the gas project

We designed this small but significant poetry book for Ngai Tahu writer Gabrielle Huria and publisher Canterbury University Press. At only 140x210mm, her writing packs a punch.

A new project with Al Brown and illustrator Hope McConnell is a booked aimed at introducing fishing to new and young anglers, with tips, tricks and recipes when you get lucky. We worked with Al, Hope and the team at Allen & Unwin to design a book full of life and colour that will sit comfortably at the bach or the townhouse. Out now.

This year’s annual report for the MacDiarmid Report built on the idea of expansion – of expanding minds, expanding materials science and the expansion of a new breed of scientist into the working and research environment. Materials science is becoming increasingly important with climate pressures, energy supply and mineral and fossil fuel use. New and improved materials will lessen our reliance on fossil fuels and outdated battery technology, while new solar technology should lead to cheaper energy. All of these lines of research, and much more, are being done by the institute. Powerful stuff.

Oh boy, this book was a biggie! Close to four years in the making, various points of contact, hundreds of images and the weight of responsibility with working on one of the county’s most loved brands.

Sure to Rise: The Edmonds Story tells of the famous baking powder, patents, trademarks, the hugely popular cookbook, renowned factory and gardens, the family behind the brand, and the landmarks founder Thomas Edmonds gifted to Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Authored by Peter Alsop, Kate Parsonson and Richard Wolfe, the book uses more than 500 images to help document the Edmonds family story alongside the evolution of one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most distinctive brands and its domestic trademark – the Edmonds Sure to Rise logo. Done and dusted, and available from (most) good book shops.

Yes, annual reports are still a thing. We spent the 80s and 90s designing annual reports for large power companies, amongst others, and thought we’d seen the end of lining up rows of financial results in 7pt Franklin Gothic. However, when the MacDiarmid Institute came to us requesting a report that had only 5% pages of financials and 95% new science, we said ‘heck yeah’.

Working on this book bought with it a series of emotions. While a great project to work on, with an enthusiastic client, there were moments of sadness looking at some of the businesses in here, and their operators, who have passed. People who changed the way we eat, who led Auckland (and NZ) out of the food wasteland that was dining in the 60s and early 70s. On the upside, there’s a focus in this book on the strong women, who worked in hospo through the 80s and 90s when kitchen life was real hard (it still is), but who also partied hard. Some good friends are featured in here, with period photography, interviews and some wonderful recipe illustrations by Kohl Tyler-Dunshea. Available now through the Lazy Susan website. Eat up.

This is fourth book in the kōrero series from Massey press of ‘picture books for grownups’, we’ve designed. Gas worked with the very talented poet Lynley Edmeades and artist Saskia Leek to produce, what is to date, certainly the most colourful book so far. Available from good independent bookstores, or through the Massey Press website. Miraculous.

The New Zealand Railways Studios produced some of the most striking design and advertising in the country, from the early 1900s until the early 1980s. This book charts the history of the Studios, it’s staff and achievements, and at over 300 pages, contains A LOT of their amazing work. Published by Te Papa Press and a labour of love for all concerned (Mr Alsop, take a bow). We needed a nice cuppa (from a Railways cup, natch) when it went to print.

Being a company director is not the laid back, sweet and cushy role most people think it is. Tony Balfour knows this from first hand experience and decided to offer fellow directors some common sense advice. We were tasked with design and getting this little guide to print. Lisa Moes did the illustrations throughout and Chris Sowersby’s Tiempos did the typographic heavy lifting.

Lloyd Jones is an incredible writer. Euan Macleod is an astounding painter and artist. Designing a book where their talents are combined was a huge privilege and a little daunting. Trying not to come off as too much of a fan-boy whenever we met to discuss the project proved difficult, but the book itself fell into place very easily. Think of High Wire as a picture book for grown ups. It’s the first book in a series where artists and photographers are paired with writers and poets. We can’t wait to get stuck into the next one.