Fostering connections via creative expression
Tell us about your background and what led you into graphic design.
I grew up in South Africa and lived there for the first 10 years of my life, before immigrating to Aotearoa. I was raised by a fierce and intelligent woman (my mother) and nurtured by an equally intelligent and kind stepfather, along with my siblings and other strong figures in my life. My childhood immersed me in the African bush and all the wonders that came with it.
My journey into visual storytelling began through sketching the bird life found around me. I’ve always been curious - walking in the bush and really looking closely at the shape and form of things and how they behave and relate. I like exploring and using different mediums to express different feelings, concepts or ideas. From painting, clay, pencils, photography, paper; each material tells a different story and holds a different meaning. I was trained in computer graphic design, so it all ends up there eventually, but the path in is through these other mediums.
Working at Smiggle in my early twenties, I began to notice the way images and visual stories made people feel. This led me to study Graphic Design, which subsequently launched my career into the wider world of design. One of my pivotal roles as a Graphic Designer was working for a design studio which focussed on social change and shifting cultural norms in New Zealand. Over time, my visual design skills expanded into a more strategic direction, to include co-designing campaigns and stories with different groups of people to achieve positive social change.
Where do you find inspiration?
I am inspired by people and their stories about their own lives and experiences. I love that we make meaning as humans, I think it’s
a superpower. This excites me and is an immense responsibility. I believe that the solutions to any given social challenge lie in the lived experience of those who are impacted. My role as a designer is to listen and help these solutions to emerge.
What have you been working on recently?
I've been involved in many projects, each dedicated to promoting social good and reshaping cultural norms. These initiatives encompass a range of topics, including sexual harm and reproductive health, LGBTQIA education, te Tiriti awareness, mental health challenges, combating mis/disinformation, addressing racism, and advocating for disability rights.
I was the lead designer in the re-branding of Youthline, where we co-designed how young people would like to be represented and what stories they wanted to tell about their own mental health.
More recently, I was the visual designer and co-author of a project run through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which focussed on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women in Senegal, Pakistan and Ethiopia.
What do you believe has led to your success so far?
There are lots of good designers out there. In my view a great designer integrates ‘felt experiences’ into their creative expression, aiming to build connections with others in the process. This deeper engagement goes beyond the standard client/designer relationship and results in work that truly honours the audience it is intended for. This is what I aim to do with every project.
My starting point is always ‘what’s possible?’ - my curiosity drives me and I’m deeply passionate about my work.