Articles

Design & Books… Nature—Stilled

This is the first in a new series of articles looking at book design and books on design. We begin with Nature — Stilled a Te Papa press title designed by Inhouse. Publication date: October 2020 NZ RRP (incl. GST): $70.00 Extent: 364 pages Format: Hardback ISBN: 978-0-9951136-9-5 Cabinets of curiosities are not a new concept; wonderous collections housed in an…

1 month ago by

Fresh From The Field — Signifier by Klim

This Fresh from the Field features Signifier, a new font designed by Klim Type Foundry’s Kris Sowersby, that intersects the design territory of 17th-century typefaces with digital rebellion and a brutalist binary ethos. If you have new or recent work that you would like to share in Fresh from the Field email  nicole@designassembly.org.nz  for details.…

3 months ago by

A novel – typewritten drawing wins the 2020 Parkin Drawing Prize

Typography often straddles both art and design. This years parkin prize winner is a beautiful example of text glyphs being used for illustrative means, as delicate typewritten strokes weave together to build a beautiful textural drawing. Wellington-based Poppy Lekner won the prestigious award and $25,000 cash prize – with ‘Forward Slash’, reflecting on the winning…

4 months ago by

The TDC65 exhibition is coming to Aotearoa

The Type Directors Club is pleased to announce that its “World’s Best Typography” exhibition is coming to Auckland, New Zealand for the second time, courtesy of award-winning creative agency Osborne Shiwan and Portfolio Recruitment. Direct from its New York showing, TDC65 Auckland will showcase an exciting and culturally diverse range of award-winning work chosen by…

10 months ago by

5 minutes with… Kris & Jess Sowersby of Klim

It has been a massive couple of months for Klim Type Foundry who unveiled an incredible new website, to coincide with the release of an extensive new type family Söhne, all hot-on-the-heels of a $25,000 Arts Foundation Laureate win. Klim’s new site was designed by Wellington-based web design and development company Springload, with much applause…

12 months ago by

Women in Design — Kate Hursthouse, Freelance Designer, Author & Calligrapher

In this series, we celebrate Women in Design as they share their work, processes, their day-to-day routines, diverse career pathways, and how they achieve balance. Today we hear from Freelance Designer Author & Calligrapher Kate Hursthouse. Can you tell us about your career milestones and creative journey so far? So I originally was an architect.…

1 year ago by

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…

1 year 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…

1 year 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…

1 year 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…

1 year ago by

Fresh From The Field — Sincerity/Irony Heldane Specimen Book

This edition of Fresh From The Field features a delightful type specimen book for Klim’s Heldane as a collaborative work with NZ poet Hera Lindsay Bird designed by AltGroup. 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 type specimen is…

2 years ago by

Idealog partnership — Designer dirt: Why we should invest in our creativity the same way farmers invest in our lands

In collaboration with Idealog (to mark their creativity month), Design Assembly writer and editor Nicole Arnett Phillips argues that creativity is a resource that needs to be nurtured and invested in. I am not a farmer, but I try to think like one often. New Zealand has a robust agricultural pedigree, and we are celebrated…

2 years ago by

TDC64 Auckland

Direct from its New York showing, TDC64 Auckland is the latest exhibition from the world-renowned Type Directors Club competition, showcasing a culturally diverse and exciting range of award-winning work from over 35 countries. Chosen from 1,835 entries by some of the design industry’s most recognised mentors, innovators and thought-leaders, with work in dozens of languages,…

2 years ago by

Scribble Me This, New Boutique with a Point of Difference

Introducing Scribble Me This, a new boutique Auckland design studio established in 2017 by graphic designer and lettering artist Kate Hursthouse. Custom hand lettering is their specialty and point of difference, and how they ensure their clients receive a design that’s authentic and unlike any other. Clients include Lululemon, One Percent Collective, TEDxAuckland, Forest and Bird and…

3 years 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…

3 years 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…

3 years ago by

Fresh from the field — TEDxWellington, Strategy

This week’s Fresh from the Field celebrates the recent identity work for TEDxWellington by Strategy Creative. 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. TEDxWellington approached us with the theme of ‘perspective’ for this year’s event. We looked past the obvious…

3 years ago by

Fresh from the field — Ki Sunscreen, Akin

This week’s Fresh from the Field features Akin‘s recent work for Ki Sunscreen. 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. Evoking the sensual application of sunblock and the protection it offers through the subtle layering of colour and texture on…

3 years ago by

On this Wednesday: DA film event: Helvetica 10th Anniversary Screening, Hastings

Rachel and Jason Juno will be hosting the first ever Design Assembly event in the Hawkes Bay region with a screening of Helvetica on Wednesday, October 18th. It’s been 10 years since Helvetica the film was released. Join us in this special 10th Anniversary film event showing on the big screen, to celebrate and debate…

3 years ago by

By Day/By Night: Caroline Powley, Whitecliffe

Welcome again to our 2017 By Day/By Night series. Here we profile a range of design teachers from our tertiary institutions to find out what projects they’re involved in outside of work hours, and how their personal creative endeavours feed back into their teaching roles. Sixth up we speak with Senior Lecturer Caroline Powley from…

3 years ago by

Untitled: Klim Type Foundry and Alt Group, Objectspace

Untitled: Klim Type Foundry and Alt Group shows at Objectspace from 28 Jul–17 Sep 2017. We are all consumers of type but often we are not conscious of the qualities of the type we are reading. We categorise type into two broad genres, serif and sans serif, with and without feet. All typefaces are imbued with…

3 years ago by

DA Film: Helvetica, 10th Anniversary Screening in Auckland

It’s been 10 years since Helvetica the film was released. Join us in this special 10th Anniversary film event showing on the big screen, to celebrate and debate the influence of one typeface on a generation and decade of design. “Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It…

3 years ago by

Ahead of Semi Permanent Auckland: 5 Minutes with… Mark Gowing

Ahead of this year’s Semi Permanent event, we spoke with Mark Gowing, founder and director of Sydney’s Formist: Hi Mark, can you tell us a little bit about who you are, your background, and how you first got started in the industry. I am a graphic designer and publisher living and working in Sydney. I…

3 years ago by

Fresh from the field — Sui Gen Gifts by Stansfield Design

This week’s Fresh from the Field features the beautifully serene new branding and identity work for Sui Gen Gifts by Elliot at Stansfield Design Studio: 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 How many times do we want to buy a gift…

3 years ago by

5 Minutes with Sarah Maxey, ahead of this year’s SPARK event

Sarah Maxey is one of the many talented creatives taking part in this year’s SPARK festival held at Wintec from August 14–17th. #Spark17 features a wide range of presentations, workshops and events. Tickets are at NO COST and available via Eventbrite. Ahead of this year’s SPARK, Festival Director, Megan Lyon, spent a few moments chatting with Sarah:…

3 years ago by

 

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