Christopher Hope & Bridget Hope
(Pop Factory Shop)

Secondary School: Otumoetai College (Bridget), Tauranga Boys' College (Christopher)

Awards: Chris won a D&AD Inbook award for book design, in collaboration with fellow student Philip Rosieur. ("I'm pretty sure that's how I got interviews later.")

First job after graduation:

Bridget: Print company Vivid Images (Hamilton), and Emap Magazines (Sydney), and ACP magazines.
Chris: Advertising, then in-house roles at Studio Woo and DDB Group.

Occupation: Owners of Pop Factory Shop (+ fulltime designer (Chris) and fulltime parent (Bridget)).

Brother and sister Bridget and Chris Hope, both Media Arts alumni, have teamed up to create what New Zealand Design Blog called 'NZ's coolest little childrenswear brand'. Pop Factory Shop creates and sells quality design goods for families.

It was a concept brought on by frustration, say the duo. "Being designers we wanted our kids in goods we liked - unisex designs that spoke to our aesthetics." Initial prototypes got high praise and the business grew organically from there.

"It's been really humbling how many stores like to stock us. When designing our prints and garments we've tried to make them as timeless as possible."

Both Chris and Bridget considered Wintec an obvious choice for creative study. "It's practical not only in its location but also the teaching - multiple disciplines at the same time in a do-it-yourself nature. We found it really collaborative, learning from our peers and doing work we liked that would later influence our craft."

All Pop Factory work is coordinated around already full days for both - Chris at his graphic design job at Sydney surf wear brand The Critical Slide Society and Bridget with two young sons at home. Evenings provide a window of opportunity for cross-Tasman phone conversations and planning.

What comes next for Pop Factory? "If people keep liking, we'll keep making."

Check out www.popfactoryshop.com and https://www.facebook.com/PopFactoryShop