Tailwind is 9! 🥳

This week we are stoked to celebrate 9 years since Tailwind was founded!

Time absolutely flies. Our freelance roots go back to 2003 with my first commercial project: designing a boutique muesli packaging range for worldwide distribution. This trial-by-fire of gravure print production with transparency and changeout plates was a total disaster. The design was great, but the print production cost the client more than it should have because I had no idea what I was doing! Who knew that tasking a 7th former with his first project as a way to cut costs would backfire! Thankfully this didn’t kill my desire to pursue a graphic design career.

I'd love to have an example to show but my files don't quite go back that far. Here is the oldest commercial project I have on file. From 2005, in my second year at uni, a logo and business card for a family friend’s plumbing business. This logo is still in use today! And thanks to timeless power of Futura, it still looks pretty good 21 years later.

Cut to today, 23 years later, and 9 years into running my own business, Tailwind is something I'm immensely proud of. To mark the occasion we thought it would be fun to highlight a few clients that have been with us since the beginning. Have a read about these below!

We've worked with Body of Work for 10 years, establishing their brand which has well and truly stood the test of time! Following a business journey adjacent to ours, with a shared ethos for awesome service and support, has been extremely fulfilling. 

In the first months of Tailwind, Airport Equipment can be credited for keeping us afloat! Starting a new business is hard work, and gaining a regular client base takes time. Our strong relationship with this amazing local business has gone from strength to strength. From rebranding the company in 2016, to building a massive portfolio of marketing collateral, proposals and presentations, we've done it all. Even user interface design for controlling passenger boarding bridges and managing airport infrastructure! A client that trusts design-led thinking to make something awesome, even if we've never done it before, is a massive gift. 

I was company's first in-house designer in 2014 and Tailwind has continued to support the business since then. They've since expanded to a nationwide powerhouse with factories in the South Island and North Island. We rebranded Real Steel in 2021 and have built a huge portfolio of digital and print assets since then.

Since 2015 we've been working closely with Hamilton-based Transport Trailers to elevate their brand. They're known as manufacturers of premium heavy tipping equipment and you'll see their trucks all over New Zealand roads. One you notice their logo, you see it everywhere! We recently hosted Managing Director, Mike Stevenson, at Tailwind for a few days to collaborate on an expansive new company brochure project. We've designed everything with their logo on it for over a decade, and supported them through numerous anniversaries, digital projects, events, and everything in between. 

Local building company and property developer, Kiwi Homes, was our first foray into the property industry and we've had extensive experience in that space ever since, from builders to tradespeople to developers of all shapes and sizes. We rebranded the business in 2022 and have supported their marketing efforts with each of their developments, including our new offices! There's more happening in this space which we look forward to showing you soon.