Designer of the Year

JEREMY HOULTHAM

Nettl Petone

I didn’t know where to start with writing about myself being a graphic designer…so I googled it! And google said “it’s the art or skill of combining text and pictures in advertisements, magazines or books.” Fairly acurate I suppose, but I think what this definition really lacks is the more intangible parts of the job, those being problem-solving, navigating customer briefs, customer requests and viewing your work subjectively. That’s what I really love about my job, all the things you don’t see in the finished product, the subtle meaning, nuances and essence of the creative work.

I wasn’t always an award-winning graphic designer ;P I started from humble beginnings with Redshift, in the production area of MyBooks at Redshift HQ. Starting on minimum wage and being happy just to have a job after graduating from Massey University. I laboriously created people’s photo albums, waiting, watching for my opportunity, and that presented itself when a graphic design position came up at printing.com in Wellington City.

Nettl soon became a carrot that was dangled in front of me when Redshift announced it would be opening a pilot studio in Petone, the idea that I could lead the company in a new direction in the web space appealed to me, I put my hand up and was chosen to be the lead creative in the first New Zealand Nettl studio. I have learnt so much over the last 2 years, not only in design and development but also about running a business, and I have to say a lot of the lessons I have learnt are from mistakes.

I guess I also have to add in my favourite font and designer right!

Favourite Font (at the moment): Montserrat – Mainly because it sounds like Monster Rat!

Favourite Designer: Jessica Hische – Jealous of how amazing her typography skills are!

Favourite Art/Design Style: Abstract Expressionism – The amazing ability of artists to make people pay millions for squiggles.