Design Meets Mixology: Recapping Our 'Design Bar' Social
A recap of the first design social event for the year.
As a designer myself, I was thrilled when I was asked to help organise an event created exclusively for designers. The competitive side of me lit up at the challenge, but this wasn’t just any event, it was an opportunity to craft an experience that spoke directly to our creative community. With the support of our incredible event coordinator (and resident wizard), we dove headfirst into planning an evening of pixel-perfect proportions. From concept to cocktails, every detail was designed with intention, fun, and a deep appreciation for the design team at the heart of it all.
On the 16th of May, Retro Rabbit hosted its first-ever design-exclusive event, Colour Me Interested, a celebration of creativity, crafted by designers, for designers. Held at the vibrant Mesh Club in Rosebank, a space as creative as the people in it, the event offered more than just an evening of socialising. It was a rare and valuable opportunity to strengthen connections within a largely remote team, bringing colleagues together through shared experiences, inspiration, and a bit of playful fun.
Upon arrival the first thing that struck you was the atmosphere, the venue exuded a perfect blend of artistic expression and warm, modern simplicity. The space was intimate enough to encourage conversation, yet open enough to feel relaxed and inviting. Guests mingled effortlessly while ordering from our custom-designed cocktail menu, featuring playful nods to design principles like the Accessibility Aperol Spritz, Negative Space Negroni, and End-User Espresso Martini. For those opting out of alcohol, we made sure to include equally creative mocktail options, we made sure that no one was left out of the fun.
Of course, the evening wasn’t just about speeches, announcements, drinks and casual chats. We had a range of creative activities sprinkled throughout the venue to spark interaction and laughter. Thoughtfully crafted conversation starters helped break the ice, while customisable coasters and acrylic paint markers gave everyone a chance to add their own artistic touch. One of the biggest hits of the night was our Design Confessions box, where guests could anonymously admit their most relatable (and hilarious) design sins. For those feeling a bit more active, Giant Jenga and Cornhole brought out a healthy dose of friendly competition and team spirit. Later in the evening, we read some of the confessions aloud and it turns out, we’ve all committed a few pixel crimes.
Between the speeches and announcements, we kept the energy flowing by encouraging guests to mingle with someone they hadn’t arrived with, helping spark new connections across the design team. We took a moment to share the purpose behind the event: to celebrate our community, strengthen our creative culture, and simply enjoy the evening together. To help commemorate the evening, each guest received a design-themed goodie bag to take home.
This evening was truly one for the books, not just a night of socialising, but a meaningful step toward strengthening the bonds within our Design team at Retro Rabbit. It was about more than cocktails and colour palettes; it was about boosting team morale, creating shared memories, and laying the foundation for a stronger sense of community. In a largely remote environment, moments like these matter. They remind us that behind the work are real people, and those people are valued. Investing in connection isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s how we build a team that collaborates, supports, and grows together.
By the end of the evening, we were met with generous feedback such as “Meeting everyone in person and I liked how small the place was because it made us interact with each other”, plenty of other kind words, shared laughter, and more than a few requests to make this a regular tradition. That enthusiasm means the world. I want to sincerely thank everyone who made the time to be there. Your presence, energy, and openness are what made the night so special. I truly hope to see you at more Retro Rabbit events in the future, starting with our legendary Hidden Mountain Festival. Until then, thank you again for being part of this one. See you at the next one!
Do you have a memorable story from a social event or a creative gathering that left an impact on you? Maybe a moment where you felt truly connected, inspired, or just had a really good laugh with your team? We’d love to hear your story. After all, events like Colour Me Interested are about more than the activities, they’re about the shared experiences that bring us closer as a creative community.
Let’s keep the conversation going, drop us a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!
