HOME — JOURNAL — TENTH OF OCTOBER
STORY 2026.10.13 ・ About the studio ・ Australia

A design studio in Australia,
for Japanese businesses.

On 10 October 2026, I launched Tenth Of October, a branding studio run by a Japanese designer, in Adelaide, Australia. It's a studio where Japanese business owners in Australia can bring all of their design needs and talk them through in Japanese, from shaping how they think about their brand to the logo, website, packaging and promotional materials. In this article, I share the story behind the studio and what I can help you with.

A design studio in Australia, for Japanese businesses. Tenth Of October
Branding Logo Web Packaging Print Australia
01 ・ NAME

The tenth of October, and the character 萌 (Moe).

Hello, I'm Moe Luick, a graphic designer. I'm from Matsumoto in Nagano, Japan, and my birthday is 10 October. That's where the studio's name, Tenth Of October, comes from.

There's one more reason. If you write "tenth month, tenth day" in kanji (十月十日) and stack the characters together, they make 萌, the character for my name. And on 10 October 2026, right on my birthday, I launched the studio.

02 ・ STORY

I learnt in Hokkaido and went out on my own in Tasmania.

I went to the UK hoping to study at University of the Arts London, but international student fees were so high that I had to put that dream on hold. Back in Japan, I threw myself into an internship at COMMUNE, a design studio in Hokkaido, where I had the fundamentals of design drilled into me.

2016 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

Started working in design at COMMUNE, a design studio in Hokkaido.

2018 TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA

Moved to Tasmania and went freelance. I also became a mum.

2026 ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA

Moved to Adelaide and, in my eighth year in Australia, launched Tenth Of October.

NOW ADELAIDE / MELBOURNE / HOKKAIDO

Based in Adelaide, with a trip to Melbourne about once a month. I still work with clients in Hokkaido too.

So far I've worked on brands in both Australia and Japan, including hoshiimo, a dried sweet potato brand in Tasmania, COLORIN, the Melbourne ramen restaurant SARA and the Hokkaido campground TAKIBI CAMP. COLORIN is also the onigiri food truck I started myself in Tasmania (you can read that story here).

03 ・ WHY

So it doesn't end with "just a logo".

When people start a shop or a company, a lot of them think "first, I need a logo". But for Japanese people doing business in Australia, I think the real challenges usually come after that.

LANGUAGE How to say it in English

Translating the words alone changes how the message lands. You need to build the communication itself around the culture.

IDENTITY How Japanese to look

Do you put your Japanese character front and centre, or blend naturally into the local scene? The right design answer depends on where your brand stands.

LOCAL Australian rules and the local market

Food labelling and menu wording follow different rules from Japan. Knowing the local scene means noticing things you'd otherwise miss.

PARTNER You don't have to carry it alone

From strategy to logo, web, promotion and what comes after. Having someone you can talk things through with in Japanese makes decisions so much easier.

For example, from July 2026 the seafood on your menu needs a country of origin label (here's how to write it, with a free template). It's reassuring to have a designer who knows how things work on the ground in Australia and who you can talk to about things like this in Japanese. I started Tenth Of October because I wanted to be that person.

It would make me really happy to support Japanese people working hard in Australia on the creative side.

04 ・ SERVICES

From the foundations of your brand to getting it out there.

I cover design across the board: shaping how you think about your brand, visuals including your logo, packaging, promotional materials, websites and digital media.

BASE Strategy, concept and naming

Brand DNA, concept development, brand strategy, naming, taglines and copy, and market research in Japan and Australia

OUTPUT Logo, visual identity and packaging

Logo (including colours, typefaces and guidelines), business cards and print, packaging

DELIVERY Web, promotion and photography

Websites, landing pages (single-page sites), social media creative, photography and shoot direction

GROW Ongoing support and social media

Social media management support, content and blogs, ad management, retainers (ongoing support)

Pricing is in Australian dollars (AUD), with a contract for each project. If you'd like ongoing support after launch, retainer arrangements are available too. As well as the Starter Plan for first-time business owners (special price A$1,500), there's a "Brand Map" on the services page where you can combine what you need and get a guide price.

05 ・ HOW

First, we put your brand into words.

Every project starts with "Brand DNA", where we clarify the mission, the brand's personality and the values it holds dear. Only then do we create the visuals, such as the logo and colours. You can see a real example of the process in the TAKIBI CAMP process.

STEP 1 Free consultation

I listen to what's on your mind and what you'd like to do.

STEP 2 Agreeing on direction

I sort out what you need and a rough budget, then put together a proposal.

STEP 3 Brand DNA and design

We put the substance into words first, then give it shape.

STEP 4 Delivery and beyond

Ongoing support after launch, and help with whatever you need next.

06 ・ TEAM

A small studio, with people I can count on.

I handle the design myself, and for each project I team up with the collaborators it needs, depending on the project and budget: food specialists, web developers, photographers and videographers, and companies that know Australian marketing well. Because we're a small studio, the same person looks after your project from the first conversation to delivery. And I don't want to stop at making designs. I'd love to connect clients with each other and become someone who supports Japanese people working hard in Australia in every way I can.

07 ・ FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Q. Can I work with you from anywhere in Australia?

I'm based in Adelaide, but meetings can be held online, so I take on projects from other states too. I've designed for businesses in Tasmania and Melbourne.

Q. Can we talk in Japanese?

Yes. All meetings and communication can be in Japanese. I can also take care of English deliverables, such as the English on your website, menu or packaging.

Q. Can I order just a logo, or just business cards?

Yes. Single-item projects are welcome. If I see something else your brand needs as a whole, I'll suggest it.

Q. How much does it cost?

Quotes are in Australian dollars (AUD), with a contract for each project. The Starter Plan for first-time business owners is a special price of A$1,500. You can use the Brand Map on the services page to combine what you need and see a guide price.

Q. Can I get in touch while I'm still thinking about expanding from Japan to Australia?

Yes. Whether you're about to move to Australia, have just arrived, or already have a shop or company and want to refresh your brand, you're welcome to get in touch at any stage.

FREE CONSULTATION Starting or growing a business in Australia? Let's talk.

Tell us about your business, in English or Japanese. A link or a few photos is a fine place to start. No pressure.

Get in touch →
NEXT Translating a ramen master's craft into a single logo.

See the SARA process

Read →

Send me an email or DM about your business and ideas or for fun collaboration.

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