KIA ORA

I'm a designer in Otepoti Dunedin, New Zealand.

I work on visual and textual things like illustration, logos, information design, document design and typesetting. And visual (UI) and user experience (UX) design for websites and apps. I also work at Otago Polytechnic, where I get to teach design. Sometimes I help people with writing and editing and structuring content, and sometimes I get to dabble in video and sound production and animation.

Values

I love coming up with things that work well for people. I'm about ideas, good processes, clear thinking, usability, plain language, original illustration and photography, and good typography. Good design is a magic and satisfying mix of these kinds of things. And honesty, curiosity and asking questions, empathy, play, and learning from experience. 

Often we misunderstand design as a set of technical or linear processes, conversations about software and the like. Those can be valuable, but they aren’t always so useful for design that solves problems. At the local university, where I worked and studied, we championed design thinking and history and project-based problems over technical skills. There were no prerequisites, we took anyone in. My experiences in design, education and disability – one of my children has autism – have taught me that most things can be improved, but that we need to challenge our assumptions and celebrate differences, ideas and intellectual freedom. Once you have some skills, that’s not the hard thing – the hard thing is trying to get the best result when it involves challenging traditions and fixed ideas, while still getting on well with people.

A bit about me

My main job lately is teaching design with the lovely team at Te Pukenga (Otago Polytechnic). Design for clients is just my side hustle. Before that I was a designer at Thankyou Payroll, and before that I was self-employed. I used to teach design at the since-dissolved Department of Design Studies at Otago (communication design, drawing, and interaction design) and also design, art and art history at King’s High School. Before that I was a teacher aide for kids with rough backgrounds and learning disabilities. Before that I was an odd-job man and a bum. In my spare time I like to spend time with my kids and partner, make things, and go exploring.