I am a multi-dicsipinery designer based in New Zealand currently employed as a Digital media lecturer at Massey University. My design interests and expertise are varied, including illustration, toy design, animation to costume and product development. A common thread throughout my work is a need to sit between both digital and analogue technology and the use of character design.
After several year abroad I returned home and co-founded Marmalade Monkey a toy design consultancy based in Wellington. A leading New Zealand doll artist I focus on developing quirky creatures and toy ranges for both a New Zealand and international market. I am an Artist member of the internationally acliamed National Institute of American Doll Artists.
I was a recipient of a DOC/Creative New Zealand "wild creations" residency, which I spent at Maud Island in the Marlborough sounds developing toys and characters inspired by the behaviors of New Zealand wildlife.
I am a World of Wearable Art artist, having designed 17 garments for the show, winning numerous awards. Five of my garments are part of the World of Wearable Arts permanent collection.
I have a background in Industrial design, interaction design and illustration, and twenty years doll sculpting experience.
Education
2001 : Bachelor of Design (Industrial ) Massey University
2006 : Graduate Diploma in Design ( Illustration) Massey University
2009: Master of Design (Interactivity) Massey University
Awards
2010: Gold : Best Awards (Student Interactive) Designers Institute of New Zealand
2008: Runner-Up Shell Student Award : Kanak : World o f Wearable Art Awards.
2008 : Digital Media scholarship gifted by Viggo Mortensen : Massey University.
2007 : Wild Creations/Department of Conservation Wild Creations Residency.
2005 : Helen Bullard Scholarship to Attend the Annual National Institute of American Doll artists conference : San Francisco
2005 : Commended Bizarre Bra Section : Manaries : World of Wearable Art Awards.
2005 : Commended Children's Section : Animal Crackers: World of Wearable Art Awards
2003 : Commended Children's Section : BeeStings : World of Wearable Art Awards..
2002-2008: 9 finalist garments in Children's Avante garde, Inspired by Architecture and Bizarre Bra sections : World of Wearable Art Awards.
2002 : Highly Commended Wales and McKinley Silk Section : The Niebelungelied in the Rhubarb Tree : World of Wearable Art Awards
1994 : Gold Seal of Excellence : New Zealand Doll Federation.
Documentaries
2010: The Gravy Artist Interview: Season 4 "Child's Play" Episode
2008: Pacific Beat Street Arts it interview
2005: The Living Room Artist Interview : Season 3 Episode 1
2005: Bomber Crew : RDF Media : Channel 4 (UK)
Exhibitions
2011: Tweet Me : Thistle Hall : Wellington, NZ
2011: OldSchool/NewSchool : Dominion Museum Building, Massey Univerisity, Wellington, NZ
2011: The Missing Link, Pictoplasma : La Gaite
Lyrique, Paris, France.
2011: Blooom Creative Industries Art Show :
Cologne, Germany
2011: 2011 National Institue of American Doll Artists Conference, Denver, USA
2011: Unscripted :
St James Theatre, Wellington, NZ
2009 : A Renaissance of Beasts: Minerva Gallery: Wellington
2009 :
Whimsical Entities : Minerva Gallery: Wellington2003: Characters : Pataka Gallery :Porirua, NZ
2004: The Wrong Children : Splendor Gallery : Shoreditch London
2003: Beasts : The Crafthouse Gallery : Vancouver BC
Film Art Department
2009 : Free Range : Team Traces of Nut 48 Hours film Festival
2008: The Diamond Heist : Team Masonic pictures 48Hours Film Festival
2008 : The lovely Bones : Part of Human Dynamo
2008: The Waterhorse : Part of Human Dynamo
2003: Deep Evil : Part of Flesh and Fantasy ( Vancouver, BC)
2003 : Monster Island : MTV: Part of Bowes Productions ( Vancouver, BC)
2001 : The Fellowship of the Ring : Part of Weta Workshop
Conferences
2010 : Interactive Memories within Museums. 7th Australasian conference on Interactive Entertainment, November 22 - 23, Institute of Communication Design, Massey University.
2010 : Lost and found in New Media Design. Contained Memory conference, Pupuri Pohewa, December 9th - 11, Massey University and Te Papa Tongarewa.
2009 : Storytelling memories: a tangible connection to bomber command veterans. 1st International Workshop on Digital Object Memories at the 5th International Conference on Intelligent Environments, July 20 - 21, Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.
Publications
2010 : Storytelling memories. In Dr. Anastasia Filippoupoliti (Eds.). Untitled Book (pp. 404-431). Edinburgh, UK: MuesumsEtc.
2010 :
Interactive Memories within Museums. 7th Australasian conference on Interactive Entertainment, November 22 - 23, Institute of Communication Design, Massey University.
2009 : Storytelling memories: A tangible connection to Bomber Command veterans. Touch Panel, 3(7/8), 93-94. Veritas et Visus. Retrieved from: http://www.veritasetvisus.com/touch_panel.htm.
2009 : Storytelling memories: a tangible connection to bomber command veterans. Master Thesis, Massey University.