About SCENARIO.

In a nutshell: good people, creating award-winning designs since 1993.

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About us.

  • Our vibrant studio in the heart of Wellington city is where our creative team crafts designs with each client's needs in mind.

    SCENARIO is led by Joy and Rachel, who are supported by a talented in-house team of thoughtful graphic designers.

    In areas beyond our team’s areas of expertise, we partner with some of Wellington’s top creative professionals. These include copywriters, social media strategists, photographers, videographers, illustrators, printers, signage companies, and web builders – many of whom we have collaborated with for several years, so they feel like our extended whānau. When this happens, we always keep the client informed and keep a brand overview to ensure the brand is applied cohesively and effectively across multiple channels.

  • SCENARIO was established in 1993 and quickly became recognised as one of Wellington’s leading communications and design agencies.

    Joy and Rachel have been part of SCENARIO’s journey for over 20 years, learning from some of the industry’s best (here, elsewhere and overseas).

    The industry has changed since SCENARIO opened its doors – as processes, channels, jargon, technology, society, environmental, and economic factors have all shifted. However, the fundamental need to deliver effective, cohesive communications across multiple channels, backed by great service, remains stronger than ever, and this continues to be our focus.

    We actively strive to remain current, to ensure the SCENARIO legacy of quality, thoughtful work continues.

    • DO IT RIGHT
      We’re absolutely clear that the way we work, is as important as the work itself. We respect and value our clients, every project and each other. We listen, we’re upfront, and we’ll put our hand up if there are issues. When you genuinely care, everyone succeeds.

    • THINK IT THROUGH
      There’s always more than meets the eye, and we love searching for it. We’ll look for the insights, consider the context, get a feel for the deeper meaning – with our work certainly, but also in the way we connect with people. Thinking, then acting.

    • MAKE IT HAPPEN
      We believe in our work and know how to keep the quality while still meeting a deadline. So we say ‘yes’ rather than ‘maybe’, ‘what next?’ rather than ‘what for?’. We use our energy, talent, proven processes and strong work ethic to deliver what’s needed and often much more.

    • FOR GOOD
      We make a choice, every day, about why we do things and how to go about it – and we choose a greater good. We nurture our people and our work. We care about our planet and support organisations that make lives better. And that makes us stronger, more effective and good people to be around.


  • SCENARIO is proudly owned by:

    • Joy Hellyer (Dr), Client Services Director, who loves words

    • Rachel Robinson BDes(Hons), Creative Director who loves ideas

    Joy and Rachel’s complementary skillsets provide great thinking and design, alongside robust project management systems and invaluable proofreading services.

    Both are actively engaged with all the mahi that SCENARIO creates, not just because they have skin in the game, but also because they are passionate about delivering the best.

What our clients like about us.

  • Achieving our clients’ objectives underpins everything that we do. (If we care about our clients, do the best work possible, and go the extra mile, then we know that’s likely to be a positive relationship that produces the best outcomes time and time again.)

    • ’Truly collaborate with clients’

  • As your brand partner, we’ll ensure your brand tells a consistent story across everything (digital & print). We take care of brands we have created and those we have inherited.

    • ’Know how to communicate brand and messaging across multiple channels’

    • ’Good conversations to make things happen’

    • Flexible’

  • Great design alone is not enough. Clients expect us to deliver on time, within budget, and behave in a positive, honest, and respectful manner. They also expect secure, robust systems when handling confidential information.

    All these values also matter to us.

    • ’Always have the capability and capacity to deliver’

  • We listen carefully to understand your priorities and vision. Fixed deadlines and tight budgets are respected.

    • ’Always listen and deliver added value’

    • ‘Considered thinking with every project’

    • ’Carry out forensic exploration of true client needs’

    • ’The work has a purpose’

  • No matter how good it looks, if it has a typo, is delivered late, or is over-budget without warning, then it’s not all right. We get this, and pride ourselves on our level of accuracy, observation, and communication. Every detail is considered. Clients also appreciate Joy’s checking and proof-reading abilities – which apply an extra layer of accuracy.

    • ’Attention to detail is invaluable’

    • ’We do the right thing and we do it well’

  • Good design that does not communicate effectively is not good enough. We apply strategic thinking to each project to elevate the creativity and give it meaning and power.

    We’re also based in a naturally well-lit, open-plan studio, where conversations, brainstorming sessions, and ideas flow freely, keeping us all engaged and informed and producing the best collaborative results. Many clients also love our brainstorming sessions on our ‘black (magnetic) wall’.

    • ‘They have excellent design capability with rich narratives and hidden layers’

    • ’Always had really good designers’

    • ’Considered thinking with every project’

    • ‘They’re a strong team. Why go anywhere else?‘

  • Every client is serviced by a dedicated Project Manager, a Creative Director, and an in-house designer with the relevant skillsets for your project, who becomes your personal brand champion /protector who manages the brand kete. This way, we are familiar with your brand at every level, so the outcomes are more consistent, targeted, and strategic each time.

    This team not only ensures multiple people care about your brand, but it also means that if any one person is unavailable, another team member can seamlessly fill those shoes behind the scenes.

    • ’They bring out the best in a brand’

    • ’Good brand management is creative excellence’

    • ‘It’s a buzz when we excite the client about what we can achieve for them’

    • ’Considered thinking with every project’

    • ’They have excellent design capability with rich narratives and hidden layers’

  • We choose to be a small creative agency (under 10) because it allows us to be actively involved in all our projects and to work alongside our clients to deliver consistently great results in an approachable and easy-to-deal-with manner. By being small, stronger ties are created, and deeper relationships are made, as it’s a tight-knit, talented team.

    Being small – and our workflow methods – we are also more nimble and quick, ensuring we can allocate the right amount of resources (clients are often surprised how we can accommodate all their communications requirements.)

    • ‘Punch above their weight’

    • ‘Always have the capability and capacity to deliver‘

    • ’They’re small and I like that – they do great work’

  • Our collective experiences and industry knowledge ensures that each project is carried-out effectively, from both creative and production perspectives. It enables us to choose the best approach and avoid the obvious pitfalls.

    With experience comes the maturity to know when a project (such as a complex website) is beyond the talents we have in-house. We’re open with clients about this, and in these cases, we partner with Wellington’s best creatives in the fields we do not specialise in. We still like to be involved as brand managers, to ensure the brand is communicated well and consistently across all applications.

    • '’There’s a wealth of thought and information’

    • ’They consistently meet expectations’

    • ‘They know how to communicate brand and messaging across multiple channels’

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    HOW DID WE GAIN THIS EXPERIENCE?

    SCENARIO was established in 1983. Joy and Rachel have been part of SCENARIO’s journey for over 20 years – learning from some of the industry’s best (here, elsewhere and overseas).

  • We’re authentic and honest, and believe good design and branding are powerful. We use them for good where we can through projects we champion in our community, like supporting a local theatre group for over 20 years. We also take on mentorship roles, engage with design schools, have had interns, and offer discounted or free design to organisations that we believe in, such as child trauma or violence prevention. Giving back is part of our philosophy of making a positive difference.

    • ’A sense plus reality of generosity’

    • ’Rachel and Joy make things happen’

    • ’We like to engage with a greater good’

Quotes source: The quotes included above, are from our recent rebranding research where we commissioned independent interviews of clients and team members to truly understand what makes SCENARIO special.

What we like about
our clients.

We work with some amazing clients. They range from small businesses to large government departments and corporations, and the type of work we do is just as diverse, which keeps it interesting and exciting.

The only common thread that runs through every project is good communication, both in the outcomes and in how we deliver.

  • Our clients come in all shapes, sizes and locations – from as close as the building next door – to as far away as Spain.

    The way we work and our creative results resonate with a broad range of private sector clients, as we understand the complexities of running a business. Clients range from banks to a range of not-for-profit organisations, boutique wineries to truck companies, membership organisations to international hotel groups.

    Each client has unique needs, strategies, purposes, and visions, and wants cohesive thinking across their brand's many channels. Providing this support, either in a lead or supporting role, is our strength.

  • SCENARIO is on the AOG panel for design.

    We have worked with over 40 public sector organisations on projects ranging from small publications to large-scale social marketing campaigns. We understand the need to balance quality and creativity with budgetary control, high levels of transparency and accountability, attention to sustainability principles, and the ability to work to tight and often immovable reporting deadlines and guidelines.

    SCENARIO has recently worked for, among others, Asia New Zealand, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Parliamentary Service, Commerce Commission, He Pou a Rangi – Climate Change Commission, GNS Science, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington UniVentures, MBIE, Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand, Ministry of Research, Science and Technology | Te Manatū Pūtaiao, Health New Zealand, Te Aka Whai Ora, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Transport Te Manatū Waka, Royal Society of New Zealand, Office of the Privacy Commissioner, Takeovers Panel, New Zealand Foreign Affairs & Trade.