1988–Present Surface Active | MagentaDot Brands

Sillicon Planet’s world-wide smile promo

August 3, 2017 / magentadotbrands.com / No Comments

When it comes to promoting entertainers, creating distinction is key.

Because of the tremendous competition in the market, promotions for Circus-Arts performers, children’s entertainers, need to be well thought out, be comprehensive and also entertain the reader in the same manner as performers do in order to capture the attention of any audience world wide.

Sillicon Planet’s New Zealand audience is a mash-up of schools, festival and event organisers, corporate clientele and talent agencies.
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WorkPace Ergonomic resting software draft packaging concept 3D digital rendering.

WorkPace packaging: great brands stand out

July 31, 2017 / magentadotbrands.com / No Comments

Whenever I am working on a packaging design project I’m focussed on one thing, how can I add value. How can I by research, writing, developing messaging and design elements add value? What strategy can I develop that will make the WorkPace breaks and exercises software brand better and stronger? What can I develop that will help create engaging packaging design concepts that appeal to office workers and their managers?
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Packaging carton for MyoPace EMG Equipment for Physiotherapy

MyoPace EMG carton

July 25, 2017 / magentadotbrands.com / No Comments

This beaut MyoPace packaging design uses simple, clear visual language as well as text as the approach to expressing the core messages and to simultaneously capture and hold the consumer’s attention.

The power of packaging for your brand

As a manufacturer it is your job to package your product well, advertise it to your audience nationally and internationally, take orders, ship your product, collect revenue, handle accounting and so on.
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MyoPace brochure makeover

July 20, 2017 / magentadotbrands.com / No Comments

The MyoPace EMG product capabilities brochure presents the utility of a high tech piece of medical equipment beautifully and inexpensively. The brief was for a product brochure makeover. A plain sheet of paper is transformed into an engaging, easy-to-read A5 three-panel brochure with full bleed printing and two rollover folds.

By combining well thought out and carefully art directed studio photography, a large format pastel illustration and clear typography the new brochure tells a user-friendly story in words and pictures.
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AbsoluteProof website, Markets page header detail.

Technical writing: Digital Proofing

June 29, 2017 / magentadotbrands.com / No Comments

Technical writing: Digital Proofing for print, packaging & graphic arts

I began to develop my technical writing skill in the late 90s when I was involved as a stakeholder in the development and marketing of the AbsoluteProof digital proofing solution. My stake in the development of this innovative “highest achievable standard” Digital Proofing solution encompassed both marketing strategy and the provision of all the marketing communications materials, including the writing of software “quick start” user guides and both marketing and technical writing about the printing, packaging, desktop publishing and graphic arts industry for the AbsoluteProof website and print promotions.
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Da Vinci rebrand: software brochures

March 7, 2017 / magentadotbrands.com / No Comments

Software brochures makeover for Da Vinci Communications

Desktop publishing is a path of discovery. Why is making something look better worthy toil? There are benefits to clarity, ease of understanding for busy people justifies hours in production.

Pleasing design needs no apology, even in technical publications. Artistic expression can be placed on the same level as informational expressional.
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Events Management Group: logo design & identity system

February 5, 2017 / magentadotbrands.com / No Comments

EMG Events Management Group was a Christchurch firm established to support the performing arts and project manage the creation and development of large and small scale events such as outdoor theatre for the city council’s parks & recreation department, conferences, conventions and bespoke corporate events.

Senior leaders in the firm were particularly keen on ensuring the logo design and branding positioned them well in the corporate market.
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Lifelike gecko wildlife art print

October 20, 2014 / magentadotbrands.com / No Comments

Jewelled Gecko limited edition large format art print

Surface Active | Making waves in a sea of sameness

Surface Active is an auto-printmaking design pARTnership established in 1986 by Shaun Waugh (boss) Chrissie Terpstra (bossier). Between 1986–2002 we were committed to producing original & indigenous designs of the highest design and screenprinting standards.

The technique of colour separating this design by hand involved breaking it down into eight separate designs, from which the screens are made. The separations are printed over each other, in layers to create the original hand screenprinted design. This crafty route is the only way to achieve the unparalleled vivid impression of the design.
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Illustration beats explanation

October 20, 2014 / magentadotbrands.com / No Comments

Illustration and graphic design, made well in Christchurch New Zealand, effectively connects our international clientele with global customer markets

To illustrate the logo for weekend The Arts Centre Market, the local artisan craft market located in the “Market Square” of the Christchurch Arts Centre, I used a custom pencil to draw inside and outside of selections to create the hard-edged graduated tones of a Charcoal pencil illustration style.

Whether it is part of a graphic design project for a client in Christchurch New Zealand with a local market—or with customers in Australia, the USA, Europe and Asia. Good illustrative design and infographics will always communicate clearly across language and cultural barriers.

The purpose of illustration is to make clear or to decorate an advertisement, brochure, logo, website or other textual story. Illustration continues to very often be the best way of providing visual communication or representation of something concrete described in the text or an abstract idea, function or process. Furthermore illustration will always guarantee that the client’s visual communication—whether logo, brochure, teeshirt trademark or website—is a unique brand expression.
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