BUSINESS PROFILE: JUSTINE TAITO-MATAMUA Dimitris Potusa (he/him; Leimatua, Vava’u, Tonga and Manono Tai, Samoa) Brown Dollar Studio, which aims to help other brown small-business owners with their branding, social media, marketing and design. This helps stimulate the Pasifika small-business economy, thus uplifting and circulating the “Brown Dollar”.
Petone born and raised Justine Taito-Matamua is full Samoan and her whakapapa is to the villages of Salelologa, Faleu Manono, Lotofaga and Vavau. Justine is also a full hustler. She studies a full-time Design degree. She works part-time as a 200-level Design tutor. She co-founded a contemporary Samoan dance group, Anamua Fou, that has performed at All Blacks games, national conferences, and is heavily involved in the local Samoan community. She co-produces the social media platform Valley Now which highlights young Pasifika leaders from the Hutt Valley and hosted a community exhibition for local artists last year called Taeao Fou. She owns the creative agency Brown Dollar Studio that has designed report covers for universities, logos, art projects, event branding, and a campaign. Perhaps the most demanding task of all, she is the youngest of eleven. But how did Justine become so booked and busy? She primarily attributes the successes in her life to the sacrifices of her parents, and their lessons on ambition and perseverance. Her design hustle started with freelance gigs within the VUW Pasifika community. Along with her passion for helping others, this culminated into the foundation of
Last year for her capstone paper, she submitted Lalaga, a design project which exemplified her Samoan heritage. “I worked with my mum and we did this weaving workshop. The whole concept was to weave with your elders so they can teach you indigenous knowledge.” Three years into her degree, this was the first time she put her authentic self into her work. Justine advises creative Pasifika youth: “Don’t pretend to be someone that you’re not; be yourself. Speak up and put yourself into your work! Don’t be afraid to stand out and use your brownness as a weapon. And work within your own community, there’s so much inspiration and opportunities you can gain from the people around you. There’s a creative community anywhere, you just have to go find them.” Finally, she plugs Hatch Pacific, an educational programme formed by the Pacific Business Trust which helps to develop young Pasifika entrepreneurs. To check it out, go to hatchpacific. co.nz, and don’t forget to check out Justine’s various handles on instagram to see the tika stuff she’s working on! @justinetaito https://www.linkedin.com/ in/justine-taito-matamua @browndollarstudio @valleynow | @anamuafou
DESIGN EXAMPLES
www.salient.org.nz
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