Dean Johnstone Chief Thinker, Artist and owner of Dream It.  (AKA Elvis)

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Dream It takes the opportunity that the client has identified and converts it through a unique skill set into a visual representation of that reality.

 

Dean is recognised as one of New Zealand’s most creative designers for special effects in both residential and commercial interiors.

 

If you have heard Dean sing you’ll know how he got this nickname Elvis. Singing is one of his pass times and he tries to bash out a couple of tunes in local bars every couple of weeks to keep the tonsils in order.  He doesn’t sing every weekend because he also enjoys working on his old cars. 

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Where it started: Elvis started as an apprentice at Pilgrim Displays, and then transferred to Sign Displays to finish his time, and he also had a stint at Bellamy Signs.

When he finished his time, he tried his hand at Landscape draughting for 6 months, and then the creative gremlins in his body told him it was time to start Johnstone Bros Signs, which evolved into JBFX. Wanting more time in the “Artie” side of commercial art. Having had experience in creating magic on major movies and dreaming big, he re-branded and focused on full time cool stuff. In 2014 Dream It was born specialising in theming bars to painting Murals. If you can Dream It we will make it.

 

Biggest influence:  Elvis’s biggest influence in life would have to be his kids. Sacha, Indiana, Fox and Zorro his black lab, who he loves hanging out with and doing stuff when he is taking time out from creating original art and being clever. He thinks his parents are pretty cool people as well and we wonder if they passed on his talent through their genes, or whether he is just stepped out of his Tardis from another time?

 

Favourite drink: Brandy when singing, rum when doing it big, & beer when talking crap with the boys ( and girls of course).

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Cars: Elvis also has a passion for cars.  A 204 Army Hilux, 2 EK Holdens and a 84 Chevy Pickup are in his collection of money gobblers. 

Dream Car: 1959 Chevy Apache Pick Up.

 

Giving Back: Elvis is a member of the NZSDA ( New Zealand Sign Display Association ) Supporting and taking part in most of the events through out the year. Elvis is right in the thick of it, inspiring young people to be creative and to follow their dreams. This is something that we should be able bottle and keep for eternity.

 

Awards:  After 28 years and over 30 gold medals for traditional signwriting and digital art  (formerly JBFX) and now taking out 4 more gold medals in the 2018 NZ Sign and Display Awards as Dream It, was a very proud moment for the team rewarding all their hard work over 2017 / 2018.

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In 2018 Dean Johnstone was knighted a “Master Signmaker”  it don't get much better than that.

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Team: Dream It is formed by a team of artists, sculptors, builders, digital designers and crazy enthusiasts, working alongside Dean creating awesome environments.