & Salted Herring Web development: Cubro Photography: Emma Baker Photography Production: Kate Handley Motion design: Freddie Hottinger

The world is in flux. Business is being turned on its head and agencies are suffering. The time is right for the collaborative agency.

Check it out – website v1.5 is live, featuring a rising and setting sun (because optimism), and an Instagram style scroll mechanism. Site update by the talented and wonderful Barry Keenan and original site build by the amazing Andrew Joll. ↗ sempersemper.studio #design #graphicdesign #branding #identity #brandidentity #digitaldesign #motiondesign #studio #designstudio #designagency #sempersemper #sempersemperstudio #collaboration #wellington #newzealand #startup #entrepreneur #vision #optimism #future

↗ Update

Studio update: Sunny Tomorrow is now Semper Semper™ We’ve not exactly been active on social media but the foundations of something big are being quietly laid. We’re happy to say that our first year has been a success – filled with new client relationships, exciting projects and many more conversations. We’ve taken some time to reflect on where we’re going and we’ve come to the decision to change the studio name from Sunny Tomorrow to Semper Semper™. As the foundations rise out of the ground, you’ll start seeing a lot more of what we’re building. We’re all about branding and design for optimists and visionaries actively contributing to a better brighter future. If you have a vision or want to collaborate let’s talk. #design #graphicdesign #branding #identity #brandidentity #digitaldesign #motiondesign #studio #designstudio #designagency #sempersemper #sempersemperstudio #collaboration #wellington #newzealand #startup #entrepreneur #vision #optimism #future