Take 10 with… Annie McCulloch
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:
Annie McCulloch, Consultant, Portfolio Recruitment
How did you get into design?
I contacted Portfolio in 2005, looking for a new opportunity. They asked if I’d freelance for them, doing some admin etc. while they helped me look for a job…they never found me one! My references mustn’t have been good.
What do you love about design?
It’s smart and diverse (but we do need more diversity) and really does stack up against the global design industry. We have some incredibly talented people in Aotearoa. I love that I get to meet and work with so many of them!
What or who inspires you?
As I’ve said, I get to meet and work with some amazing people. I’m constantly inspired by them. I’m not just saying that, I really mean it.
I’ve recently been reading about Hilma af Klint. She was an artist who has recently been ‘discovered.’ I love her work and what she was motivated and inspired by. https://www.guggenheim.org/exhibition/hilma-af-klint
How are you feeling right now?
Nervous, excited, and a tad more fit!
Are you working right now, if so what does your work from home day look like?
Yes and no. I’ve been registering new designers each week, and catching up with people. It’s great just to chat and talk through what others are feeling…there is no crystal ball I can gaze into for those who are worried, but we just talk, I try to offer advice and ideas where I can.
What’s your one tip right now?
Stay connected and reconnect. I know most people have been. I’ve reconnected with several people over the last few weeks, which has been refreshing.
Tell us about your current workspace.
Me and the cat on my grandfather’s LazyBoy (he died on Christmas Day 1985 so the chair is a classic now really) in the spare room. My partner is a design director and has claimed the kitchen table.
Which local business are you going to miss most during our isolation period?
- Geeks on Sainsbury is our local for coffee and breakfast on Sundays. We’ve walked down for a coffee since Level 3 which was amazing. @geeksonsainsbury on Instagram
- Refill Nation on Te Atatu Peninsula https://refillnation.co.nz/
There are many others.
What do you hope for the Aotearoa design community going forward?
That we come out of this more agile, open to remote working, and with even fresher eyes that see further than we did before. Does that make sense?
