Chook HQ

Chook HQ Brand + strategy
Graphic + digital design
Marketing + advertising
Love your brand

Last week I stepped away from Chook HQ to participate in a non-corporate team building exercise, otherwise known as The ...
08/04/2026

Last week I stepped away from Chook HQ to participate in a non-corporate team building exercise, otherwise known as The Term One School Trip.

The were substantial… I’d like to share my key takeaways.

1. KPIs matter: only two injuries were sustained in my cohort with one ice pack deployed. Well within acceptable parameters.

2. Voice activation strategies matter: you MUST utilise the power of the singing word to command group attention. A rapid-fire clap is a suitable addition when circumstances require.

3. Stakeholder buy-in is essential: holding one’s hand aloft and expecting the gesture to be reciprocated, followed by silence, can take an uncomfortably long time when the audience is between eight and nine years old. Please see point 2.

4. Know your non-negotiables: being told “you can drive instead of coming on the bus” produces a level of joy I can only compare to a $10m lottery win. Guard this privilege carefully.

5. Language matters, choose it wisely: stating “don’t run” to a group is, in practice, an invitation to maximise speed across all subsequent activities.

6. Protocol must be clearly defined: under NO circumstances should anyone attempt to stand up, unless formally invited by a qualified member of the teaching community.

Feel free to cascade these learnings to your teams.

A new project!   for a rural veterinary practice in  .Country Vets provide practical advice, no jargon, no fluff. They u...
27/02/2026

A new project! for a rural veterinary practice in .

Country Vets provide practical advice, no jargon, no fluff. They understand farming as a business and prioritise saving time, reducing stress and improving financial outcomes for clients. But beyond the practical side, they build long-lasting relationships with the families and farmers they work with, based on trust and reliability.

The existing vibe for vet clinics relies a lot on clichés… busy layouts, cartoon animals, the green cross graphic and messaging that reads like either a science textbook or a kid's birthday party. Neither lands well with farmers and rural families who mostly just want someone competent they can actually talk to. So the brief was to build something modern and minimalistic, with strong and a understated colour palette.

We created a that's professional enough to be taken seriously, distinctive enough to be remembered, and... no pawprints required.

A new project!   for a rural veterinary practice in  .Country Vets provide practical advice, no jargon, no fluff. They u...
20/02/2026

A new project! for a rural veterinary practice in .

Country Vets provide practical advice, no jargon, no fluff. They understand farming as a business and prioritise saving time, reducing stress and improving financial outcomes for clients. But beyond the practical side, they build long-lasting relationships with the families and farmers they work with, based on trust and reliability.

The existing vibe for vet clinics relies a lot on clichés… busy layouts, cartoon animals, the green cross graphic and messaging that reads like either a science textbook or a kid's birthday party. Neither lands well with farmers and rural families who mostly just want someone competent they can actually talk to. So the brief was to build something modern and minimalistic, with strong and a understated colour palette.

We created a that's professional enough to be taken seriously, distinctive enough to be remembered, and... no pawprints required.

Photography by the excellent

Chook HQ has closed for Christmas.We’re currently doing what all chickens do this time of year: lying very low and prete...
23/12/2025

Chook HQ has closed for Christmas.

We’re currently doing what all chickens do this time of year: lying very low and pretending turkey is a distant cousin.

Assuming we survive the festive period and someone remembers the office door code, we’ll be re-opening the barn doors on Monday 12 January.

Have a great Christmas everyone….

Here’s a recent   project for specialist fibreglass engineers FCE Consultants over in Australia.Their work demands preci...
02/12/2025

Here’s a recent project for specialist fibreglass engineers FCE Consultants over in Australia.

Their work demands precision, durability and visible craftsmanship, so the brief was all about creating something clean, robust and technical. We built a that demonstrates structure and fabrication with a deliberately engineered feel... it needed to work consistently across everything from digital applications to uniforms and vehicle signage.

If you’re building, making, crafting or creating, and want your brand to reflect the quality of your work, let’s cluck.

A new visual identity for  ® CGI Installers has officially flown the nest at Chook HQ.Designing a   or visual system for...
22/11/2025

A new visual identity for ® CGI Installers has officially flown the nest at Chook HQ.

Designing a or visual system for a well-established is a great challenge… it has to feel fresh and distinctive while still being familiar to the people who already know and trust it.

We built the entirely from parts of the master GIB® logo and reshaped them into the outline of New Zealand, highlighting the nationwide network of installers. It keeps the visual DNA instantly recognisable while giving installers a clearer, distinctive identity of their own.

The result is a system that feels connected, credible, and ready to roll out across everything from vehicles to uniforms.

Three jobs approved for   yesterday…Is it just me, or do other designers start to fizz a little when a client says, “We ...
22/10/2025

Three jobs approved for yesterday…

Is it just me, or do other designers start to fizz a little when a client says, “We want to get them printed”?

Thinking stock, finishes, samples, PMS colours, even pagination, is exciting. The proof arrives, you hit go, and hope to Ted Lasso there are no last-minute cock-ups.

The job lands, it looks even better than you promised, and for a brief, glorious moment… what a time to be alive.

I love the pace and scope of , but print reminds me why I started designing in the first place.

Here’s one of the jobs I hit ‘go’ on this week: a 24-page brochure pulling through elements from our recent brand refresh. The spot UV on the wallpaper adds a bit of sparkle!

A strong brand doesn’t happen by chance… it’s a process. It’s not just about logos or colours, it’s about creating somet...
15/10/2025

A strong brand doesn’t happen by chance… it’s a process. It’s not just about logos or colours, it’s about creating something that fits your purpose, connects with your audience, and keeps standing out in the coop long long term.

And it’s doable on a budget, especially if you’re open to collaborating and investing some time early on.

Here’s a snapshot of how it’s done here at Chook HQ.

Get in touch if you want some more detailed cluckin’ info.

We just did some work with Contact Energy Ltd to help their customers make sense of the mystical scroll that is the Powe...
03/10/2025

We just did some work with Contact Energy Ltd to help their customers make sense of the mystical scroll that is the Power Bill.

Unless you moonlight as an energy analyst, these things can be tricky to understand, that’s why infographics are a game-changer. Instead of numbers and jargon, you can instantly see how power reaches your home and what makes up your bill. They’re a cost-effective way to create custom visuals that are consistent with your brand.

The key to a good infographic?
- Keep it simple: a single clear message is stronger than cramming too much in.
- Less is more: avoid cluttering with graphics that distract from your message.
- Make it scannable: bold headings, big numbers and clear sections.
- Stay accurate: pretty graphics can’t save dodgy data.
- Know your audience: everyday humans, not engineers.

At the end of the day, no one’s putting their power bill on the fridge (unless that’s your thing), but they might share an infographic.

We teamed up with Contact Energy to give  's trusty van, Ricky Biker, a fresh new look.Custom   and a few extras later, ...
12/09/2025

We teamed up with Contact Energy to give 's trusty van, Ricky Biker, a fresh new look.

Custom and a few extras later, Ricky’s rolling around Taupō with a makeover he’s pretty chuffed about.

If you haven’t heard of Kids Bike Taupō, they’re doing good things bringing bikes to local kids and building a strong cycling culture in the region. Check them out here: https://www.biketaupo.org.nz/kids-bike-taupo

Designing   for   fairs sounds easy enough, right? Just make the client look flash and stand out.But when you break it d...
22/06/2025

Designing for fairs sounds easy enough, right? Just make the client look flash and stand out.

But when you break it down, there’s a bit more going on:
- You’re talking to multiple audiences including students, recruiters and lecturers
- There’s usually limited attention spans on the day
- There are tables, booth setups and weird viewing angles
- And let’s not forget… a truckload of logos.

So your has to work hard. It’s gotta cut through the noise, make sense from a distance, and still feel totally on brand.

My go-tos?
- Big, bold headlines
- Layouts that work whether you’re across the room, or up close scanning a QR code
- Strong vibes

Good design isn’t just about looking sharp, it’s about nailing the brief. Even if that means making a QR code look good.

Here's a few posters we hatched for Contact Energy Ltd recently.

I had a great night at the   NZ Workplace Health & Safety Awards last night thanks to It was awesome to see how business...
18/06/2025

I had a great night at the NZ Workplace Health & Safety Awards last night thanks to

It was awesome to see how businesses are making health and safety less about box-ticking and more about real change for their people.

AutoSense were conference sponsors and I worked with them to design their conference stand and marketing material. The aim was to drive and spark quality so we built in clear service breakdowns, a “Policy Pit Stop,” and a branded prize pack to pull people in.

Here’s how it came together 👇

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Chook HQ
Auckland
1072

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