About

Our Team

• Steve Thomson

  ECD / Founder

  Steve’s training in design and branding along with experience in content creation led him to found the business in 1999. Skilled in Brand, Advertising, Digital Marketing, Design and Creative leadership Steve has a passion for working closely with clients to ensure that in each project, strategic insights drive exceptional creative outcomes. Steve’s most satisfying experiences to date have been working with some of the best minds and talents in the business.

• Kurt Bradley

  ECD / Managing Partner

  Kurt has been a key business and creative lead in the agency for more than 20 years. Well-regarded for his hands-on approach in running brand and advertising projects, Kurt is a firm believer that strategic creativity drives effectivity, leaves lasting impressions and delivers on business objectives. His creative and team leadership has been pivotal in numerous successful campaigns, including internationally recognised work for SKY, Fox Networks, Winton and Northbrook. Kurt has an eye for great talent and brings a collaborative approach to every project, prioritising client success and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence in the agency.

• James Nielsen

  Design Director

  As a Design Director with over fifteen years of experience, James has worked in a number of globally recognised strategic branding agencies in London, Sydney, and Auckland, such as Landor, Interbrand, Re.Design and Hulsbosch. With a proven track record of leading teams to produce commercially successful and award-winning work, he has led major branding projects for IAG, Optus, TAB, Coles, APN Outdoor, Tyro, Oxford Properties, Australian Investment Council, Dexus, Cricket Australia, Northbrook, and Hydroflow. James has a proven track record of developing distinctive brands, whilst inspiring and guiding those around him. He puts insight and imagination at the centre of everything he does, combining strategy and creative with a focus on solving complex business problems.

• Imogen Temm

  Designer

  Imogen Temm is a graphic designer and art director with over a decade's experience. After kick-starting her career in student media, Imogen followed her passion for publication design and held positions at many of Aotearoa’s most well-loved magazines covering fashion, architecture and interior’s, creating a reputation as New Zealand media’s go-to freelance designer. Imogen has worked closely to artfully visualise stories alongside the teams at Fashion Quarterly, Home NZ, Kia Ora, Viva Magazine, The Spinoff, Your Home & Garden and Ensemble Magazine. Her experience in the media and print design has also led her to work with luxury brands and cultural institutions such as Webb’s and Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects. With a keen interest in fine art, visual culture, film and illustration, Imogen is continually seeking ways to bring unexpected yet polished creations into the world.

• Melissa Carr

  Studio Manager

  Melissa’s background is in the service industry and she brings these qualities to 4AM, ensuring the team has a strong platform from which to deliver great results. Melissa supports a process driven approach to our projects and is responsible for the financial back end of the agency.  She helps to ensure the 4AM team, our clients and suppliers are well caffeinated and all working together to maximum benefit.

• Audit, Research, Discovery

  We begin by immersing ourselves in your business. This phase involves learning the sector, the market, a competitive analysis, and an exploration of relevant brands and their positioning. Through this agency education, we gain an understanding of your organisation, its offerings, key differentiators, and business objectives. Our kick-off workshop with key stakeholders ensures that we uncover important insights, laying the groundwork for a strong positioning strategy.

• Naming

  When a new brand name is needed, we work collaboratively with you to generate name ideas that align with your brand strategy and resonate with your target market. This process includes desktop research to check the name is unique, available, and free from conflicts, including checks for domain name availability and potential trademark issues. This is not a full legal trademarking process, rather an initial check to ensure no obvious conflicts exist.

• Brand Strategy

  We distil research and insights into a clear, actionable brand strategy. This strategy defines how your brand will be positioned, communicated, and perceived in the market, setting it apart from competitors. The key deliverable in this phase is the 'Brand on a Page', a concise document that outlines your brand’s core values, personality, tone of voice, and strategic direction. This foundational document serves as the guiding platform for all subsequent creative work, from language and visual identity to design, creative and execution.

• Creative Territories

  To ensure we explore a range of effective creative solutions, we develop and test up to three distinct creative territories. These explore language, ideas, and visual concepts, presented through mood boards and reference materials. Each territory is unique, helping to set the tone and visual approach for the brand’s creative direction, and ensuring alignment across the wider team.

• Brand Concept Designs

  Often the most exciting stage in the process, this is where the brand really begins to take shape. Here we translate the approved creative territories into tangible design concepts. We design the look and feel of your brand, including logo, typography, colour palette, photographic approach, all linked to the brand strategy and selected creative territory. At this point, we also test designs in various contexts and applications to visualise the brand in different environments and touchpoints.

• Refined Brand Designs

  Following feedback on the initial concepts, we refine the chosen design direction into a fully developed brand system. This includes the detailed final crafting of logos, visual elements, layouts and design system, creating a cohesive toolkit ready for deployment. Every detail is carefully crafted to ensure quality, legibility, and flexibility.

• Core Asset Production

  With a strong visual identity established, the next step is the production of core brand assets. These could include photography, illustrations, renderings, iconography, videos, or animations—elements that bring your brand to life across various media. These assets will be added to over time as additional assets are created, this stage is where any of these initial and core brand assets are produced for delivery as part of the brand toolkit for use in future brand applications and marketing communications.

• Brand Guidelines

  To ensure consistency in the ongoing application of your brand, we create a comprehensive set of brand guidelines. This critical document outlines the brand strategy, design system, tone of voice, and the proper use of all brand components. It provides clear instructions for internal teams and external partners, ensuring that your brand is executed consistently across all touchpoints. The brand guidelines serve as a long-term resource, safeguarding the integrity of your brand and protecting the value of your investment.