Daymark

Creativity doesn’t emerge from a vacuum. Our team is a tapestry of skilled makers and doers who deliberately invest in their creativity. Books, music, movies, apps, or even your Nana’s stamp collection - it doesn’t matter. It’s all fuel for the creative fire. So today we’re asking… what’s your creative fuel right now???

“The facade is old. We are not.” How do you brand a legend without turning it into a museum? You lean into the paradox. We developed a strategy that reconciles Hamilton Hotel’s history with its new life as a contemporary restaurant and bar. The goal was a personality that feels both distinguished and slightly rebellious, allowing us to address the elephant in the room with a matter-of-fact tagline: “is not a hotel, is in Hamilton.” Honest, durable, and just a little bit cheeky.

Established in 1865. Reimagined for the long haul. The visual narrative was drawn directly from the archives. We developed a custom wordmark and monogram informed by the original facade, then integrated quirky historical fragments into every touchpoint of the guest experience. The result is a layered identity - a revitalised icon equipped to flourish in a modern landscape. Team members: Thomas Casey, Alexander Wastney, Charlotte Lowe, Essi Airisniemi Contributors: Photography: @picturedbylucie , @hellopoe Illustration: @keirrynhintzart

Waiting on you since 1865. For over 160 years, @hamiltonhotel.nz has been a cornerstone of Waikato’s social fabric. From hosting the Waikato Jockey Club and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 to surviving a total Beaux-Arts rebuild after a devastating fire, this establishment was a local titan until its doors closed in 1980. We were honoured to create a brand strategy that can preserve the integrity of the last 160 years while ensuring the next 160 are just as iconic. A huge thanks to our client Overproof Ltd for trusting our vision, and all of our contributors who played a vital role in creating this sharp strategy and identity. Team members: Thomas Casey, Alexander Wastney, Charlotte Lowe, Essi Airisniemi Contributors: Photography: @picturedbylucie @hellopoe Illustration: @keirrynhintzart Typefaces: Cortese by @markvanleeuwn Droulers by @bureau_brut Playground by @pangram.pangram ToY by @outofthedark.xyz Minott Davida by @hex_projects

Impossible. Until it’s not. Our work for Liminal is centred on this exact mindset – tackling the complex engineering problems that no one else can and making the solutions look easy. We partnered with Laurence Brown to translate a career of figuring out ‘how stuff works’ into a multidisciplinary brand that bridges the gap between hardcore engineering and an elegant design aesthetic. Liminal is built for the makers and future builders across civil infrastructure, mining, and manufacturing who refuse to compromise on quality. The identity delivers a macro-to-micro view, reflecting an ability to see both overarching project goals and minute technical details simultaneously. This strategy pairs an expert, insightful voice with a clean, modern aesthetic to promote trust and communicate the high value of Liminal’s engineering know-how. From 3D CAD design to seismic analysis, Liminal now has an authentic brand foundation that is as clever and comprehensive as the solutions they provide. @liminalengineering.nz @brownfamilylivin

We are thrilled to welcome Emma to our crew!! @emma.macd Emma blends a background in digital product design with a deep focus on UX, expertly translating complex user needs into seamless experiences. While her process may look like “creative chaos,” it is driven by a rigorous methodology that ensures every design is intentional and polished. Recently trading Wellington’s wind for the Waikato sun, she brings a sharp eye for detail and a lifelong passion for the creative arts to the team.

Cream Eatery has spent 5 years leaving ‘nothing but crumbs’ in the hospitality and catering scene. To celebrate, our team designed some new merch to add to their ever-growing collection. Freshly baked and ready to wear - ask for your new favourite threads at the counter @creameatery 🥯

You may have seen the Daymark brand at some of the Balloons over Waikato events this past week. We’re thrilled to be sponsoring the Balloons this year, and to have seen our allocated balloon ‘Prickly Pete’ take flight. The Balloons over Waikato Trust has built an incredible reputation over nearly 30 years, earning the goodwill of the community through Aotearoa’s premier hot air ballooning festival. After decades of bringing people together, hot air balloons have become synonymous with Waikato itself. We believe it’s deeply important to safeguard this Waikato event for generations to come - our team and their little ones certainly made the most of the festivities this year!

We couldn't have been prouder to work with such a talented client on this one. The result is an identity and digital platform that more accurately represents @edwardswhitearchitects and the care they bring to their work. The brand provides a clear, consistent foundation across all applications, while the website brings that identity to life in a way that feels purposeful and measured.

The new @edwardswhitearchitects website was built to function like a blueprint – clean, structured and intentional. We focused on a UI that balances high-impact photography with technical depth, creating a custom filtering system that allows users to explore everything from award-winning public landmarks to "Unbuilt" concepts. For a firm that defines the skyline, the digital experience needed to be just as robust as the structures they build. It’s not just a portfolio; it’s a tool that celebrates the human side of architecture. By centering the "People places" philosophy, the platform shifts the focus from static objects to the lived experience of architecture. We also integrated a team-focused narrative throughout the site, ensuring that the faces and culture driving the firm are as visible as the finished structures. Explore the site at the link in our bio.

Closing the perception gap – does your brand actually reflect the caliber of your work?

 Late last year we had the privilege of working with local award winning creatives @edwardswhitearchitects . They engaged us to develop a brand identity that better reflected the way they think, design and work. While their practice is informed by context and careful execution, this depth wasn't consistently coming through in their brand. We needed a foundation that could communicate not just their finished projects, but the thinking behind them. The core idea underpinning the work is “People places.” This strategy shifts the focus away from architecture as the admiration of "finished objects" and places it on the human experience. It’s a belief that thoughtful design exists to enrich everyday life. Our task was to translate this philosophy into a coherent identity that captures the firm’s true DNA - architecture centred on the people who use it. Team: Jackson Croucher, Alexander, Wastney, Charlotte Low, Essi Airisniemi, Jason Tiller Typefaces: Ionic No 5 Light by @bymonotype , Basel Grotesk by @optimofoundry , Aktiv Grotesk Condensed by @dalton.maag

It's giveaway time ❤️ Originally designed as an exclusive Valentines gift for our clients, we’ve saved two of our limited edition 2026 calendars to give away to you! This isn't your average planner. It’s a beautifully crafted Risograph calendar featuring 12 unique perspectives of Kirikiriroa. From hidden corners to iconic views, it’s a year-long celebration of the city we call home. How to enter: Follow both @daymarkstudio and @designwellstudio . Tag a friend in the comments below (one tag = one entry). Entries close: Midnight, March 4th. Open to NZ residents only. Two lucky winners will be drawn and contacted via DM. Photography: @hellopoe Words: Adapted from Tannhäuser / Derivè by Refused Design: @mysta_cool and @jackson.graphic Typography: Publisher Mix Medium by @abcdinamo Production: Two-Colour Risograph Print by @studioqprinters