Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
                                       













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Naomi Akikusa-Dawber is a Creative Director, Designer and Producer based in Naarm/Melbourne. At the heart of her practice is an interest in tone and emotional clarity—the invisible work behind how things feel. For the past decade, Naomi’s built a body of work across branding, design and cultural storytelling. In 2017 she co-founded Play On Play Studio, a design practice known for its playful, purposeful approach. Naomi has also been a core part of the Ladies of Leisure collective (2016–2020), an independent platform for women and non-binary creatives. Today, Naomi is the Creative Director and Producer at SEQUEL (est. 2025), a Naarm/Melbourne Based multi-displinary studio where film production meets design. 


Represented by Haven’t You Done Well ** indicates via Play On Play Studio 
* indicates via SEQUEL

AWARDS
Good Design Awards | Green Winner | Project: Weave (2025) **
AGDA Awards | Finalist | Project: Weave (2025) **
 AGDA Awards | Merit | Project: Piccolina (2023) **
The Brand Indentity | Poster Competition | Winner | Out of Time Poster  (2023) **

PANELS / DISCUSSIONS
The Design Kids : TDK Tuesdays | Panelist | 2026 *
Melbourne Design Week: Breaking the Pixel Ceiling ED2 | Panel Host (2024) **
Melbourne Design Week: Breaking the Pixel Ceiling ED1 | Panel Host  (2023) **
The Design Kids: TDK Tuesdays | Guest Speaker  (2022) **
RMIT: Graduate Festival of Design | Alumni | Guest Speaker (2020) **
AGDA: First Five Out | Guest Speaker  (2019) **
General Assembly: VICE Presents: How to Respond to a Design Brief | Guest Moderator (2019) **
General Assembly: VICE Presents: Hot to Respond to a Design Brief | Guest Speaker (2018) **

FEATURES / PRESS
Offcuts | Print Feature “Patch Work: Logo Archive” (2026) *
Offcuts | Print Feature  “Poster Archive 200”  (2025) **
The Brand Identity | Feature, Interview  (2024) **
Broadsheet | Article | Piccolina Campaign  (2023) **
Counterprint Books | Print Feature  “Colour Clash”  (2023) **
The Design Kids | Feature (2023) **
Projekt Mono | Feature  (2023) **
Blaze Type | Feature (2023) **
Design by Women | Feature (2023) **
The Brand Identity | Feature (2022) **
AGDA | Social Media Takeover (2018) **
Address Magazine | Feature  (2018) **
RMIT | Alumni Feature  (2019) **
It’s Nice That | Feature  (2018) **
i-D | Ladies of Leisure Feature (2018) 
OATS THE LABEL
2026
Branding, Website Design, Socials
Client: Oats The Label
Client Lead: Bridie Davey
Studio: SEQUEL
Branding: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
Website Design: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber, John Szetho
Website Developer: John Szetho
Design Assist: Elliot Fry
Photographer: Mira Pedler
Stylists: Wei Wang, Marc Hatherley

OSCAR HUNT
2026
Creative Direction, Set Design, Concept Direction
Client: Oscar Hunt
Client Lead: Phebe Schmidt
Initial Creative Concept: Phebe Schmidt
Production Company: SEQUEL
Director: Zac Bradtke
Creative Director: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
Producers: Zac Bradtke, Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
Photographer: Phebe Schmidt
Assistant Director: Philippa Grenda
Production Assist: Uma Chiaghaghi
Set Design: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
Digi op: Vlad Savin
Stylists: Wei Wang, Marc Hatherley
Lighting: Little Wolf Lighting Co
Director of Photography: Nyssa Mitchell
Gaffer: Hamish Palmer
HMU: Elisa Clarke
Talent: Ousmane Manee
Talent Agency: Shadow Agency
Talent Management: Imogen Wilson

GELATO. AFTER PICCOLINA2023Campaign Branding, Social Media
Client: Piccolina Gelateria
Client Lead: Sandra Foti
Studio: Play On Play
Producer: Zachary Bradke
Creative Direction: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
Supporting Designer: Lucy Fry
Art Direction: Lucy Fry
Lead Designer: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
Photographer: Zoe Coldham
Supporting Designer: Lucy Fry
Retoucher: Max D’Orsogna

FINESSE2024Branding, Social Media, Website Design
Client: Finesse
Client Lead: Murata Prajumas
Studio: Play On Play
Creative Director + Design Lead: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
Art Director: Lucy Fry
Website Design: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
Web Developer: Guido Pasa

KONPIRA MARU WINE
2025
Wine Label Design, Creative Direction
Client: Chunky Move
Client Lead: Jahlia Sara
Designer + Creative Director: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber 
Supporting Designer: Lucy Fry
Photoshoot Producers + Directors: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber, Lucy Fry
Photographer: Sam Linford

KAHE
2025
Event Poster Design
Client: KAHE
Client Lead: Kacy Heywood
Designer: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber 

RAQ X MAHALIA
2025
Textile Design, Campaign Title Design
Client: RAQ
Client Lead: Sophia Argy
Textile Designer: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
Photographer: @radhika.photos
Creative Director: @sharkkana
Producer : @olivialaurajames_
Production Assistant: @chayldn
Art Director: @reneeeingram
Lighting: @alexjose.photo
Digi Op: @howimwastingtime
Retoucher: @radhika.photos

WEAVE COLLECTIVE RE-BRAND
      2025
      Re-brand, Website Design, Social Media
      Client: The Equality Institute
      Client Lead: Emma Fulu, Domini Marshell
      Funded by: The Ford Foundation
      Studio: Play On Play
      Co-Creative Directors: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber, Lucy Fry
      Website Designers: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber, Lucy Fry
      Website Developer: Guido Pasa
      Awards:  AGDA Awards Finalist (2025), Australia Good Design Awards Green Winner (2025)

      HERMONE
      2023
      Branding, App Design, Website Design, Social Media
      Client: Body Literacy (Berlin)
      Studio: Play On Play
      Creative Director: Lucy Fry
      Art Director: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
      UI + UX Designer: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
      Website Developer: Rudolf Galler
      Application Animation: Dock Yard

      GARDEN PARTY CAMPAIGN
          2023           Campaign Branding, Social Media, EDM
          Client: RAQ
          Client Lead: Sophia Argoupolous
          Studio: Play On Play
          Creative Director: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
          Head Designer: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
          Supporting Designer: Lucy Fry

          SPASTA2023Festival Branding, Art Direction
          Client: Finding Figaro
          Client Lead: Adriana Lazaridis
          Studio: Freelance
          Creative Director: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
          Designer: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
          Photoshoot Art Directors: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber, Lucy Fry
          Photographer: Max D’Orsogna

          FENG SUAVE VENUS FLYTRAP2023Album Art, Art Direction
          Client: Lustre Company
          Client Lead: Narayan Wallace
          Studio: Play On Play
          Creative Director: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
          Head Designer: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
          Supporting Designer: Lucy Fry
          Photographer: Max D’Orsogna

          THE BRAND IDENTITY 2022Poster Design, Conceptulisation
          Project: The Brand Identity Poster Competition “Out of Time”
          Studio: Play On Play
          Creative Direction + Concept Creation: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
          Designer: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
          Status: Winner

          FELT2020Logo, Publication Design
          Project: Felt ‘Artefacts of Love’
          Client Lead: Claire Summers
          Studio: Play On Play
          Creative Directors: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber, Lucy Fry
          Photographer: Max D’Orsogna

          THE BRAND IDENTITY 2022Poster Design, Conceptulisation
          Project: The Brand Identity Poster Competition “Out of Time”
          Studio: Play On Play
          Creative Director + Concept + Design: Naomi Akikusa-Dawber
          Image: Nasa, Royalty Free