THE Brand

The artists

Find out more about the creative local Auckland artists behind the unique designs:

Glenn Jones aka GLENNZ

"There are a lot of Tui in my garden, I liked the idea of incorporating them into something identifiably Auckland.”

Auckland-based Glenn, a freelance graphic designer and illustrator, became one of the most popular designers on the North American online T-shirt shop Threadless.com; that led on to a centre of thriving international business via GLENNZ. His identifiably Auckland design is inspired by the native tui birds that wake him in the morning and the iconic harbour bridge which links his home on the North Shore with Auckland’s CBD. www.glennz.co.nz

What are some of your favourite places in the region?
Devonport, I grew up there. You can't get sick of places like North Head, Cheltenham Beach and the waterfront…

What’s your favourite place to eat in Auckland?
Thai House in Ponsonby Road. Nice people and always great food.

When you’re travelling overseas, what do you miss most about home?
Probably the space, I think when you’ve lived, or have been travelling for a while, it always seems so spread out when you come home.

What do you love most about Auckland?
It’s never too far away from anything

Penny Stotter

“I live on Waiheke Island for the freedom, peace and gorgeous beaches. I like walking down the street and seeing people I know. It makes me feel like I really belong somewhere.”

Penny is an award-winning artist and printmaker, living on Waiheke Island, whose work is regularly exhibited and represented by galleries the length of New Zealand. Her Auckland design, like her popular ‘Heritage Series’, is composed with an exquisite arrangement of native flora and fauna that invites you to look closer and immerse yourself in a delicate world of rare beauty and balance. www.pennystotter.com

How would you describe Auckland?
Auckland is a city with the best of all worlds - fantastic beaches, dormant volcanoes and a vibrant city life with enough cafes and shops to keep everyone happy. Not to mention that there are few places in the world allowing most people live close to a beach.

What will you be doing this summer?
Making the most of the great weather by exploring all the parks and beaches around Waiheke. I’ll also be having barbeques with family and swimming everyday in the crystal clear water.

What’s your favourite place to eat out?
I love the old classic SPQR in Ponsonby. You can’t beat sitting on Ponsonby Road people watching while enjoying their pizza with a glass of wine.

What would you say is ‘iconic Auckland’?
A good coffee at a great cafe.

Matt Hammond

“I love how different typefaces can tell you just as much about a place as something more illustrative.”

Matt, a talented graphic designer, spent time honing his creative skills in some of the world’s leading cities before coming home to settle on Auckland’s North Shore. Never far from a beach, Matt reckons he’s found the right mix of city and country lifestyle. His unique design uses typography to capture the different personalities of Auckland.

How would you describe Auckland to someone who’s never visited?
I couldn't describe it, I would just say "come check it out, you'll love it'

What will you be doing this summer?
I’ll be heading to the Coromandel Peninsula- a bonus of living in Auckland is how close it is to everything.

What does being an Aucklander mean to you?
Being some sort of city/country hybrid able to enjoy the benefits of both worlds.

What would you say is ‘iconic Auckland’?
Accessibility, you can pretty much do what ever you desire in one day.

What do you love most about Auckland?
It feels like such a relaxed, open, multi-faceted place for what is really quite a large city.

Sophie Tyler

“I wanted to capture the diversity of Auckland, how there's so many different things on offer. We trawled through twitter and blogs to find quotes so they're all real Auckland voices.”

Sophie trained at Elam school of Fine Arts in Auckland and shared her creative talents with both London and the Netherlands before returning home to her big sunny deck in the suburb of Remuera. Her “I love” design captures what Aucklanders cherish most about living, working and playing in Auckland.


How would you describe Auckland?
Central Auckland has a great waterfront with yachts in the harbour and lots of bars and restaurants. Further out from the city there's beautiful scenery, native bush and you have the choice of the black sand beaches on the rugged west coast or the calmer white sand beaches of the east coast.

What are some of your favourite places in the region?
Goat Island for the snorkelling, Woodhill Forest for the mountain biking, and Waiheke Island because I love having a glass on wine among the beautiful vineyards.

What will you be doing this summer?
Going to the beach and making the most of the summer events like Zoo Music and the Villa Maria Winery tour featuring New Zealand musicians.

What’s your favourite café?
Jafa in Grey Lynn do great hot cakes and I like Frolic in One Tree Hill for their Eggs Benedict and friendly service.

What do you love most about Auckland?
The trees, beaches, reserves (parks) and art galleries. All the nooks and crannies to explore with unique one-of-a-kind shops and cafes. And of course. the people.