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Field Guide — Typographic Anatomy

There is plenty of Jargon (and way too many rules!) in typography which can be overwhelming when just starting out in design. You don’t need to be a specialist to typeset text, InDesign and Opentype features are making the selection and arrangement of type easier than ever. This page contains some foundational information for designers…

12 hours ago by

In-house Design Luminaries — Reuben Shalome, from Ravensdown Ltd

This series profiles the best and brightest designers in Aotearoa’s in-house design studios, this week we spoke with Reuben Shalome, from Ravensdown Ltd a large agricultural co-operative. Can you describe the creative path you took to get where you’re at now? Too much dawdling! I’ve always enjoyed the arts but was never the best student.…

3 days ago by

Fresh from the field — Frozen in Time, Human Beings, Utrecht, The Netherlands by Gerbrand van Melle. 

This Fresh from the Field features a series of album art for techno music act Human Beings designed by Gerbrand van Melle. If you have new or recent work that you would like to share in Fresh from the Field email Louise for details.   Commission Context: Human Beings was founded in 1991 by Allert Aalders, Bert…

5 days ago by

The cost of acquiring new clients

Ahead of our 31 August Auckland DA Workshop: ‘Keeping the pipeline filled: sales for creatives‘, our workshop facilitator – Sarah Ritchie – shares valuable intelligence on appreciating the real cost of new business development. Sarah has spent 25 years in design and advertising account management, which included 10 years running her own, successful graphic design business. These…

1 week ago by

In-house Design Luminaries — Katharina Di Lena at The Wairoa District Council

This series profiles the best and brightest designers in Aotearoa’s in-house design studios, this week we spoke with Katharina Di Lena at The Wairoa District Council. Katharina’s work (and her admirable hobbies) serve her community and is scaffolded by the New Zealand landscape and culture. Can you describe the creative path you took to get…

1 week ago by

Fresh From The Field — Tricky is Making new science simple

This Fresh From The Field features a brand strategy, striking typographic identity and packaging for a personal care range making the most of cutting edge science by Tricky. If you have new or recent work that you would like to share in Fresh from the Field email Louise for details. The Brief: Tricky was initially briefed on…

2 weeks ago by

5 minutes with DA’s new Christchurch host… Madeline Laffey

As we have grown over the last ten years, our Auckland-based founder Louise Kellerman has relied on local hosts to be ambassadors and fly the Design Assembly flag in their region. The newest addition to our host team is Christchurch based Madeline Laffey, and we wanted to take 5 minutes to introduce her to you…

2 weeks ago by

Field Guide — Working Overseas by Kelly Gilchrist

Traveling the world is a dream, however, one that is potentially daunting. Below is a guide that informs you of the entry requirements, how long you can stay and of course, the restrictions for a number of countries you might wish to visit. Australia Since 1973 Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement has allowed Australian and New Zealand…

2 weeks ago by

Smells like Fresh Print — Can I Borrow Your Spoon?

Brought to you by B&F Papers, the Smells Like Fresh Print series celebrates the beauty and tactile qualities of recently created, selected print projects. This instalment features a thoughtfully designed book, about a 4 month adventure spanning Aotearoa, and the art generated throughout that 3000km journey on the Te Araroa Trail. A collaborative work curating…

3 weeks ago by

5 minutes with… Nick Kapica

We chatted with Nick Kapica, Principal at Isthmus Group ltd, about working at the interface between visual and urban design. What is your background and how did you get into design? I studied Visual Communication at Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication. I originally wanted to study filmmaking but saw a type class taking place…

3 weeks ago by

Wellington’s Most Thoughtful “Out of Office” Space

Out Of Office is Wellington’s newest, most thoughtful space for hire, designed to enable quality thinking. Fraser Callaway, Matt Innes, Oliver Ward and Geoff Cranko have reinvented what it means to hire a space for workshops, design sprints, team off-sites, events and everything in between. We talked to Co-founder, Fraser, about the space, the importance…

3 weeks ago by

Recto Verso: Ella Sutherland 10 Aug–6 Oct 2019

Ella Sutherland is a Sydney-based, New Zealand artist and graphic designer, with an upcoming exhibition Recto Verso at Objectspace which examines how text and image are used to transmit information and ideas. Recto Verso takes its starting point from Sutherland’s recent work as part of the Gwangju Biennale which sought to examine the printed matter…

4 weeks ago by

5 minutes with… Keely O’shannessy

The PANZ Book Design Awards were established by the Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) to promote excellence in, and provide recognition for, the best book design in New Zealand. Innovative design combined with impeccable production standards made the task of whittling down a shortlist challenging for this year’s judging panel who spent a day…

4 weeks ago by

Fresh From The Field — Cause for effect by New Territory

This Fresh From The Field features a beautifully considered charity zine with a lot of heart (& some tail) from Auckland based studio New Territory. If you have new or recent work that you would like to share in Fresh from the Field email Louise for details. The Brief: The inaugural Cause for effect charity zine compiles…

4 weeks ago by

Speaking of fictions, 5 minutes with… Erik Brandt

Ahead of Semi Permanent, 15-17 August 2019, Mike Barrett spoke with celebrated Typographer Erik Brandt about graphic design umami, danger, family legacy, his upcoming book and first trip to Aotearoa. Erik Brandt is a graphic designer and educator who has been active since 1994. He is currently Chair of the Design Department and Professor of…

4 weeks ago by

Hometown by Design, with Campbell Attwood of Afternoon

This series profiles the design talent in our regions and invites them to show us around their towns. This week we meet Cambell Attwood to learn more about his creative journey, the design studio he founded Afternoon, and living in the Bay of Plenty. Where did you grow up, Where did you study? Home for…

1 month ago by

Fresh From The Field — Shotover Jet by Voice

This Fresh From The Field features a brand strategy, logo, signage and livery for a tourism icon by Voice  If you have new or recent work that you would like to share in Fresh from the Field email Louise for details. The Brief: Shotover Jet was looking to strengthen their iconic brand and came to Voice with…

1 month ago by

5 minutes with… Richard Shed

Ahead of his upcoming UX gym workshops on Design Thinking and Service Design, we spoke with facilitator Richard Shed. Richard is a design lead with over 18 years of experience in the fields of product, service and interaction design across both Europe and New Zealand. Richard currently works with Thoughtfull Design Auckland where he has…

1 month ago by

Ramp Festival internship gives Wintec student real world experience and creative connections

Third-year Wintec design student Courtney Cavanagh was selected to be an intern at Area Design to work on Wintec’s Ramp Festival campaign and rebrand under the guidance of the design agency. What has been valuable from this experience, what have you learnt, what have been the highlights? This placement has been really valuable as I…

1 month ago by

5 minutes with… Good Health Design

Design Assembly recently got the opportunity to chat with AUT’s embedded multidisciplinary Good Health Design Team, about their research initiatives and how visual design can support our communities wellbeing. What is your background and how did you get into design? We are currently made up of designers (e.g. communication, product, digital, media), but also have…

1 month ago by

Fresh From The Field — The Cool Gardener by Curious Design

This Fresh From The Field features a distinctly kiwi ‘Underground flavours’ brand and communications strategy from Curious Design. If you have new or recent work that you would like to share in Fresh from the Field email Louise for details.     The Brief: At The Cool Gardener they want to make it easy for everyone to…

1 month ago by

Seeing the invisible: a conversation with Refik Anadol

It’s 10 a.m. in Auckland, 5 p.m. in Los Angeles. Refik Anadol has just stepped out of a meeting, blinking into the California sun, and out onto a terrace for a quick Skype call. We’ve had a timing mix-up (iCal time-zone fails). While nominally I’m a day ahead, when Anadol starts describing his work I…

1 month ago by

Field Guide — Short walks & Sushi by Lindsay Yee

After graduating from design school I spent a few months “freelancing” (*cough* unemployed *cough*) before I ended  up landing a job at a massive media company in Christchurch. It started out as night work then quickly became a 9–5. The work was fine, I learnt much from just being in an office environment. Taking and…

1 month ago by

Fresh From The Field — Thankyou New Zealand by Marx Design

This Fresh From The Field features a Thankyou New Zealand campaign by Marx Design If you have new or recent work that you would like to share in Fresh from the Field email Louise for details.     The Brief: Almost a year after Thankyou launched their personal care range in New Zealand, Marx Design were tasked…

2 months ago by

5 minutes with… Raul Sarrot

Ahead of DA’s Beyond Design Thinking: Game-changing co-creation techniques to work with your clients workshop in Auckland this month we spoke with facilitator, Raul Sarrot a multi-disciplinary designer, strategist, design thinking coach, educator and researcher. His international experience has been forged over 25 years working alongside a wide range of commercial and not-for-profit enterprises in…

2 months ago by

 

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