London-based multi-disciplinary design practice Maynard has extended their operations to the Australasian region with the opening of two new offices: one in Auckland, and one in Melbourne.
A specialist in projects for transport and the urban realm on a global scale, Maynard's local offering will leverage new business opportunities through the creation of graphic design, wayfinding, products and environments for clients in Australia and New Zealand.
Established in 2006 by Julian Maynard, the design practice has led and consulted on major projects, both in the UK and internationally. Some of their more significant international projects include the creation of signage guidelines for Dubai International Airport, consultation on network-wide wayfinding for Shanghai Metro, and delivering a multimodal wayfinding system for the New South Wales transport system.
Maynard's Australian studio, located in the heart of Melbourne’s Central Business District, will be headed by associate urban designer, Kate Pleban. The opening represents a homecoming for Pleban after two years in London. Kate has been working with Maynard as part of a contractor-led consortium bidding on the $10.9-billion Melbourne Metro tunnel project, which involves the design and construction of five new metro stations within Melbourne CBD.
The continual growth of wider Melbourne has put pressure on existing transport networks; the situation reaching a tipping point where major investment in public transport infrastructure became critical. With so many projects currently taking place across the transport and public realm sectors, Kate believes it's a good time to be in the design industry in Melbourne.
Maynard's Auckland studio will be managed by associate and industrial design sector lead, Guy Hohmann. The studio has already started work on a project with Auckland Transport, and will look to build collaborative relationships within the architecture, engineering and landscape architecture sectors. The studio is based in Wynyard Quarter, an innovative hub of urban development on Auckland’s former industrial waterfront, and home to Auckland’s growing Grid AKL innovation precinct.
