2024 Hot New Things: Adam de Jong, Victoria University Wellington – Te Herenga Waka
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 Adam de Jong, who recently graduated from the Design Innovation programme at Victoria University Wellington – Te Herenga Waka. 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?
Kia ora, ko Adam de Jong tōku ingoa. Ko Kāi Tahu te iwi. I spent the majority of my childhood in Myanmar, Southeast Asia, which means I’m bilingual. I love Burmese language, food and culture. After finishing highschool in Auckland, I moved to Wellington for study. Currently I’m a Bachelor of Design Innovation student majoring in Communication Design and minoring in Photography.
What did your graduating project focus on?
For my photography minor my final project was called “Here and Now”. I focused on how intangible feelings can be communicated through photography and oral storytelling. The final output was an evening for friends, classmates, and mentors, where I hosted a dinner and performed my presentation. The aim of my project was to tell a vulnerable summer love story with photography and words. It was important that the images and oral performance all came together. I used a lot of landscape and ambient photography to perform this. To conclude the presentation I shared the photographs as postcards to be written on. My goal was for the audience to go beyond observing the presentation to reflecting on their personal experiences through the images.
Why did you choose to study at Victoria?
At highschool I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study, I was even considering accounting. However in my last year I took an Art Design class and really enjoyed it. Since I hadn’t been an art student at school I didn’t have a portfolio to apply with. I remember seeing that Vic didn’t need a portfolio to enter instead it had limited entry into the second year. I decided to step into the “what if”. What if I give this crazy design dream a go? What if it works? What if I love it? I am glad I didn’t give up because of my insecurity of not measuring up. When I chose to study at Te Herenga Waka (Victoria University) I was intimidated and excited for the next adventure.
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 that the courses unlocked my passion. I found myself working hard, working late and enjoying every minute of it. When I earned my first A it created a paradigm shift within me. After surviving highschool I was thriving at university. I found myself studying something enjoyable and pushing myself to do my best.
Were there any exciting or unexpected discoveries to come out of your studies?
The discovery that design sits on a spectrum between engineering and art changed the way I think about design. Typefaces, with their depth and complexity, are a good example of this. On one end of the spectrum you have Atkinson Hyperlegiable, a technically advanced font that is designed for low vision readers. It’s concerned with being legible across different sizes, on print, and on screen. At the other end of the spectrum are typefaces like Futura Condensed Extra Bold Oblique, a more graphical font with narrower applications. It is suitable for headings but It would be challenging to read a whole novel in this font.
Another aspect of design I discovered was the human element. As a designer I’m communicating ideas and thoughts through choices like layout, size and colours. These creative decisions profoundly change the way the reader interprets the message. Fundamentally me and my ideas are connecting with you and your ideas.
What was your biggest challenge while studying and how did you overcome it?
Throughout my degree there has often been a tension between balancing my studies with the rest of my life, especially my youth work commitments. This came to a head towards the end of the second year. After one of the best semesters of my life I hit a creative wall. It felt like the well inside me had dried up. I chose in the next semester to only take one paper that I was really looking forward to. It was such a privilege to pour so much energy and attention into one project. This project reignited the passion for my craft.
Was there someone (or something) that inspired you to pick Design as a career path?
Throughout my life many people and experiences have formed my worldview and influenced who I am. As I’ve studied at Te Herenga Waka I’m grateful that I’ve been able to learn from some incredibly passionate and kind lecturers, tutors and classmates. Mizuho Nishioka stands out as a lecturer who had a meaningful impact on me. As a photography and design student Mizuho saw my potential. She genuinely cared and spoke to me in a way that built my confidence and encouraged me on my journey. People like Mizuho have inspired me in my design journey and to pursue it as a career.
Which piece in your portfolio are you most proud of and why?
I’ve done a lot of work I’m proud of, but recently I’ve been buzzing from my architectural photography projects “Left” and “When & Why”. I enjoyed pushing myself to learn new techniques and develop depth in my photography skills. Working with light and understanding space was often challenging. I was spending time in real physical structures and articulating them as two dimensional compositions. This meant I would often return to the spaces as the presentation came together and my vision became clearer. “When & Why” was laid out as a book and I’m really happy with the spreads I designed.
What’s next for you?
2024 is looking really exciting. I will be studying part time to finish my degree while searching for part time design work to get practical experience. This might mean working in an agency practising design or photography. I’d love to work in a print shop to develop tactile skills and become a well rounded designer.
Long term I am considering teaching. After I’ve become an experienced designer I’d love to pass on my design and photography skills. What I enjoy about my current youth work is seeing young people grow in themselves. I believe that design and photography can be an avenue for young people to thrive.
How can people get in touch or see more of your work?
You can see my work on instagram @adamfromdesign or my portfolio website adamfrom.com. If you’d like to get in touch feel free to email adamfromdesign@gmail.com or flick me a message on instagram. If you ever see me out and about, please come up and say hi! I’d love to chat.
*instagram link; https://www.instagram.com/adamfromdesign/
