the gas project

When is a cask wine not really cask wine? When you serve up some of Central Otago’s best wine is a unique presentation package that feels like a true luxury item. We worked with Mount Edward wines on design and development of a more sustainable way to package wine. Containing 2 litres of wine and available in Rose and Pinot Noir, it’s perfect for entertaining. Except the Rose sold out within a couple of weeks after launch.

It’s true, we will sometimes work for beer. Station Brewing are a small batch brewery based in Alexandra. We’ve known the owners for a couple three years now, and were chuffed to be asked to help out with some identity and graphic work for the new brewery. We produced some branding, including logo work, website and help with some social media for the 2 owners, who are committed, hardworking, make great beer and undoubtably do the best fries and chicken wings in Central. They’re off the main drag in Alex, in the industrial part of town, occupying a space that used to be a car wreckers. Right up our alley.

The Gas Project have designed their fair share of coffee brands. Sometimes the deal involves free coffee samples. Until now we’ve been reliant on a vintage Braun coffee grinder, that itself is reliant on an often unreliable Central Otago electricity network. So to keep visiting clients (and ourselves) in freshly ground coffee, the office has invested in a hand grinder by Japanese company Snow Peak through Wellington retailer and our new favourite store, Coffee Outdoors. The same old grind, just different. Great with Good Joe coffee. Drop in for a cuppa.

The Otago Brew School is a full time brewery course run by Otago Polytechnic / TePukenga from their Bannockburn, Central Otago / Comwell Campus. The by-product of teaching brewers is they make a lot of beer – in various styles. So they created a retail arm and Gas were tasked with naming, branding and package design. The can design is based on the location in Bannockburn, near Lake Dunstan – an environment surrounded by mountains and dramatic skies. The site is not only a brewery, it is the future of brewing in Aotearoa, by offering hands-on learning to help craft the next generation of brewers. We’ll drink to that.

Throwback Friday. A recent trip through Queenstown reminded me that Love Chicken does one of our favourite burgers. Which is just as well, because we designed the identity for the owner, Darren Love, as well as the mural inside. Love Chicken has been open a little while now and has established itself as THE place to get your chicken fix in the Central Lakes. They use organic Bostock Brothers chicken, and their sauces and salads are all made in-house. Another reason to cross the road…

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.

Mister D Dining in Napier asked us to design some labels for their new range (of frankly, delicious) dressings. Taking our cues from the interior (which we also originally helped with), the oils come in three flavours / colour ways and are available from the restaurant.

Al Brown and some of his winemaking friends joined forces to launch Tipping Point, a wine brand that not only supports charities close to Brown’s heart but also celebrate the regions. Constellation Wines approached us to help brand and label the new series. It’s always a pleasure working with Al, and being able to colab on a wine label was almost a dream brief. Parts of the design process, and most of the winemaking process was documented on video, here. Now available in supermarkets and wine stores, sales have exceeded expectations – always a good result. The wine tastes pretty good too.

The Tora Collective sustainably catch wild kaimoana from the nutrient-rich waters of Tora, on the beautiful and rugged South Wairarapa Coast. They then pack fresh (again, sustainably) and ship to restaurants and homes, straight from the ocean.
We helped create a brand for this amazing company, having first met them on a photo assignment for an Al Brown cookbook. Salt water flows in their veins.

Fishboy is / was the brainchild of Scott from FishSmith, a next-level F&C joint in Herne Bay we branded a few years ago. Fishboy shone brightly but recently sold, we’re not sure if the new owners will stay with the identity we put together. Our involvement included designing the identity, signage and website (built by HiHo).

Anyway, here’s the way it came together. Never got a chance to try their fish tacos either…