ABOUT
Meet website and graphic designer Kirsty O’Hara.
She believes words and design fosters connection and engagement.
Ethos: words and stories matter, and are catalysts for change.
I’m an ethical customer-centric content creator. My areas of key focus include: sustainability, circularity, ethical investments, wellbeing, financial capability, forward-thinking economics, healthy lifestyles, climate-friendly initiatives, repair, mending and sustainable textiles.
Originally I studied a Bachelor of Communications - majoring in Graphic Design and Advertising. I went on to work in some of New Zealand’s leading advertising agencies, design firms, fashion companies, and across the financial services and wellness industries.
Brands I’ve enjoyed creating content for include: New Zealand Red Cross, Flint Wealth, Velocity Financial, ANZ bank, Tourism NZ, and many others. See my experience page for more.
Key skillsets: Ideas that span words, images, video, and campaigns. To include: Art direction, Graphic Design, Copywriting, Web Design, Digital Design, CRM management, automated communications, B2B and B2C strategic frameworks, Play to Win transformational strategy frameworks, competitor experience projects, and Australasian Marketing Management.
I’m fascinated by how emotions drive behaviour and studied a Post Graduate Certificate in Health Psychology (enjoying masters level papers in Psych Physiology and Emotion Regulation). This understanding of emotions and psychology supports my approach to create branding, storytelling and designs that engage, motivate and connect in a positive playful way.
I love working with clients to grow engaging brands. Services include: brand and identity creation, name development, creative concepts, logo designs, publications, print collateral, Squarespace website design, automated CRM series communications, robotic communications, video editing, promotional collateral, art direction, event partnerships, ambassador partnerships, and brand management. I have a keen interest in plausible pathways, behavioural psychology, and choice architecture.
In my spare time, I explore ways to extend the lifetimes of textile garments - keeping apparel out of landfill. I volunteer with Little Yellow Bird’s circularcotton.nz initiative. I also love to dance, run, get out in nature, read daily, and do sporty stuff. I’ve edited showreels for Weta VFX artists, and am learning how to make sports highlight reels for my USA-destined sporty teens.
Nature provides the best thinking time, best inspiration, and great lighting for the days we all need great images and photos.
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE:
Experience across the following sectors: Financial Services | Investments | Wellness | Fashion
Agency Experience: M&C Saatchi, DDB Advertising, Clemenger BBDO, Origin Design, Icebreaker studio.
Bachelor of Design (Honours) - Communications (Massey University - 2003)
Post Graduate Certificate - Health Psychology (University of Auckland - 2014).