New Zealand superannuation provider Simplicity is taking a unique approach to both investing and ideas of the workplace. In search of an office space that broke away from tradition, Co-Founder and Managing Director Sam Stubbs turned to Donna White of Donna White Interior Design.
“The reason behind this request was to echo, from an interior design perspective, the company’s manifesto – ‘do it differently,’ ‘turn things upside down,’ and ‘money should make smiles, not frowns.’” Explains Donna.
The design balances playful details with thoughtful inclusivity. A dedicated prayer and meditation room supports spiritual and personal wellbeing, while a relaxed lounge space encourages informal catchups and quiet breaks. Tucked behind a custom-built replica of Doctor Who’s Tardis, a ‘playroom’ offers a space for staff to unwind over table tennis – or for children to tackle their homework after school.
As a non-profit, Simplicity’s values are expressed in the use of second-hand furniture. Combined with the brand’s signature orange and a curated mix of 1950s-70s memorabilia from the client’s own collection, the result is a bold, retro-inspired interior.
While orange anchors Simplicity’s brand identity, the design team steered away from using it in a conventional way. Instead, the entry features Porter’s rust-effect paint – an unexpected choice that sets the tone. Throughout the space, colours are bold and layered: most meeting rooms are wrapped in patterned wallpaper, and brick-red velvet curtains conceal the staff lockers and meditation room.
