Join us in Wellington for brunch, good company and practical tips for graphic designers
9:30AM, 30 JULY | TICKETS NOW $60 WITH CODE HNRY20
Where and when to join us
🕤 | 9:30am to 1:00pm |
📍 | Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, Wellington |
📅 | Thursday 30 July 2026 |
➕ | Plus an optional afternoon session |
💲 | Save $20 on tickets with code HNRY20 |
Why come to our Creative Freedom Brunch?
Creative Freedom Brunch brings graphic designers together to think about what creative freedom looks like for you. Maybe it's having more time or a bigger say over the work you take on. Perhaps it's the confidence to charge what you're worth, or getting to do work you're proud of, without the stress that often tags along with running your own show.
Whatever creative freedom looks like for you, you'll leave with fresh ideas, a few new friends and a clear sense of how to build more freedom into the way you work.
Proudly supported by
Hnry is kindly sponsoring brunch, which means you save $20 with the code HNRY20
What’s included on the day
Lessons from the journey
Rocketspark co-founder and author of Creative Freedom, Jeremy Johnson, will share the seven steps to Creative Freedom with the hard-learned lessons that bring them to life
A panel of creatives
On what creative freedom really takes: the wins, the hard lessons and the honest reality of running a creative business.
A hands-on AI workshop
You’ve seen the AI design slop. We’ll work together to create strategies to show the value that creatives bring vs. AI.
Brunch, lunch and time to connect
Have meaningful conversations with other graphic designers, harbourside in Oriental Bay.
Creative Freedom is a 100+ page guide for running a graphic design business so you feel more in control, valued at $29.99.
Lunch included, afternoon optional
Lunch is on us. Stay for the optional afternoon session too, where we'll share what's new and what's coming, and you can settle in and meet some of our design partners.
What you'll take away
Every session is built to send you home with tools that make a real difference to a creative business, including:
Winning enough of the right work, so you're choosing clients rather than chasing them
Pricing with confidence, so your business funds the life you actually want
Staying in control of the client process, instead of letting it control you
Turning the tricky moments, feedback, urgent jobs and scope creep into calm and confident conversations
Building a way of working that runs smoothly without running you into the ground
Feeling less alone, with the right people around you
We'll tackle AI head on: the concerns, the opportunities and clear actions you can take
Who's attending
Jane Byrne from Little Gem Design is one of the many designers joining us at Creative Freedom Brunch, Wellington. This is why she’s coming:
"I've been to several Rocketspark meet-ups, and I'd encourage anyone who's thinking about buying a ticket to come along. They're always welcoming, relaxed and a great way to connect with other designers, learn something new and put faces to names. Even the introverts like me."
The venue
We're right on the water at the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club in Oriental Bay, with some of the best views in Wellington. There will be a tasty brunch to get things going, plenty of good coffee to go round and lunch to finish it off.
Who you'll hear from
Jeremy Johnson
Author of Creative Freedom and co-founder of Rocketspark. Jeremy started out as a freelance designer who knew the feast-or-famine months and the late nights all too well. Since then he's spent years working out how designers can do their best work, charge what they're worth and still build a business that gives them their time back.
Grant Johnson
Co-founder of Rocketspark and co-author of Creative Freedom. With a background in product and customer experience. Early in Rocketspark’s life Grant worked with a number of clients on their design projects and knows full well the ups and downs of creative projects.
Sara-Jane Austen
Founder of Designerbloom, a Wellington branding and graphic design studio that helps businesses grow through thoughtful, strategic design. With more than two decades in the industry and a shelf of design awards to her name, Sara-Jane brings a practical and honest perspective on building a sustainable creative business.
Rach Riddle
Creative Director and co-founder of Riddle Media. Over the past seven years Rach has built three businesses while raising a young family, all driven by a belief that people buy from people. Alongside her husband Emmet, she helps Wellington businesses show up online through video that builds trust and puts the humans behind the brand front and centre. She's living proof that creative skill can grow into something that runs and pays.
Meet our supporters
Hnry has come on board as the official Brunch Sponsor for Creative Freedom Brunch. They have built something special for the freelance community because they make filing tax as a freelancer so easy, and we couldn't think of a better fit for this event.
Carbon Invoice plants native trees every time you send an invoice, helping you do your bit for the planet without any extra effort. For Creative Freedom Brunch, they're planting 25 native trees in the Wellington region and running a quiz on the day.
Creative Freedom the book, included in your ticket
Creative Freedom is a 100+ page practical guide for graphic designers who want more control, better clients, and a freelance business that actually feels good to run, valued at $29.99.
Freelancing promises freedom - but without the right foundations, it can quickly turn to stress, undercharging, awkward client conversations and work that never quite ends.
Keep the conversation going
Once the sessions wrap, there’s more time to chat and connect with the people around you over lunch.
If you’d like to stay on afterwards, we’ll take a closer look at how designers are getting the most out of Rocketspark right now. We'll cover what's new, what's working and how a few smart tools are helping designers deliver better results for their clients.
Get your ticket
Tickets now $60 with code HNRY20
Your ticket includes brunch, lunch, all the sessions, a copy of the Creative Freedom book and the optional afternoon session if you'd like to stay.
Can't make the ticket price work?
We never want cost to be the reason someone misses out. We have some subsidised places set aside, and if you'd love to join us but things are a little tight right now, please get in touch.
FAQs
Who is this event for?
Graphic designers, web designers and small studios who want to sharpen their skills and connect with others doing similar work. If that sounds like you, you'll feel right at home.
Do I need to be a Rocketspark partner to come?
Not at all. This event is for any designer, whether you build on Rocketspark or not. In fact, many of the people coming along don't use Rocketspark as their platform. They're here for the community, the conversation and the chance to meet other designers.
What does my ticket cover?
You'll start with brunch, end with lunch and in between you'll hear from Jeremy Johnson (author of Creative Freedom), a panel of Wellington creatives, get stuck into a workshop that shows the value designers bring vs AI. There will also be loads of time to network and your own copy of the Creative Freedom book to take home.
Can I bring a colleague or a friend?
Absolutely, the more designers in the room the better. Just make sure they grab their own ticket before sales close, as seats are limited.
I've got a dietary requirement. Can you cater for that?
Yes. When you book your ticket there's a question where you can let us know, and we'll make sure the caterers have it covered.
When do ticket sales close?
Sales close on Monday 27 July. We wrap up a few days early to give the caterers final numbers, so grab your seat before then
