It's not often in the design world that you find someone that has found success without credits to design schools or at the very least stories from their student days. Claire Hammon is a fantastic exception to the trend. Claire left high school unsatisfied and uninspired. Creativity wasn't the problem; it was the process and the restrained environment of design school which left nothing to be desired for her. With her creativity in one hand and a rapidly developing business sense in the other she set to work and emerged with a reputable street wear brand, Urchin. Urchin allowed her to cut her teeth in the NZ design industry, establishing trade contacts, customer relations and the process of taking on a business partner. It also gave her a free rein to experiment and explore the realms of graphic design, unrestricted and with an open mind. Urchin was sold on 2004 freeing Claire up to further her design prospects. She moved to Auckland and established the top jewellery brand Meadowlark with her partner. She also launched her freelance graphic design business and picked up regular stints for NZ Snowboarder and NZ Skateboarder magazines. With these ongoing relationships she also took on textile design projects and rapidly grew her graphic and web design service.

Claire now runs a personable, creative design business. She maintains strong relationships with her clients, who range from small, sole trader businesses, to large corporate companies. It is Claire's ability to design to her clients needs and image that sets her apart. Her work relates to the project and the specifics of the brief. She is not governed by industry rules and preconceptions, more the desire to create a brand / site / advertisement / publication / design to reflect her clients brand or business.

"Claire is what I would consider to be abit of a design dynamo. I have known her for a year or so now after employing her as my graphic and web designer for my new business. In her I found a sounding board and source of massive creativity!  She has become a friend but also a critical part of my own creative process as she is able provide constructive feedback that I respect".
Julia Atkinson
Interior Designer
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