Usually when I talk about ‘Highlights’ and ‘Semi-Permanent’ I would be talking about hair. However, this time, I’m referring to the design conference Semi-Permanent which hits Auckland each year…
Usually when I talk about ‘Highlights’ and ‘Semi-Permanent’ I would be talking about hair. However, this time, I’m referring to the design conference Semi-Permanent which hits Auckland each year.
Thread went along to Aotea Centre on Friday 31st May and Saturday 1st June to hear the international creatives in design and advertising speak on their craft. Comedian Te Radar was an excellent host; clever and witty throughout Semi-Permanent.
The speakers this year were Sandra Dieckmann, Michael Lugmayr of Toko, Niklas Roy, Sam McIntosh of Stab Magazine, Darryl Ward and Matt Noonan of Curios Films, Rodney Eggleston and Anne-Laure Cavigneaux of March Studio, Kelly Thompson, Daan Lucas of Random Studio, Mark Bashore of Digital Kitchen, P.A.M- Perks & Mini, Dominic Hofstede of Hofstede Design, Annie Sperling, and Aaron Rose and Brian Roettinger.
First speaker of the day, Sandra Dieckmann (below), quit her day job by selling her beautifully whimsical illustrations on Etsy. Her advice for creatives- do enter competitions, and do collaborate, it teaches you about your own style.
Niklas Roy was the most entertaining German designer/inventor ever; wearing tinsel onstage as today is his birthday!
Surfing magazines are clearly doing alright; Stab surf mag Ed Sam McIntosh was wearing Gucci shoes. He spoke on the controversy of sexualisation of women surfers and sponsors not allowing them to print. He was open sharing that it was a huge mistake putting a naked 16 year old on cover (as well as making young models cry at shoots). Te Radar replied, here in Auckland, we had Pavement magazine do that all the time. He also touched on the changing place of print vs digital media, saying the magazine will be on sale for two months but their website will get that many views in one day.
You might think graffiti/street artists can’t be intelligent and humble, until you hear Askew. "It’s kinda hard to be cool when you’re in the choir."
Below: Askew
Digital Kitchen’s Mark Bashore said, Be a problem maker. Generate your own opportunities.
Dominic Hofstede of Hofstede Design got a round of supportive applause from the audience when he broke down with emotion talking about teh rough times in business and how it effects you and impacts upon your wife and family.
He also spoke on how in design, nothing’s that original, it’s all been done before; it’s your take on it that’s important.
Below: New Zealand music tracks played on a record player mounted on a specially-recorded Beck’s beer bottle! Amazing.
A real highlight was Kelly Thompson, the New Zealand-born illustrator now based in Melbourne. Kelly showed her work from her brand new book, ‘Darkness of Noon’, drawn from photographs of NZ model Zippora Seven shot by Derek Henderson.
Kelly put up a slide with "warning: the following content contains boobs."
"My work comes from the moment the model relaxes and becomes herself, stops trying to be so modelly" she says.
Advice from Kelly Thompson:
– Try to say yes to people as often as you can.
– An important part of being a creative is figuring out what the hell the client is asking in the brief.
– Obviously social media isn’t going to save your life or earn you money but engaging with your audience opens new doors.
Kelly Thompson described her process.
When you get a brief from the client, start out by establishing ‘what do they mean?’
Tell the client how many revisions of the illustration they get for the price quoted. For instance, two revisions in pencil, two in revised pencil stages, not a hundred revisions for $600 total fee!
Establish key dates
Ask what is the intended usage? For instance, the Nike tick ended up becoming their international logo.
Be very aware of other artists’ copyright. You can’t just lift things you like off the Internet.
Document your sources. Print out reference material used. Use a grid system to copy and enlarge it and build up colours on Photoshop in multiple layers (perhaps in 25 layers.)
Ask yourself, what extra things can you bring? What can you do for yoru client other than your work? She ended up being a brand ambassador for Nintendo and featured in Meet the Style Makers.
Megan Robinson, 2 June 2013
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