Hot New Things — Etana Zaguri, Wintec
Welcome to Hot New Things 2018 – an opportunity to profile a selection of the top design graduates coming out of our tertiary institutions. This week, we speak with Etana Zaguri from Wintec.
Etana Zaguri
Bachelor of Media Arts (Graphic Design major)
Wintec
You completed your full time studies at the end of 2017. Can you tell us what your final year’s project was about and what you focussed on?
Yes I did! In my final year at Wintec I completed a range of different projects. The project that stood out to me was my most challenging project to date, I created an Identity for Wintec’s School of Media Arts. Wintec’s School of Media Arts currently lacks its own identity, I felt it needed to be recognised, stand out and influence and inspire desirability amongst potential creative students. I have a strong passion for publication and packaging design, so naturally I based a large part of this project around creating a welcome pack / survival kit for new students to help get them through their creative degree at ‘Centre for Creatives’.
How has what you’ve recently been working on influenced your design process, and what momentum does it bring to your practice?
Branding, publication and packaging design are my main strengths as a graphic designer. I enjoy thinking out side the box, coming up with new innovated ideas and developing strong and intersting concepts. Researching things that interest me are influenced and expressed in my designs. Effective strategies and research techniques implemented in my design process has made my concept grow and develop from its initial planning stage. The exploring of different design styles, technology, materials and problem solving solutions helped my idea come together in a fun and interactive way through its layout and packaging.
What were some of your most exciting discoveries?
Through previous projects, I discovered the laser and vinyl cutter. Knowing that I had access to these tools at Wintec I was able to utilise them into my ‘welcome pack’, the lazer cutter gave precision and accuracy to my final outcomes. I found that vinyl was an ideal medium to utilise and added a high quality customised touch to my project. I was able to use the vinyl cutter to cut white text, printing white doesn’t fit in a students budget so the vinyl cutter was a cheaper alternative. I would push the vinyl cutter to see how small the text could cut, (the weeding part was extremely niggly) I liked how the vinyl gave the effect of the text being printed directly onto the product.
And also some of the challenges along the way?
There were many challenges I encountered through out this project, one of them being the open brief, there where endless possibilities. Another challenge was being able to come up with a strong concept that would be able to push me and challenge me as a designer. I had many ideas for this project, but with the limited time frame it was the time crunch that brought on the pressure. Being the perfectionist I am, each task took a lot longer than I initially anticipated. I found its always worth that extra push to be able to produce those great ideas.
What did you love doing most?
The most rewarding part of a project is seeing my ideas come to life. What I loved most about this project was creating the welcome pack and being able to step away from the computer and use my hands as a design tool rather than the computer and the click of the mouse. It gives me freedom to be more creative.
Where do you go to find inspiration (websites, resources, designers, etc)?
I find that my best ideas and inspiration for projects come to me when I’m not trying to force it, so stepping away from the computer, taking a break, going for a walk or being in nature was the best inspiration for me. I also find inspiration from interesting events that are happening around the world. I follow a lot of amazing designers and design studios on Instagram, as well as on Behance, it’s a great way to see what everyone is up to and seeing new design trends.
Why did you choose to study at your design school, and what do you feel you can take away now that you’ve completed your course?
Growing up I always knew I was going to go take the path of a creative career. I had a strong passion for painting and photography at High School so having the opportunity to explore these different practises and being able to collaborate with students from different pathways is what drove me to further my creative skills at Wintec. Coming into my first year of my degree I had no knowledge about design, I didn’t know how to use any of the Adobe software, so I can definitely say I have come a long way since my first year at Wintec. Graphic Design terms were also foreign to me, this is where my Pantone Dictionary idea arose from. This would have come in handy for me in the early stages of my degree and future graphic design students.
In my final year of my degree, I had the opportunity to work with clients along side some great designers on real life projects, the International Spark Festival and the multi media exhibition Linking the City at the Waikato Museum.
Where to next for you? What does 2018 hold?
I am lucky to have the opportunity to extend my knowledge and further my growth as a designer, working alongside a well known New Zealand illustrated publisher. I’m excited to see what 2018 holds for me.
