Studio:
Warren and Mahoney
Year:
2017 - 2023
Collaborators:
Studio Akin
Sons & Co
Alt Group
Perceptive Research
Services:
Creative strategy
Design direction
Art direction
Brand direction
Brand rollout
Brand activation
Video and photography
Website design
Publication design
Packaging design
Social media
Marketing
Business development
Warren and Mahoney
Year:
2017 - 2023
Collaborators:
Studio Akin
Sons & Co
Alt Group
Perceptive Research
Services:
Creative strategy
Design direction
Art direction
Brand direction
Brand rollout
Brand activation
Video and photography
Website design
Publication design
Packaging design
Social media
Marketing
Business development
Warren and Mahoney was recently named one of Fast Company’s top 50 ‘Most Innovative Companies’ and top 10 ‘Most Innovative Architecture Firms’ in 2023 - a tangible outcome of the brand’s evolution over the last 6+ years.
Unrestricted by output, our strategy was to amplify the business through a hopeful identity that embodies the collective energy of 400+ people. Connecting us to the Pacific regions and divergent disciplines in which we work.
This is seen and felt right across the business - as hosts, thought leaders, creative innovators and futurists, cultural and environmental guardians, and as people not product.
“Justin has made a massive impact on the organisation, through his work, work-ethic and creative outlook.
He has achieved a lot! For example, he has helped shape the bold brand expression we enjoy today, has inspired the way we shoot and talk about our projects, has contributed directly to many important project wins, and more recently he has led the development of our brand and experience service offering and the portfolio for this work is impressive!
This list doesn’t really scratch the surface, and that is one of Justin’s key strengths, his ability to impact across the organisation.”
- Chris Tillman, Group Clients and Markets Director, on behalf of Warren and Mahoney
Kiwi Property, art direction is collaboration with Benn Jae
Warren and Mahoney is a pacific design collective.
Creators and makers designing a brave future.
Proudly of, and from the South Pacific. We’re inspired by rich cultures, equitable ideas, and a deep connection to the natural world. We’re founded on the idea of creative partnership. Exploration and excellence co-exist in harmony and tension.
We design at the intersection of culture, sustainability, and technology. By weaving these threads together our work makes a positive contribution to society’s most important challenges.
Japan launch campaign
South America launch campaign
Brand guidelines Hero the work at all times.
Any graphic design devices present should only elevate, not detract from it.
Our People Are Our Brand. We wanted to ensure the personality and diversity of our collective is brought to life through the brand.
Fluid Dynamics. The brand needed relevance across our full spectrum of work - from a high-end house to a city-making hospital or boutique brand pop-up.
Brand as a System. The design system needs simple, repeatable moves that can be easily understood and used efficiently and consistently by a collective of 400+ with ranging skill levels.
![]()
Our People Are Our Brand. We wanted to ensure the personality and diversity of our collective is brought to life through the brand.
Fluid Dynamics. The brand needed relevance across our full spectrum of work - from a high-end house to a city-making hospital or boutique brand pop-up.
Brand as a System. The design system needs simple, repeatable moves that can be easily understood and used efficiently and consistently by a collective of 400+ with ranging skill levels.
Mediaworks, art direction in collaboration with Samuel Hartnett
We structured brand workshops with a diverse cross section of the firm to understand their thoughts and aspirations with regard to Warren and Mahoney now and into the future.
Engagement included an all staff survey to find the edges in terms of current brand perception and how they would like to see it evolve. This was also important to build collective ownership of the brand and its evolution.
There was strong alignment across the firm in terms of brand perception and brand ambition. We identified four key brand attributes that have informed the entirety of the Warren and Mahoney brand identity: hope, excellence, the power of our collective and the Pacific region.
Perceptive Research Agency were commissioned to ensure our brand insights were not developed in an echo chamber. 14 in-depth interviews were conducted with a mix of commissioning clients, collaborators, construction companies and the wider architecture and design ‘sector’. This solidified our brand strategy, and confirmed that the brand could ‘afford to loosen its collar’ to be less formal and corporate. A key response to differentiate us from a market drowned in black and white and bold-all caps typologies.
![]()
Identity Matters - brand strategy
Engagement included an all staff survey to find the edges in terms of current brand perception and how they would like to see it evolve. This was also important to build collective ownership of the brand and its evolution.
There was strong alignment across the firm in terms of brand perception and brand ambition. We identified four key brand attributes that have informed the entirety of the Warren and Mahoney brand identity: hope, excellence, the power of our collective and the Pacific region.
Perceptive Research Agency were commissioned to ensure our brand insights were not developed in an echo chamber. 14 in-depth interviews were conducted with a mix of commissioning clients, collaborators, construction companies and the wider architecture and design ‘sector’. This solidified our brand strategy, and confirmed that the brand could ‘afford to loosen its collar’ to be less formal and corporate. A key response to differentiate us from a market drowned in black and white and bold-all caps typologies.
Identity Matters - brand strategy
Client and employee gifts
Website concept - in collaboration with Sons & Co
Design Biennial collection
The intent of Warren and Mahoney's studio biennial is to challenge, provoke and inspire; to raise awareness of work occurring beyond individual horizons and to build a sense of pride in collective achievement. It is a tactile record of your contribution - its weight and substance carries meaning. It feels at once exhilarating and exhausting.
This publication takes a broad view of design, and is structured to reflect the varied phases of our process - from ideation to implementation. At Warren and Mahoney, we are all creatives. Design encompasses everything that we do - conceptual ideas, technical execution, strategy and communication. Design is a broad and inclusive belief rather than a narrow concept.
While this biennial is illustrated with the efforts of 24 months - its fundamental purpose is forward looking - to continue to challenge the stasis of the status quo, and to inspire us all to innovate and evolve within our area of expertise. To set new benchmarks for quality and creativity for our peers to aspire to exceed.
Snapshot of brand strategy and design process
Snapshot of submission and design competition documents Art direction
Through ongoing testing and refining, we defined a strong, curated approach to art direction. Project photography, videography, visualisations (renders and animations) as well as future supporting materials (diagrams, reference imagery, drawings etc).
Evidence includes international media attention, internal support right across the studios, publicly through social meda, as well as acknowledgement through local and international awards. It is clear this direction helped bring our work to a global audience.
