Take 10 with… Anthony Hos
The DA team want to support our community through these unprecedented times – something we kept coming back to is a focus on connection and community. So we want to do what we think DA does best, sharing ideas, inspiration and information and profiling our community.
With that in mind, we launched a new series Take 10 with… to do a pulse check on how you’re feeling, how you’re working, what you are missing, and what your hopes are for the future. We invited some of our friends, peers and the DA team to participate and we hope you enjoy these honest and candid profiles of Aotearoa designers today.
Introduce yourself:
Anthony Hos aka ‘Hos’. Design Director at Milk.
How did you get into design?
From the get go I have always been in the game of type and design — whether or not I knew it at the time. From labouring over the ‘design’ of the titles to go on cover pages of my primary school work books to discovering a love of type at a Typography & Calligraphy course while I was studying Graphic Design at AUT, it really felt like a natural pathway for me.
I’ve been lucky to have this interest and love and design paired with an incredible support network. I couldn’t and wouldn’t be in the fortunate position I’m in without those around me who have helped to shape me as a designer and as a person. After all it truly takes a village as they say.
What do you love about design?
There are so many things. Collaboration. Storytelling. Challenging. Crafting. The diversity of work and of course ‘the idea’ — at the heart of everything and anything we do at Milk. And with these being able to fulfil a basic human need – to create and solve. I think we’re incredibly lucky to be in the creative industry and to have different projects and worlds to immerse ourselves in on a daily basis.
Being able to think of what I do as something that I love rather than a job is pretty special in itself.
What or who inspires you?
People — my family, friends and colleagues. I’m lucky that I work with such a hugely talented team at Milk who I get so much from. It has been so humbling to see everyone getting stuck in and work closely together. Also on that I’ve been very lucky to have had and continue to have mentors in my career that have been a huge influence on me as a designer and person.
Some of the past and present designers that I’m digging are Massimo Vignelli, Paula Scher & Herb Lubalin. The common ingredient between all of them being typography of course.
How are you feeling right now?
Positive, optimistic, lucky. Lucky to be spending quality time with loved ones and re-connecting with friends, family and clients in different and innovative ways. It’s a time I think we should all take the time to soak up and cherish as we’ll be heading back to our previous (although slightly revised) routines soon. I’m loving how everyone has become so close through this. Working virtually has meant we’re invited into people’s homes where you get the cat walking across the keyboard, kids dancing in the background and internet connection fails. You can connect with people on a much more personal level. It’s refreshing.
Are you working right now, if so what does your work from home day look like?
Yes. We’re continuing to work closely with our clients and doing so in new and innovative ways which is exciting.
When it comes to the daily routine, I always kick the day off with a good coffee (or two) with my wife (Libby). We managed to sneak in a coffee machine purchase before we hit lock-down which has been crucial.
At Milk we start every day with a virtual team catch up where we can chat through the day ahead. I find its always so good to connect with people and re-focus together before we hit the ground running. Then its always a combination of check-ins and catch ups with the team, focused periods of work, client presentations, more coffee, a walk if possible, and when Friday comes around… virtual team drinks!
I’m also enjoying working on personal work through all of this. Type design being one of these things.
What’s your one tip right now?
If there’s one thing that I’ve learned through this experience it is to soak up being close with those around you. I’ve been valuing being with loved ones, appreciating my team members at work with all the great work that we’re doing, connecting with clients that we’ve been able to get to know on a much more personal and human level too. People really matter so show them the time and love.
I’ll sneak another one in and recommend making the most of the situation is a great idea too. I feel like through this we’ve been encouraged to focus on our work on a whole other level. Be that personal or commercial. Like others, I’m looking forward to seeing the great stuff that comes out of all this.
Tell us about your current workspace.
Libby calls it the ‘office’, I call it the ‘studio’. We have commandeered and converted a spare room into a studio which overlooks the garden. So being surrounded by greenery has definitely had its perks over the last few weeks.
Which local business are you going to miss most during our isolation period?
We’re lucky to be able to support and enjoy some of our locals now, but I know during lockdown the following were sorely missed…
Allpress Café (Ponsonby) — for their coffee. nz.allpressespresso.com/find/allpress-coffee-ponsonby
Billy Café (Auckland Domain) — for their coffee & food. www.billycafe.co.nz
Chateaubriant Café (Devonport) — for their coffee & authentic croque monsieur. www.facebook.com/chateaubriantdeli
Ambler Café & Bistro (Point Chevalier) — for their coffee & Eggs Benedict. www.amblerptchev.co.nz
Ripe Deli (Richmond Rd) — Coffee & food. www.ripedeli.co.nz
I quite like cafés really.
What do you hope for the Aotearoa design community going forward?
The level of talent and work that is being produced here is already competing on the world stage. I only hope that the community continues to grow and become closer.
