Day One

New horizons

For more than 17 years, the initiative, previously known as The Outlook for Someday, has been the proving ground for many young and emerging filmmakers, many of whom have progressed to successful careers.

After many years of working with rangatahi, the organisation felt it was time to evolve the brand to reflect the energy, optimism and vitality of all the young people they support in their filmmaking endeavours. And to share the years of films, resources and tools in the most useful and meaningful ways.

Young filmmakers at the heart

To help the brand move in the right direction, we set out to discover how Outlook for Someday was being experienced, and how that aligned with the existing brand. 

Through a series of workshops with young filmmakers and the team at Outlook for Someday, we heard many stories of the welcoming, inclusive, space that they create for meaningful connection and growth. However, everyone we spoke with felt that the brand didn’t reflect the same experience,  opportunity, dynamism or energy. 

All of the feedback we gathered indicated a clear desire for the brand to feel more immediately obvious that it’s a film initiative, and that it has young filmmakers at its heart.

It starts on day one 

The new name for the organisation needed to feel deeply connected to purpose. It needed to reflect the learning, growth and development that they support. It needs to feel youthful, but not childlike, and it needs to endure. 

Through our process, we heard that there are so many ‘day ones’ in filmmaking. From day one of coming up with ideas, to day one on set, through to day one of a film festival. There’s so much Day One can offer if you’re at any of these points in your journey. 

This thought unlocked an expansive framework for the naming of the brand, and for the exploration of the new online presence; a home for learning resources, tools and a directory of past participants’ films.

The dawn light 

With the name ‘Day One’ in exploration, we worked with Hēmi Kelly (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tahu-Ngāti Whāoa), who gifted its Māori name Hāpai te Haeata, which refers to when dawn breaks. 

Through the naming process, we were able to lean into the beautiful metaphor of the time when light appears on the horizon as the sun rises. This symbol of a new day and new beginnings acts as the core foundation of the new identity for Day One Hāpai te Haeata, providing visual cues from which the brand grows.

Day One Hāpai te Haeata has been working since 2007 to empower rangatahi in Aotearoa to explore their unique voices and perspectives through filmmaking. Introducing a vibrant colour palette, dynamic typographic systems and bold graphic devices that emulate rays of light, whether from a sunrise or a film projector, the brand has been developed to reflect the creativity that comes from telling stories for a better tomorrow.

A place to learn and practice 

The extensive library of resources available to rangatahi on Day One’s new website takes the brand from a space of beauty to being a valuable home to support growth, learning and experience. The learning hub and libraries have been designed to grow and develop over the years to come while providing an intuitive and easy user experience.

The new brand and website clearly indicates to rangatahi that this is a place for any young person to learn and practice new skills, and we know it will inspire many young filmmakers now and into the future.

To experience the learning hub, make and watch stories with impact, visit DOFilm.co.nz.