About

4AM offers a different approach. Smart, agile, flexible, user friendly, business savvy, ego free and highly productive.

Who We Are

We work across design and advertising - with an integrated approach designed around customer needs rather than traditional structures. We bring it all together with a hands-on and personalised team able to define, design and deliver through identity, story, campaign and comms.

4AM is a highly productive alternative to boutique style brand design studios and large scale agencies. Focused, agile and effective with the clarity of thinking and creative solutions that cut through and work at brand speed, for highly profitable and impactful outcomes.

Founded in 1999, 4AM successfully traded as Brandspank for 25 years before renaming and re-launching as 4AM in 2024. Across that time the agency has helped clients grow, communicate, and make an impression across an impressive range of sectors, including sport, automotive, FMCG, education, broadcast, property, tourism and hospitality. Through deep experience and gained understanding, we have the ability to focus on what’s important.

What sets us apart? Well we actually care. About client objectives, their business or organisation, their customers, as well as our work, our team and our standards of delivery. We work with pace and energy and are collaborative in our approach, bringing creative thinking alongside and inside our clients business to realise potential, build brand and deliver confidence. We have seen how insights of human behaviour can drive ideas that when creatively executed bring life to brands, their messages and can even make them famous.

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GMT+12
Auckland

Our Team

  • Steve Thomson

    ECD / Founder

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    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

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    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

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    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.

  • Helen Prangley

    Client Services Director

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    With 20 years’ experience in the advertising industry Helen is an influential and accomplished business leader with extensive experience in marketing and communication that gets results. She has a collaborative approach to working, adding value at every step with a level of confidence and maturity together with well-honed strategic intuition. Helen has worked on global and local brands across many categories including automotive, FMCG, luxury brands, telco, retail, financial services and travel.

  • Imogen Temm

    Designer

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    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

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    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.

  • Lucia Birley

    Account Executive

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    Lucia is the newest addition to 4AM, bringing a fresh perspective and eagerness for learning to her role as Account Executive. Working closely with the Client Services Director, Lucia is committed to delivering excellent client service and ensuring projects are executed seamlessly from start to finish. With a conjoint degree in Marketing and Psychology from the University of Auckland, Lucia is excited about starting her career at 4AM. She looks forward to making valuable contributions to clients and the advertising sector while continuing to expand her professional network and social presence.

Our Services

Brand

Research / workshops
Strategy / naming
Identity
Print / digital design
Packaging
Photography
Illustration

Advertising

Strategy
Concept development
Project management
Copywriting
Print / digital advertising
Marketing collateral

Digital

Strategy
Website design
Content creation
Social
Animated HTML banners

Production

Photography
Artwork
Print management
TVC production
Video content production
Motion graphics
CGI production