Articles

“looking into the rear-view mirror”: Peter Haythornthwaite, Design Generation 

Written by Lana Lopesi Graphic Matters is a monthly column on issues and ideas related to New Zealand Design Culture We’re in the last few weeks of Peter Haythornthwaite: Design Generation a major survey exhibition of “one of New Zealand’s most influential industrial designers” currently on at Objectspace. Curated by design historian Michael Smythe, the exhibition…

2 weeks ago by

Hot air: A Monthly Rotating Roundtable — What is Aotearoa New Zealand design? 

Hot Air: A Monthly Rotating Roundtable, is a new monthly series where a number of designers take on big design conversations. To kick it off we start at the only place rightful place to start, interrogating our national design culture addressing the question. This month we asked Tyrone Ohia, Emma Rogan, Johnson Witehira and Luke Wood,…

3 weeks ago by

Now and Then: Ethan Lowe

Written by Annie McCulloch, Portfolio Recruitment Now and Then is a series where we catch up with designers who’ve been recently placed, via Portfolio Recruitment. We get their thoughts and feedback about their new roles and their work. Our latest Now and Then is with Ethan Lowe, a Graphic Designer at Culture&Theory. Ethan! What an awesome year (and a bit)…

1 month ago by

Looking Back: BackStory the Journal of New Zealand Art, Media & Design History

Written by Lana Lopesi  Graphic Matters is a monthly column on issues and ideas related to New Zealand Design Culture The lack of written local design history is one constant concern I hear from graphic designers in Tāmaki Makaurau and Aotearoa as a whole for that matter. While there have been concerted efforts from key…

1 month ago by

Puncturing Mythology: Looking beyond the shiny myths that distract from the complexity in design in Aotearoa

Written by K. Emma Ng Supported by Creative New Zealand Emma Ng is a contributor to Aotearoa Design Thinking 2018, a series of commissioned critical design essays published by Design Assembly and funded by Creative New Zealand.  This article is the first in a four part series on design and its support structures that enable us to nurture,…

2 months ago by

Baby Steps: Building the Aotearoa Conversation

Coming into the design world as a trained critical thinker and writer, I was struck by how young and non-existent critical conversations were. In my own critical writing practice, I work from a position of believing that critical feedback, public conversation and the building of discourse is key to the health and development of any…

2 months ago by

Broadsheet, New Zealand’s Feminist Magazine Goes Digital

Written by Lana Lopesi Graphic Matters is a monthly column on issues and ideas related to New Zealand Design Culture Covers of Broadsheet Issues 1 – 15  “…I became pregnant because I wanted to have a baby; my motives or reasons are no one’s business but my own…”  — Anonymous, Broadsheet Issue 1 On January 19,…

2 months ago by

Fresh from the Field — Paper Buds by Gusto

This week’s Fresh from the Field features Gusto‘s end of year gift, Paper Buds. If you have new or recent work that you would like to share in Fresh from the Field email Lana for details. The brief: To create a fun end of year gift for our clients that showcases our creativity. A majority of our…

3 months ago by

Fresh from the Field — Graffiato by Kelly Spencer and Natasha Vermeulen

This week’s Fresh from the Field features a collaboration between Kelly Spencer and Natasha Vermeulen for 2017 Graffiato: Taupo Street Art Festival. If you have new or recent work that you would like to share in Fresh from the Field email Lana for details. The brief: This year Kelly Spencer and I were asked if we’d like to collaborate on a massive…

3 months ago by

Aotearoa Design Thinking: an opportunity to revisit 2017

Created by Lana Lopesi Supported by Creative New Zealand     In 2017 Design Assembly introduced Aotearoa Design Thinking — a series of commissioned critical design essays published by Design Assembly and funded by Creative New Zealand. Our intention was to actively discuss New Zealand graphic design practice by celebrating, growing and challenging current thought. By…

3 months ago by

Summer Festivals 2018 — celebrating NZ poster design

As summer gets into full swing, a diverse range of festivals, events, and musical activities take place around Aotearoa. We’ve selected a hanful of our favourite poster designs for summer 2018 in celebration of New Zealand and Australasian poster art: Splore Tapapakanga Park, Auckland. Designer: Hamish Steptoe Where’s My Room Tour of Aotearoa 2018: Neil…

3 months ago by

Happy Holidays with love from DA

It’s that time of year where we wind back and reminisce on the year that was while remaining hopeful for the year which is yet to come. It’s a been a big one here at Design Assembly, we have published 266 articles, which included a brand new monthly column called Graphic Matters and Aotearoa Design…

4 months ago by

Fresh from the Field — Flavour Fiend, by Onfire

Our final Fresh from the Field for 2017 features a new butter range with collateral by Onfire. If you’ve got new or recent work that you’d like to share in our weekly Fresh from the Field series email Zoë for details.   Flavour Fiend Serious About Flavour As an ex-chef, Owen Sinclair wanted to get out of…

4 months ago by

Graphic Design & Photography: Tash Hopkins

Design Assembly recently got the opportunity to chat with photographer Tash Hopkins to find out more about her work and her passions. This article is proudly brought to you by mychillybin.   The Europeans Project Hi Tash, can you tell our readers a little bit about who you are and what you do. I’m a photographer…

4 months ago by

Now and Then: Sanyukta Mohatta

Written by Annie McCulloch, Portfolio Recruitment Now and Then is a series where we catch up with designers who’ve been recently placed, via Portfolio Recruitment. We get their thoughts and feedback about their new roles and their work. Our latest Now and Then is with Sanyukta Mohatta (San), a Graphic Designer at Youthtown. Wonderful San! Thank you for…

4 months ago by

From The Archives: Into the White

Way back in 2014, Design Assembly had the opportunity to speak with Craig Lucinsky from Into the White, a Wellington-based design and letterpress studio: I make small letterpress goods: cards, prints and hand bound notebooks at the moment. I use a mix of handset wooden type and digital polymer plates. All the items are designed…

4 months ago by

Creative Spaces — Voice

Creative Spaces is a series exploring New Zealand creative and design workplaces, giving you a sneak peak into the space and behind-the-scenes. This series is proudly brought to you by Atomic Coffee – Fuelling creativity. In the fifth instalment of this series we went into Voice  —  who have been dedicated to creating, evolving and transforming brands for over…

4 months ago by

Fresh from the field — Kelly Spencer

This week’s Fresh from the Field features a self-initiated mural project, by graphic artist Kelly Spencer, for the Evans Bay Marina in Wellington. If you’ve got new or recent work that you’d like to share in our weekly Fresh from the Field series email Zoë for details. “I came across this site while exploring the Evans Bay Marina (Wellington),…

4 months ago by

5 Minutes with… Print Designer & Illustrator, Lisa Baudry

Design Assembly recently got the opportunity to chat with Lisa Baudry to find out more about her transition from graphic designer to award-winning textile artist: Hi Lisa, can you tell us a little bit about your background. I grew up in rural Waikato and moved to Auckland to study graphic design in the early ’90s. After…

5 months ago by

2017 Design Assembly Poster Exhibition

Thanks to everyone who submitted posters for the 2017 DA Poster Exhibition. We received over 100 entries! Congratulations to the 15 designers who were selected to show this year at Objectspace in Auckland on 23 November, and at Exchange Christchurch on 30 November. We will be taking submissions for the 2018 DA Poster Exhibition from…

5 months ago by

Fresh from the field — Simpson Western by Dow

This week’s Fresh from the Field features the new identity work for Simpson Western by the team at Dow. If you’ve got new or recent work that you’d like to share in our weekly Fresh from the Field series email Zoë for details. The brief: Simpson Western, a full-service law firm on the North Shore, really disliked…

5 months ago by

2017 DA End of Year Wrap Party: Auckland

Great turn out for our DA End of Year Wrap Party that took place at Objectspace on Thursday November 23rd. Thanks to Matt Dawkins for documenting not only our end of year celebration, but also our inaugural Auckland Poster Exhibition.

5 months ago by

Fresh from the field — Think + Shift, Ghost Street/Studio Everyday

This week’s Fresh from the Field features a website redesign for Think + Shift by Ghost Street & Studio Everyday. If you’ve got new or recent work that you’d like to share in our weekly Fresh from the Field series email Zoë for details.   Overview Think + Shift are a product and spatial design company. Due…

5 months ago by

Off Grid 18

Off Grid 18: The Experiential City 3 Days 4 Cities Multiple Venues Sydney/Brisbane/Melbourne 23 February 2018 Wellington 26–27 February 2018 Off Grid 18 is a different kind of design conference that will engage you in a conversation about designing for the ‘experiential city’ using exciting locations throughout the city.  Off Grid 18 is the next international…

5 months ago by

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