Material Creative
Material Creative is an Auckland-based boutique interior design studio founded in 2009, delivering full-service interior architecture for hotels, hospitality, workplace, retail, wellness, and high-end residential clients across New Zealand.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Material Creative does
Material Creative is a privately held, Auckland-based boutique interior design studio founded in 2009 by co-founders and creative directors Toni Brandso and Liv Patience. The firm delivers full-service interior architecture and design across hotels and hospitality, restaurants/cafes/bars, workplace and commercial, retail and wellness, and high-end residential projects, with services spanning interior architecture, design development, construction documentation, site observation, procurement, and styling. Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees on bespoke engagements rather than products, software, or licensing. The studio maintains a small team of approximately 5-15 people, working under direct co-founder involvement on each project and collaborating with architects, developers, builders, furniture suppliers, and craftspeople.
The business operates a direct, sales-led go-to-market model: projects are acquired through reputation, award credentials, media coverage, and referrals from architects and developers, with initial contact via email enquiry forms to a single [email protected] inbox. Pricing is custom and not publicly disclosed, varying by project scope and complexity. Material Creative is bootstrapped with no external institutional investors or parent company disclosed, and is independently owned and operated by the two co-founders. The company is domiciled in New Zealand and primarily serves Auckland and Wellington, with at least one project reference to Portland (USA) indicating cross-border capability but no formal international expansion footprint.
The studio has accumulated 19+ Best Design Awards NZ accolades, multiple RED Awards, Interior Awards, and Eat Drink Design Awards shortlists, plus an international shortlist at the Inside World Festival of Interiors for Naumi Hotel Auckland Airport, and has been featured in Forbes, Financial Times, and The Independent. Notable repeat clients include Naumi Hotels (four disclosed projects), Tax Traders (three offices), and Borough Developments, alongside a diversified roster of single-engagement clients across hospitality, F&B, healthcare, retail, and residential development.
Material Creative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Material Creative
- Legal name
- Material Creative
- Website
- https://materialcreative.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Material Creative is an Auckland-based boutique interior design studio founded in 2009, delivering full-service interior architecture for hotels, hospitality, workplace, retail, wellness, and high-end residential clients across New Zealand.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Material Creative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Interior Design Services
- NAICS
- Interior Design Services (541410)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)
Keywords
Where Material Creative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auckland
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Material Creative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Interior Design Services: Project-based professional services for commercial and residential interior design. Includes interior architecture, design development, construction documentation, site observation, procurement, and styling services. Revenue generated through design fees for full-service interior design engagements.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Material Creative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Material Creative is an Auckland-based interior design studio offering full-service interior architecture and design for commercial and residential projects across New Zealand. Their commercial services span hotel interior design, hospitality venues, corporate workplaces, retail showrooms, and wellness clinics, while their residential services cover new builds, renovations, spatial planning, custom cabinetry, lighting design, and project styling. The studio's process includes interior architecture, design development, construction documentation, site observation, procurement (including international FF&E sourcing), and styling.
Product overview
Material Creative is an Auckland-based interior design studio offering full-service interior architecture and design for commercial and residential projects. Their commercial services include hotel interior design, hospitality interior design, commercial interior design, retail and wellness interior design, and bespoke furniture design with international sourcing. Their residential services cover new builds with architects, renovations, spatial planning, material selection, custom cabinetry design, lighting design, and project styling. Founded in 2009 by Toni Brandso and Liv Patience, the studio has built an award-winning portfolio across hotels, hospitality venues, workplaces, retail spaces, and high-end residential properties in New Zealand.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Full-Service Interior Design
- Hotel & Hospitality Interior Design
Quantifiable outcome
- 19+ Best Design Awards NZ accolades across multiple years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Material Creative
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Material Creative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Material Creative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and supporting.
- Monk Mackenzie ArchitectsnotableCollaborative partnership on Haven Townhouses new-build bespoke townhouse development in Auckland. Monk Mackenzie Architects led the architectural work while Material Creative provided interior design. Described as responsive, creative, and adaptable to client and project changes.
- ArchitectscoreLong-standing collaborative relationships with architects on various projects. Studio works seamlessly with architectural partners to deliver integrated interior and architectural solutions.
- Landscape DesignerssupportingCollaborative partnerships with landscape designers to create holistic project outcomes combining interior and exterior spaces.
- Artists and CraftspeoplecoreWorking with talented artists and craftspeople to add human touch and hand-crafted elements to spaces. Partnerships with decorative artists, muralists, and bespoke furniture makers.
- Builders and ContractorscoreCollaborative relationships with builders and contractors for project implementation. Studio monitors sites and works closely with construction teams.
- DeveloperscorePartnerships with property developers including Borough Developments for residential developments, and hotel developers for hospitality projects.
- Hotel OperatorscoreLong-term partnerships with hotel operators including Naumi Hotels (multiple projects), Millennium Hotels, CPG Hotels, and Fable Hotels & Resorts for boutique hotel interior design.
- RestaurateurscorePartnerships with restaurant owners and operators for hospitality venue design including Hello Beasty, Bodrum, Mexico restaurant, and Morningside Tavern.
- Graphic Designers and Brand StrategistssupportingCollaborations with graphic designers and brand strategists to create cohesive brand and interior experiences for clients.
- ConsultantssupportingWorking with industry consultants to achieve world-class results across various project types.
- Furniture SupplierssupportingInternational furniture sourcing and procurement partnerships for bespoke furniture and FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment) supply.
- Britomart Hospitality GroupnotableSelected client and collaborator representing hospitality venue operations in Auckland's Britomart precinct.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Material Creative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Studio Tate: Melbourne-based boutique interior design studio operating in hospitality, workplace, and residential sectors across Australia. Comparable to Material Creative in scale, project-based fee model, and focus on crafted, award-winning interiors for premium clients.
- Hecker Guthrie: Award-winning Melbourne interior design practice with strong international profile across hospitality, residential, and retail sectors. Directly comparable to Material Creative in boutique scale, award-driven positioning, and material-led design philosophy.
- Kennedy Nolan: Melbourne-based architecture and interior design practice with strong residential and hospitality portfolio. Comparable in boutique scale, award recognition, and integration of interior and architectural design.
- The Stella Collective: Sydney-based interior design studio known for colourful, hospitality-led interiors and frequent international press. Similar boutique scale, award-winning hospitality and restaurant portfolio, and direct overlap with Material Creative's segment focus.
- CTRL Space: Auckland-based interior design studio with overlapping client base in hospitality and commercial sectors. A direct local peer competing for similar NZ-based projects and demonstrating similar boutique studio model.
- Arent&Pyke: Sydney interior design firm with strong hospitality, residential, and commercial portfolio, frequently featured in international design publications. Comparable in boutique positioning, segment mix, and brand-led premium positioning.
Broad incumbents
- HASSELL: International architecture and interior design practice with studios across Australia and Asia. Overlaps with Material Creative in hospitality and workplace interior design but operates at much larger scale with broader service portfolio.
- Bates Smart: Large Australian architecture and interior design firm operating across hospitality, workplace, and residential. A broader incumbent with overlapping hospitality and workplace interior design capabilities, but operating at significantly larger scale.
- Warren and Mahoney: Major New Zealand-headquartered architecture firm with interior design capabilities across commercial, hospitality, and residential. A broader incumbent in the same NZ market with adjacent interior design services.
Regional players
- Patterson Architects: Auckland-based architecture and interior design practice with strong New Zealand hospitality, residential, and commercial portfolio. Comparable in NZ-centric positioning and overlapping segment focus, though primarily architecture-led.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Material Creative social profiles
Digital presenceMaterial Creative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Material Creative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Material Creative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Material Creative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Material Creative
What does Material Creative do?
Material Creative is an Auckland-based interior design studio offering full-service interior architecture and design for commercial and residential projects across New Zealand. Their commercial services span hotel interior design, hospitality venues, corporate workplaces, retail showrooms, and wellness clinics, while their residential services cover new builds, renovations, spatial planning, custom cabinetry, lighting design, and project styling. The studio's process includes interior architecture, design development, construction documentation, site observation, procurement (including international FF&E sourcing), and styling.
Is Material Creative a public or private company?
Material Creative is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Material Creative founded?
Material Creative was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Material Creative based?
Material Creative is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Material Creative make money?
One revenue line is on record: interior Design Services.
Who are Material Creative's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Studio Tate, Hecker Guthrie, Kennedy Nolan, The Stella Collective, CTRL Space and Arent&Pyke. Broad incumbents are HASSELL, Bates Smart and Warren and Mahoney. Patterson Architects is listed as a regional player.
Does Material Creative have an API?
No public API is recorded for Material Creative.
What industry is Material Creative in?
Material Creative's product category is Interior Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAM, Industrial/Product & Furniture Design. Its NAICS code is 541410 and its SIC code is 7330.