Naarm, Australia 

I’m Hanto Cantwell — a queer art director and designer who brings a playful, radical approach to every project. Over the past 10+ years, I’ve worked across music, hospitality, culture, and fashion industries. At the heart of my work is a belief that the design process should be expressive, imperfect and inclusive. 

hantocanto@gmail.com
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01.At the Above

Naarm
Exhibition Identity

Identity Design, Graphic Design

Richard Kern was an underground filmmaker, photographer and portraitist. Exhuming his work; his three-decade devotion to getting people off and bumming people out, from underneath the layers of desire-policing, polite society: the American unreality. 
Words from At the Above
For the Australian launch of New York Girls Now and its exclusive Polaroid exhibition At the Above, we built a pared-back identity utilising Richard Kern’s original videography.

02.Salomon

Naarm
SS25 Showroom

Creative Direction, Design and Build

Salomon engaged me to concept, design, and build their SS25 Collingwood showroom. Due to a restricted budget, I took on a lo fi approach - utilising industrial elements to create fixtures that fit within Salomon's aesthetic and brief. The final result was a distinctive and engaging showroom that showcased Salomon's SS25 collection. 

03.Nike 

Australia wide 
Dunk School 

Art Direction, Graphic Design

To celebrate the release of the Nike Dunk College Colours, five local creatives were engaged to create Dunk School - a digital database of self expression, where we shared their stories and expertise. By curating experiences for the Nike community, we sought to reconnect and inspire consumers feeling fatigued and uninspired due to the pandemic. The result was a comprehensive creative campaign, "United by Passion," featuring a hub of workshop videos, inspirational vignettes, and photography.





04.Sephora

Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, China
Sunproof Your Look Summer Campaign

Creative Direction, Graphic Design,
Spatial Design




Working alongside Long Story Short, I was tasked to develop a design toolkit that included campaign lockups, colour palettes, font treatments and graphics – which were applied to Sephora's digital space and retail environment. Our collaboration included rolling out six weeks of content for the Sephora website, Google Display Network, Affinity eDMs, Instagram, Facebook, and more for Australia/New Zealand and South-East Asia.


05.Nike  

Cairns 
Annual Conference

Creative Direction, Identity, Spatial


For the launch of three Nike footwear products, we transformed the Cairns Showground into an immersive brand environment. The vast industrial setting called for an identity that could hold its own in scale, while forging an energetic and memorable link to Nike.

Working with the raw nature of the space, we leaned into a rough-and-ready language — collage, DIY, and layered industrial materials. The result was a 3 hour immersive experience that connected consumers to the launch and stayed true to the spirit of the brand. 


06.Converse 

Naarm 
AS-1 Pro Launch  

Graphic Designer, Spatial Designer 

To celebrate the launch of Converse CONS skate team rider Alexis Sablone's debut pro model, the AS-1 Pro -  We designed and built a NYC inspired pop-up indoor skatepark in Melbourne. 

07.Converse 

Chadstone Shopping Centre
Customisation Zone

Creative Direction, Graphic Design, Experience, Spatial and Build


Converse came to us with a challenge: how do we bring more people into their physical stores?

We designed a modular customisation system, a reconfigurable build that could adapt to any store nationwide. Shoppers could bring in their own Converse or buy a fresh pair in-store and make them uniquely theirs through a library of unique interchangeable patches.

The result was a retail experience for self-expression, where every Converse could become a one-off, personal to its wearer.

07.XFLOS

Naarm
Brand Identity

Identity Design, Art Direction

After a period of growth, XFLOS felt a misalignment between the direction the business was taking and the brand. I was tasked with creating a new identity and art direction that represented the high end quality and scale of the output and their aspiration as a brand.


09.Moonhouse 

Naarm
Brand Identity

Identity Design, Art Direction


Moonhouse reimagines Cantonese dining at the iconic 282 Carlisle Street. The challenge was to respect the site’s heritage while introducing a sense of youth and modernity. We created a brand that sits comfortably between past and present — blending tradition with contemporary expression across every touchpoint, from visual identity to atmosphere.


10.MDI Wine 
Naarm  
Creative Direction 

Creative Direction, Graphic Design

MDI Wines is the latest venture from Kevin McCarthy, pioneer of Aussie Pinot Grigio. Made in Mildura, the brand champions sustainability and Italian varietals, balancing old-world tradition with playful experimentation. 

The identity reflects this. A touch of Mildura's honest,  sun-drenched soils blended with the youthful expression of a younger sibling.

I collaborated directly with the winemakers to develop this brand from inception to creation. From tasting hundreds of experimental wines to art directing the photoshoots in Naarm and Mildura, managing content, designing the labels and ideating the packaging and developing the website. 



11.Firebird 
Naarm  
Restaurant Design

Creative direction, Brand Identity

Firebird, Commune Group’s latest venture, draws on the unpredictability of open-flame cooking to create bold, sensory experiences. The brief: build an identity connected to Hanoi Hannah yet strong enough to stand alone. Our response centred on fire as both transformative and communal, resulting in a brand that feels human, progressive and vibrant.

12.New Quarter  

Naarm
Brand Identity

Identity Design, Art Direction

Commune Group asked us to reimagine their original Hanoi Hannah in Richmond, shifting it from a local takeaway to a vibrant destination. The brief called for an identity that felt energetic and fresh — elevated but still approachable. Working with local artist Soul McKenzie, we created a brand that captures Richmond’s raw, transient energy while reflecting Commune Group’s ethos of flavour, vibe and constant evolution.


13.At the Above

Naarm
Exhibition Identity

Identity Design, Art Direction

Identity for concept space and pop up At The Above presents. 


A PLACE WHERE FASHION, ART AND DESIGN CONVERGE IN THE DELIVERY OF EXPANSIVE EXPERIENCES. FOR PEOPLE, BY PEOPLE. EVOLVING WITH EACH COLLABORATOR, A CONSTANT WORK IN PROGRESS. NEVER FINISHED, NEVER FINAL, ALWAYS DISTINCT.

14.Golden Plains 

Meredith 
Jennifer Loveless Visuals 

Creative direction, motion design 

I designed and directed visuals for Jennifer Loveless’ three-hour Golden Plains DJ set, synchronising them live from the booth. The aim was to amplify the music — blending and transitioning imagery to create an immersive journey for the audience.

14.Tokyo Tina // Tokyo Private
Naarm  
Restaurant Design

Art direction, Brand Identity

Commune Group asked us to develop a new identity for Tokyo Tina’s private dining room. We built a narrative, redesigned the website and print collateral, directed a video for social rollout. Working with photographers, we combined archival and new imagery to form a flexible system for use across all channels.

The identity draws on the idea of voyeurism     — experiencing life through another’s lens. Together with interiors inspired by Japanese train carriages, the result is an immersive brand and dining experience.