D.Cast

A Conversation with artist Janine Williams

Artist Janine Williams and architect Tom Locke of Warren and Mahoney discuss the large scale artwork which formed part of the 10 Madden development for Precinct Properties in the Wynyard Quarter. 

Janine talks about the process of developing the narrative for the project and then realising the work with the Warren and Mahoney team. The conversation touches on the design environment in Aotearoa, New Zealand and how processes of whakawhanaunatanga informs unique and world leading outcomes. 

He wāhi pāoro o te Reo Māori (A Space to Echo the Language)

Associate Director at RCG, Andy Florkowski, PDINZ  catches up to talk about the new workplace for Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Māori with Jodie Mickleson, Milliken-Ontera and Anton Agnew, Autex Acoustics.

 

The new space is entirely informed by Tukutuku.

 

The structural qualities of Tukutuku are used as a framework to influence Hui configurations, whilst its adorning characteristics are used to decoratively dress the walls.

 

An aspirational and descriptive concept like this, required practical yet innovative input from the wider design community.

 

To ensure the concept was authentically implemented, bespoke solutions were developed alongside Autex Acoustics and Milliken-Ontera.

 

Whakairo was also integrated in collaboration with local artists such as Nate Te Rei.

 

The end result is one which is true to its intentions, and is a truly captivating space.

The Spark 5G Race Zone – Danny Carlsen, Shine Limited

Adam Jenkins, Executive Producer, FTW Digital; Mick McConnell, Executive Creative Director, & McConnell; and Danny Carlsen, Head of Design, Shine Limited talk about the immersive Spark 5G Race Zone they designed in the Emirates Team New Zealand base for the 36th America’s Cup in Auckland. 

 

Seven unique zones were conceptualised, each an example of ways that Spark 5G was used in the team’s boat development, training or race preparations. 

 

From the Wind Tunnel that allows people to walk through and interact with a real time wind model visualisation, to an immersive 360experience riding along on a Te Aihe test run, to piloting the actual simulator that Emirates Team New Zealand uses - never before has the public had the chance to get so involved in the technology that goes into contesting the America’s Cup. 

DINZ Student Council chat with Oliver McDermott, Blender

Charging the forefront of innovative and passionate New Zealand-made design is Rosedale based design company, Blender.

Blender occupies an inclusive design consultancy, strategy, and manufacturing platform in a cultivating and nurturing social work culture. That of which points to the efforts of their experienced design team and their founding core.

Product designer Oliver McDermott accounts for a large portion of that core, where his consultancy and design process work accounts for Blender’s heavy pursuit of design excellence.

An insightful chat with the DINZ Student Council members opened a vast safe of knowledge regarding Oliver’s past experiences and design inspirations, as well as dabbling into that kiwi “can-do” attitude.

A conversation that extracts and magnifies the most critical turning points in a young designer’s career.

DINZ Student Council chat with Jonny Kofoed, Assembly

Jonny who is a Director, Motion Designer and Creative Director has a wide range of work that spans motion, film, animation, design, interactive, and visual effects. He has worked with many international and local clients who are household names. Alistair and Rose learn the ins and outs of some of these projects, asking Jonny about his creative processes and attitude towards new challenges. They discuss the motion design industry in New Zealand and how its relatively small scale allows people to collaborate and experiment on new projects, in doing so pushing the boundaries of moving image.

Value of Design - Championing the power of good design to create massive impact

How does design drive value?

Across so many things it does/we do;

• Identity
• Culture
• Product
• Experience

 

How do we grow business? 

What is the impact of the work we do?

Design can help make a step change in sales and profits, culture and behaviour change, or opening up completely new businesses, products and markets. 

 

Why so broad? 

Fundamentally it’s about the future, designing what’s next, what could be. 

Imagining, visioning, rehearsing and building a whole new thing, an improvement, a new future. Which is why it’s such an important creator of value.

 

How can we get clients to understand this? 

Often they just see design as the end of the process or at worst ‘the colouring in department’

Sell in / curate a vision at the beginning of the process, work with them.

Get them to tell you what the ideal outcome of the process would be - is it new sales, more loyal customers, new markets - what would it look like if we did this. Design makes things visible, tangible, help them imagine this future together.

 

How would the business be different? How would we help peoples lives? What would the revenue or profit impact be? The cultural impact?

If we understand the size of the impact then that should help sell in a more robust and bold design led process. 

Once it is imagined and envisioned – then go about designing the build together.

 

What are the risks? 

Not connecting with clients, someone else has the same solution or the client / culture is not ready / able to drive the solution. Execution hit or miss. 

 

Design at is best is enduring, it should be an investment designed to last for a long time. It needs customer research, competitor exploration, exploration, iteration and permission to play with options. 

 

Finally – sorry, soapbox moment - we need to think about the responsibility of design, of a designed outcome to make things better. It’s about a purpose or intent to be better and a commitment to use design broadly to get better. 

 

Holistic improvement is better, else it’s just one way – profiting – at the expense of someone or some thing and that kind of thinking is fundamentally challenged in this day and age. 

 

The rise of the circular economy and 3 horizon thinking. These are all critical factors in the futures we should be imagining – the organisations who use design well, the people we help, the voices we elevate and support.

DINZ Student Council chat with Mat Bogust –Think Packaging

Established in 2010, Think Packaging is an award-winning structural packaging design studio that’s pure focus is cardboard engineering and delivering solutions. Mat’s talent has shone through his work, and with a long list of awards and well-known clientele, it’s no secret Mat is greatly succeeding as a packaging designer. Joel and Clara chatted to Mat about where it all started, how he developed his skills and knowledge along the way, and what it takes to start and run a business from scratch.

Product, Process and Persistence - Nick Mowbray

Andy Florkowski speaks with Nick Mowbray, CEO of Zuru Toys, and investor in up and coming kiwi FMCG brands such as Monday Haircare, Dose&Co, Nood Petfood and Rascal & Friends. Nick moved to China as a teenager, with a small loan from his parents and with the goal of launching a toy business. 15 Years later, Zuru is one of the largest toy empires in the world, and Nick is drawing on this experience to shape and propel other New Zealand businesses onto the global stage.

Design for Positive Impact - Milliken-Ontera

Milliken-Ontera is a design-focused commercial flooring manufacturer headquartered in Sydney. With a strong ethical culture and long-held commitments to sustainability, they are creating a better future by actively participating in local communities, developing a diverse and inclusive workplace, and doing their part to ensure a cleaner world for generations to come.

Oliver McDermott talks to Ania Cetinic (Communications Manager) & James Mfula (Design Director) at Milliken-Ontera about flooring design, culture, values, and shrinking footprints.

The Value of Design - Bevan Tonks & Jonno Sagar

Like other difficult dinner conversation topics such as politics and religion, the question around the value of design can be viewed very differently depending on where you sit. Independent designer Bevan Tonks along with Jono Sagar, principle and founder of Voice discuss the value of design from their own perspectives as well as how they see design as a problem solving exercise becoming increasingly complex.