2024 Hot New Things: Carmin Erasmus, Wintec | Te Pūkenga School of Media Arts
Each summer DA profiles a selection of the top design graduates coming out of our tertiary institutions. We welcome these talented emerging professionals to our industry, learn about their passions, final projects, developing creative confidence and ambitions for the future.
Today we speak with Carmin Erasumus, who recently graduated from the Visual Communication programme at Wintec. You can find out more about Aotearoa NZ creative study options by visiting our design schools page.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Hi, I’m Carmin. I’m originally from South Africa and immigrated to New Zealand when I was 6. I’m passionate about creating bold, boundary-pushing, and well-thought-out designs. In my spare time, you’ll find me tackling a crochet project or enjoying the company of my friends at a music festival.
What did your graduating project focus on?
In my spare time, I love attending festivals and gigs. That feeling you get when you enter the festival grounds is unexplainable. Being able to play, connect with people you don’t know, and be a version of yourself you don’t often allow.
My graduating project focused on creating a hypothetical electronic music and art festival called AV. The festival is inspired by light, colour, and reflection, creating an immersive experience for all the senses. From opening the ticket box too interacting with the art sculptures and experiencing the music.
My project mainly focused on the packaging design element, something I wanted to improve with this project. The ticket box included a booklet, wristbands and risograph prints. The booklet included information about the sculpture artist, the lineup schedule, a map of the grounds and some interactive spreads.
My goal is to continue working on the project to complete more digital assets and hopefully get the wristbands printed.
Why did you choose to study at Wintec?
When I was attending Rototuna High School, we attended the annual end-of-year Creative Showcase. I felt so inspired that I knew that it was where I wanted to study.
My time at Wintec has been incredible. I’ve loved being in small classes, allowing a more hands-on approach and getting to know my peers and tutors. The tutors at Wintec are extremely knowledgeable about the industry and are always willing to go above and beyond for the students. I’m so grateful for all their guidance and knowledge over the last three years.
What did you enjoy most about your course, or what do you feel you can take away now that you’ve completed it?
I loved the diverse range of electives we could choose from, from screen printing to motion graphics. It allowed us to expand our skill set, challenge us outside of our comfort zone, and expose us to potential career paths.
One thing I am grateful for is the opportunity to work with real-world clients. It gave us valuable knowledge of how to work with real-world clients and learn the process and the challenges that come with that. We had the privilege to pitch work to community members of Port Waikato to create signage telling historical stories of the area. We also pitched a concept to Dress For Success Hamilton for a new retail store, for which my design was chosen! It was such an amazing opportunity and a real pinch-me moment.
Were there any exciting or unexpected discoveries to come out of your studies?
When I first signed up for this degree, I didn’t even really know what graphic design was or how broad it was. I have always been super creative, from painting, and drawing to pottery/sculpture, but I didn’t have any graphic design experience. Within the first few weeks, I knew that this was what I was supposed to do. I enjoyed the design process from the initial brief, to the messy brainstorming, to the final product. I tried to immerse myself into the project, collaborating, and coming up with interesting creative solutions. I have loved my time studying, being surrounded by very talented creatives and being able to bounce ideas off each other.
What was your biggest challenge while studying and how did you overcome it?
I think knowing that as designers, we are never going to be good at everything, which is okay. Having the mindset of giving everything a go, being open minded, and giving 100% effort has allowed me to figure out what I like and things I’m not so keen on.
Also sometimes we can be our own worst critics and look at all the things we didn’t achieve rather than the things we did. I think it’s important to change our perspective to be more positive and look at how far you have come. Saying that it’s good to reflect and set challenges for yourself to help you grow.
Was there someone (or something) that inspired you to pick Visual Communication/graphic design as a career path?
In High School, we were asked to complete a quiz that would give you a list of potential careers that matched your personality trait. Graphic design came up for me so I decided to research a bit about it and talk to my High School art teacher about it. I liked that it allowed me to be creative, think critically and solve problems innovatively.
Which piece in your portfolio are you most proud of and why?
This is a hard question. I’m proud of all the work I have produced. Each project has allowed me to learn and grow in different ways. But if I had to answer, I would say that the project I am most proud of is the branding I did for my small business, Crochet by Carmin. It allowed me to understand the importance of brand identity, tone of voice, and identifying your audience. It also allowed me to improve my photography skills.
What’s next for you?
I’ll be taking a bit of a break and going on my OE around Europe mid-next year. Once I get back, I can’t wait to get into the design industry and continue to learn and grow my craft. Might move to Australia… will see.
How can people get in touch or see more of your work?
You can check out my work on my instagram @by_carmin. If you want to chat, flick me a message on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmin-erasmus-62b193256/ or email me at carminerasmus@gmail.com. Would love to chat!
