I was working at an Architecture firm and was involved in a logo design project. That was it for me! I applied to study Graphic Design at University and the rest is hostory.
01Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?
I hold a Bachelor of Visual Communication (Hons) majoring in Graphic Design.
02What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?
I was working at an Architecture firm and was involved in a logo design project. That was it for me! I applied to study Graphic Design at University and the rest is hostory.
03Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?
Chose to.
04What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?
Brand identities, publications, frameworks, websites. I do love designing for print. Especially specially printed collateral. I am a very tactile person so bringing designed things to life is quite an obsession of mine.
05What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?
Never think you can't do something. Try, try and try again. Hard work pays off eventually.
06What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?
Their craft, attention to detail and approach to design.
07What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?
Merit can be given on how clever it is, how beautiful it is or what story it tells. It is very subjective - much like art.
08What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?
Because poorly designed collateral can give a bad impression and compromise a brand or company's core messaging and reputation.
09What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?
I would like to work with Nike, Adidas or FIFA.
10What is the dream project you haven't yet had time to realize?
The whakapapa/geneology of Threaded. It's evolution from birth.
11What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?
To me the secret ingredient is always the people involved, they bring something unique to the project - whether it is ideas, skills or context. If you can harness this the project will always succeed.
12Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?
I have a mix of artists and designers. An artist I recently discovered from NZ during the 60's-80's whose style is so timeless and evoking is Cliff Whiting (his piece Tangaroa) feels so modern, yet was done 42yrs ago (my whole lifetime ago!). Other design masters/Tohunga from here I draw inspiration from are Rangi Kipa, Carin Wilson & Bernard Makoare.
13What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?
I have found myself gravitating towards Māori and indigenous designers more in these past 10 years. I find their story-telling techniques through motif and form so powerful, like an inherited super power passed down to them by their ancestors.
14What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?
At this moment I feel like Threaded Ed.21, the Te Pō and Tē Ao Mārama Issue is (https://www.threaded.co.nz/threaded-ed21). It incorporates visual, augmented, and sonic design queues to communicate very complex cultural narratives as holistic and integrated systems.
15How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?
If you fail, learn from those failings. Surround yourself with talented people. Share your creative challenges - we develop creative ideas better when not working in silos.
16If you hadn't become a designer, what would you have done?
Architecture
17How do you define design, what is design for you?
It is my reason for getting up in the morning. It is a part of who I am and who I want to be.
18Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?
My Mother, my partner, my friends and my tutors.
19Which books you read had the most effect on your design?
Losing my virginity (Richard Branson). Inspired me to start Threaded magazine.
បទសម្ភាសន៍អ្នករចនា
24 សំណួរ
I have always loved the arts, enjoyed artistic pursuits and am by nature a creative thinker and maker. However, in my era becoming a 'designer' wasn't an established career path so I had my sights set on becoming an…
01Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
I have always loved the arts, enjoyed artistic pursuits and am by nature a creative thinker and maker. However, in my era becoming a 'designer' wasn't an established career path so I had my sights set on becoming an Architect when I was growing up.
02Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
Threaded was born off the backbone of Threaded magazine in 2007. We are a small, independent award-winning design studio based in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Our studio has a focus on client-based projects, as well as our ongoing international design project, Threaded magazine.
We enjoy working closely with multi-stakeholder organisations (including NFP’s, SME’s, iwi and hapū) looking to activate and engage with local communities to create positive change.
03What is "design" for you?
The ability to visually organise components so they communicate messages, emotion or narratives at a base level.
04What kinds of works do you like designing most?
Brands / publications.
05What was the first thing you designed for a company?
The very first 'thing' I designed was not for a company but for a large collective of people. It was a logo, for my hapu 'Ngāti Hau' (a hapu is subtribe within Māori society who are all connected/ related through whakapapa/geneology.)
06When do you feel the most creative?
On holiday, away from the computer and deadlines.
07Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
R&D and the explorative / conceptual phase.
08What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
They can range from stress to elation and everything in between!
09What makes a design successful?
When clients embrace them and they accurately and creatively represent their cause or purpose.
10When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
Creativity, innovation and execution.
11From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
Well this depends if you are in an industry where you can make decisions on better outcomes for people and planet (i.e. for us in print - we ensure we select more sustainable inks, papers and embellishments, and are conscious of our carbon footprint when distributing our publication).
12How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
I imagine the future of design moving towards a more AI generated (or influenced) online space.
13When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
Ed.21, the launch of Te Pō and Te Ao Mārama Special Edition in Auckland, New Zealand.
14Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
My children, environment and imagination. Although I find inspiration in creative blogs, books and magazines, I often find that inspiration doesn't occur 'on queue' so you need to save the things you find that excite ideas (as you find them) as one day they may fuel a creative project you never knew was coming your way.
15How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
I don't have just one aesthetic style, for each project I believe the creative output is determined by the objectives and tone of the messaging.
16Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
I live in Aotearoa, New Zealand. My Māori culture and identity has had immense influence and impact on the way I approach design and also the types of clients I do design for.
17How do you work with companies?
Collaboratively.
18What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
Review their past projects and accolades. Ask what their creative process is and how they involve you in their process.
19Can you talk a little about your design process?
Collaboration is the key ingredient in our design process; clients actively participate and interact with our creative team through each design phase to ensure we understand and meet their creative needs.
20What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
A carved bone broach (gifted to me by Master Carver Bernard Makoare), a kauri carved key (gifted to me on my 21st birthday by my whānau/family), a carved stone necklace (gifted to me by my whanaunga/cousin), an empty kauri snail shell (found in my ngahere/bush by my children) and my Dad's drawings/ artwork (he passed away when I was 8yrs old from cancer).
21Who are some of your clients?
New Zealand Green Building Council, KiwiRail, Agrisea New Zealand, DB Breweries, Maketū Pies, Green Building Council of Australia.
22What are your future plans? What is next for you?
We are currently doing a
23Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
I mostly work on my projects myself but the team can expand and contract as needed to suit the design outcomes required or the scale of the project.
A' Design Award គឺជាពានរង្វាន់រចនាល្អអន្តរជាតិដែលវាយតម្លៃដោយគណៈកម្មការ។ ចូលរួមក្នុង A' Design Award ដើម្បីទទួលបានឱកាសក្នុងការទទួលស្គាល់ដោយគុណសម្បត្តិ ទទួលបានកិត្តិនាម កិត្តិយស និងការផ្សព្វផ្សាយសម្រាប់ការងាររបស់អ្នក។ ដាក់ស្នាដៃរបស់អ្នកសម្រាប់ A' Design Award ហើយប្រកួតប្រជែងដើម្បីឈ្នះ A' Design Prize ដ៏គោរពរាប់អាន។
