23 Questions!

New Zealand, Melbourne, London... our latest A-List'er has seen the world and now he is all ours (*said with evil laughter and gleeful rubbing together of hands*) Ok, maybe we are being a little dramatic for effect but you have to admit that it makes you want to read more, doesn't it? One pointer though - don't give him any coloured felt tip pens or else YOU can wear the consequences.

What sparked your passion for design?
I cant honestly say I remember the exact moment the the itch began, I guess its like not being able to remember the first time you walked, its just something that has always come naturally to me.

How creative were you as a youngster?
Probably more creative than my parents would have liked, I have distinct memories of my Christmas felt-tip pens going missing after I decided the wall paper wasn't as colourful as it should have been.

Do you come from a creative family?
No not really, although my grandmother was an amazing artist and from an early age I was inspired by her.

Were they supportive of your desire to be a designer?
Not at first, but I think that stemmed from their lack of knowledge of what a career in graphic design actually entailed. To be honest, I'm still not sure they know what a I do on a day to day basis, they are just happy that I enjoy what I do for a living.

What sort of education and training have you had?
After finishing high school and achieving honours in my final year for both Technical drawing and Fine art. I had originally wanted to go to Uni to fine tune my painting skills and possibly become a commercial artist, I think my folks had hopes of me becoming and architect but after some words of advice from a few sources I changed my mind and to decided to study at the Media Design school in Auckland where I gained a Diploma in Graphic Design. At the time I really wasn't sure if it was the right decision to make but from where I'm standing now I really have no regrets.

Who did you want to work for when you first entered the industry?
For some reason I really wanted to be my own boss right from the start. I guess after graduating I felt bullet proof and that the world was now my oyster, it was interesting how quickly my views changed because it didn't take long to realise that I thoroughly enjoyed reaping all the benefits of working in a vibrant studio environment.

Tell us about your first project and what do you feel about it now?
My first job was designing for a company in Auckland that specialised in vehicle graphics and from what I can remember my first project was to help design a large freight truck to look like an Adidas shoe box. Let just say the results were probably forgettable, for someone who is an obsessive perfectionist looking back at work from that long ago is not something I can bring myself to do.

What is your preferred software to work with and what has been the greatest advancement in technology over the past 5 years? Adobe Photoshop, Indesign & Illustrator CS4 are all my everyday tools and despite what some may argue I believe they are still the standard from which all other design software should me measured. The greatest advancement in technology for me would have to be the the fact that large widescreen monitors are now common place in studios and for someone like me who loves to have all available toolbars open and within one clicks distance, it makes my life alot easier. How we ever managed to produce work from 13 inch monitors I will never know...

Is digital technology going to eliminate the need for print?
I don't think there will ever be a time when print becomes completely obsolete. One of my greatest vices is spending a lot of money on buying expensive art books and then indulging in their pages over and over again, it is a simple pleasure but I cant imagine an espresso in the morning without them.

Whose work do you really admire and why?
I'm a massive fan of Shephard Fairey's work. He has such bold and iconic style, all rolled up with a pinch of social commentary for good measure.

Who has been the greatest person that you’ve ever had the pleasure of working with and what have they taught you? It's hard to pick just one person, I have been lucky enough to have worked with so many talented people. However a fellow Melburnian I was working with in London recently raised the bar. He managed to teach me a new software short cut or tip pretty much every day - you can never know to many short cuts! The term guru gets thrown around a lot, but this guy truly deserved the title, his knowledge of printing processes was phenomenal and to be able to sponge just some of vast knowledge was well worth putting up with an English winter for!

How would you describe your work?
Precise, clean & original.

What are your plans for the future?
I would ideally like to expand on my own client base and re-establish myself as a designer in Australia after being overseas for a few years.

What sort of company would you like to work with next?
I'm not too fussy, but I would love to be surrounded with a friendly and creative team who can inspire and push you creatively on a day to day basis. Somewhere with a nice coffee machine would also be a massive bonus!

What is your opinion of Australian design?
Without trying to generalise too much, I think Australian design has really managed to form its own identity while still maintaining a world class level in recent years. In my time in the UK, I found some designers to be bound to current trends, but I find here designers really pride themselves on achieving an individual style, which is still relevant on a global scale.

What is the best/worst thing about being a designer in Australia?
Best - Being able to work in a country where the idea of sunshine isn't just something you find on postcard is magnificent!
Worst - I guess this I quite Melbourne specific, but having to to put up with those three terrible letters..... A.F.L is quite a chore.

In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge the Australian design industry has to face in the near future?
Although to me it doesn't really seem like its having to much of a problem at this stage when compared with the UK, I think the current financial crisis is definitely a challenge that will need to be faced. No doubt the industry will be stronger when such doom and gloom and penny counting is a thing of the past.

What is your creative outlet outside of design?
I have played guitar for longer than I have been a designer, I guess like a lot people being a musician and a designer go hand in hand. I don't mind dabbling in the kitchen either!

What is the best designed bar in Melbourne?
I have really only just returned to Melbourne after a working holiday in the UK for a couple of years so my knowledge of Melbourne bars is not what it used to be, although a friend took me to the Carlton Hotel on Bourke Street recently and I was quietly impressed.

What are your top 5 websites at the moment?
www.juxtpoz.com
www.designer-daily.com
www.beat.com.au
www.youtube.com
www.last.fm

What CD are you currently listening to and is it any good?
At this exact moment I am listening to Faith no More's "King for a day, Fool for a lifetime". Its one of those albums I'd take to a desert island if the need ever arose.

If I was a font, I’d be...? Impact


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