About these guys.
Hard Luck Design was formed in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic as an initial side hustle. Now, we're collectively fulfilling our creative passions working alongside cool people, creating cool stuff.
'Hard Luck' is slang derived from the classic sports saying. For many it means you've made a mistake and to try again. For us, we resonate with the importance of learning from your mistakes.
Hard Luck:
The feeling of making mistakes
But learning from it and
moving forward.
Hard Luck is a culmination of different interests, cultures and experiences - these differences have helped form our ‘why’. We aim to create meaningful change around how the creative industry approaches Pasifika-led design.
We believe that culture and design are intertwined and should not be isolated from one another, while we see the importance of challenging the creative industry to operate in a way that doesn’t separate culture from design. Overall, we want to uplift the mana of our people by empowering them to communicate their stories in their own personal and unique way.
Our Why
Maria is a Graphic Designer but considers herself more of a visual messenger. She is of Fijian and Sāmoan descent and enjoys telling stories through print, film and digital media, as well as coming up with unique creative solutions.
Her expertise in the Adobe Creative Suite ranges from graphic design, illustration, moving image and photography.
Creative Director
Maria Philp
With a Communications background, Telia brings client management experience across both corporate and non-profit environments to her Accounts Lead role at
Hard Luck Design.
Raised in the mighty Waikato and hailing from Savai’i, Sāmoa, Telia is passionate about using her skillset to enact positive change for her people across the motu.
Accounts Lead
Telia Lepa–Munokoa
With a Communications background, Telia brings client management experience across both corporate and non-profit environments to her Accounts Lead role at Hard Luck Design.
Raised in the mighty Waikato and hailing from Savai’i, Sāmoa, Telia is passionate about using her skillset to enact positive change for her people across the motu.
Accounts Lead
Telia Lepa–Munokoa
Christian Munokoa
Born and raised in South Auckland with both Cook Island and Māori heritage, he loves to connect with like-minded people about all things creative.
Coming from a creative direction background, Christian enjoys working on a range of work from community projects to government campaigns.
Managing director