Simon Inc

Scope of work:
Editorial design and typography

The Auckland City Mission Capital Foundation came out of a need to create a source of funding that was independent yet would sit alongside and support the work of the Auckland City Mission. The fund will eventually provide a regular source of income to the City Mission from investments made by the Foundation enabling it to always consistently provide excellent service to those needing its help.
The foundation has a base of capital comprised of donations and legacies from supporters of the Mission. This capital is invested and the return from these investments provides an ongoing income stream, which is used to assist funding the Auckland City Mission. The Mission wanted to create a gift that they could leave with the donors who contribute to the Capital Foundation as a ÒthankyouÓ for their generosity.
They wanted something that was not only beautiful and precious but which also served as a tool for the donors to use to educate their own shareholders about the type of work that the Mission was involved in and why they had made the decision to donate.
Documentary photographer Serena Stevenson was commissioned to go and work within Auckland City Mission, spending time with both the service users and the staff and developing over a period a unique insight into the daily life of the Mission. The photographic record of the time she spent there is a remarkable collection of images reflecting the true nature of the work of the Mission and the difference it makes to the lives of some of our most marginalised citizens. Her portraits reflect the hardship and deprivation that affect some people on a daily basis, but also the optimism and humour that pervades the City Mission and the unique bond that exists between the volunteers and staff and the people that they are working with. A selection of historical images and clippings from the Mission archives were collected, and together with the photos were combined in a book to tell the story of Auckland City Mission, how it has evolved over the years and how it has stayed the same. The majority of the text in the book is in the form of handwritten quotes and excerpts from interviews conducted with the Mission users, staff and volunteers, telling their own stories and feelings about Auckland City Mission and its role in the lives of the people of Auckland. The hand-numbered limited edition (200 in total) hardback books were case-bound, and the pages printed on white, 120gsm matt stock and stitched.