Sonya Milford promoted to digital design director role at Colenso BBDO

AUCKLAND, Thursday: Colenso BBDO has promoted award-winning digital designer Sonya Milford – also known as an arts champion – to digital design director.

Milford has been with Colenso since 2021. Since entering the creative industry eight years ago with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from St Louis, Missouri, USA, Milford has built an exceptional design skill set.

Her work includes Fortescue Future Industries’ digital experience, which saw the green hydrogen manufacturer collaborate with global entertainment giants Rick & Morty. She led the redesign of the Auckland Arts Festival branding, and designed the digital storytelling for The Virtual Economy.

Milford is also founder of Āhua Collective – a group of artists working to re-indigenise the creative industry in Aotearoa. 

“Colenso is the only corporate space where I’ve not felt isolated as a queer POC.”

“We can and need to challenge the assumptions of who the arts are for and what creativity looks like,” she said. “Colenso is the only corporate space where I’ve not felt isolated as a queer POC.

Recently, Āhua has been funded by TikTok and NZ On Air to create a series that celebrates QTBIPOC artists in collaboration with Pantograph Punch.

“During my time here I’ve been surrounded by brilliant wāhine such as Maria Devereux, Beth O’Brien, Tennille Barnes and Angela Watson, who are not only insanely talented but also incredibly generous with their time and knowledge” says Milford.

Colenso CCO Si Vicars said: “Sonya is an incredible talent who makes us better in every way. Walking past her screen is like walking past a shop that sells stuff you’ve never seen before.

“You have to stop and look.”

“By taking this lead role, her skills will influence more of our work and more of our people.”