NB Architects

The Project

NB Architects is a Timaru-based architectural practice with ambitions to grow its presence across the South Island. With work spanning homes, commercial buildings, schools and public spaces, they needed a website that would showcase their capabilities to a wider audience.

Just as important was communicating how they work. The team had put considerable thought into their message: good architecture begins with listening, understanding what clients want and developing ideas together.

They approached Yellow Design to bring these two aspects into one website. We wanted the finished work to make a strong impression, while giving prospective clients a sense of the approachable people and collaborative process behind it.

Starting with a Conversation

The homepage opens with a simple statement: “We Listen.” Set against a large architectural photograph, it introduces both the quality of the work and the practice’s priorities.

This pairing became an important part of the website’s direction. The photography shows what NB Architects can deliver, while the messaging invites visitors to talk about their own project.

Clear contact links support that invitation throughout the site. Someone can explore the portfolio, learn about the team’s approach and begin a conversation when they are ready. For people considering an architectural project for the first time, that approachable tone helps make the initial enquiry feel less daunting.

Bringing the Brand to Life

NB Architects’ existing branding provided a distinctive visual starting point. Its orange-to-magenta gradient offered an opportunity to introduce colour and energy around the project photography.

We used the gradient across selected buttons, navigation underlines and other accents. These details bring consistency to the design and draw attention to key actions without competing with the buildings themselves.

Large images give the architecture space to be appreciated, showing materials, form and the relationship between buildings and their surroundings. Vertical text adds variety to the layouts, while architectural drawings sit behind selected elements as a reference to the thinking and technical work involved.

Together, these choices create a vibrant website with a clear connection to the practice and its discipline.

A Portfolio with Purpose

The portfolio was a central part of the brief. NB Architects had a substantial body of work, and we wanted visitors to be able to explore both its breadth and the projects most relevant to their own plans.

Working through the collection revealed six useful categories: Residential, Renovations, Landscape, Education, Public and Commercial. We introduced filters so visitors could narrow the portfolio by project type.

Someone planning a home can focus on residential work, while a school or business can find examples relevant to its needs. Visitors can also browse the full collection to get a broader sense of the practice’s experience.

The project listings keep photography prominent, with names and category labels providing context. This makes the portfolio a practical tool for prospective clients as well as a visual showcase.

Explaining the Approach

Alongside the portfolio, dedicated service pages explain the sectors NB Architects works in. These give visitors more context about the support available for different types of projects.

The Our Approach section develops the message introduced on the homepage. It explains the importance of understanding a client’s goals, exploring possibilities and working through practical considerations together.

We also brought key business information and client feedback into prominent positions. Experience figures provide a quick introduction to the team’s background, while testimonials offer a client perspective on communication, collaboration and the finished result.

These elements help visitors assess both the practice’s capabilities and what it might be like to work with them.

Sharing Knowledge

The News + Insights section gives NB Architects a place to share project updates, design thinking and practical guidance. It also provides room to discuss planning, building and resource consents, and changes affecting the architectural sector.

This adds another way for prospective clients to get to know the practice. Useful explanations can help people frame their questions and understand the decisions involved before starting a project.

The Outcome

The website brings NB Architects’ work, personality and approach into a consistent online presence that supports its ambitions across the South Island.

Bold imagery and distinctive brand details give the architecture a strong platform, while portfolio filters, service information and clear contact routes help visitors explore with purpose. The result introduces both the spaces NB Architects creates and the conversations that make them possible.