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Interview with Kyra Clarke |
Home > Designer Interviews > Kyra Clarke |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Kyra Clarke (KC) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Kyra Clarke by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
KC: I have always loved the arts, enjoyed artistic pursuits and am by nature a creative thinker and maker. However, in my era becoming a 'designer' wasn't an established career path so I had my sights set on becoming an Architect when I was growing up.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
KC: Threaded was born off the backbone of Threaded magazine in 2007. We are a small, independent award-winning design studio based in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Our studio has a focus on client-based projects, as well as our ongoing international design project, Threaded magazine. We enjoy working closely with multi-stakeholder organisations (including NFP’s, SME’s, iwi and hapū) looking to activate and engage with local communities to create positive change.
FS: What is "design" for you?
KC: The ability to visually organise components so they communicate messages, emotion or narratives at a base level.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
KC: Brands / publications.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
KC: The very first 'thing' I designed was not for a company but for a large collective of people. It was a logo, for my hapu 'Ngāti Hau' (a hapu is subtribe within Māori society who are all connected/ related through whakapapa/geneology.)
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
KC: On holiday, away from the computer and deadlines.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
KC: R&D and the explorative / conceptual phase.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
KC: They can range from stress to elation and everything in between!
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
KC: Pride.
FS: What makes a design successful?
KC: When clients embrace them and they accurately and creatively represent their cause or purpose.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
KC: Creativity, innovation and execution.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
KC: Well this depends if you are in an industry where you can make decisions on better outcomes for people and planet (i.e. for us in print - we ensure we select more sustainable inks, papers and embellishments, and are conscious of our carbon footprint when distributing our publication).
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
KC: I imagine the future of design moving towards a more AI generated (or influenced) online space.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
KC: Ed.21, the launch of Te Pō and Te Ao Mārama Special Edition in Auckland, New Zealand.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
KC: My children, environment and imagination. Although I find inspiration in creative blogs, books and magazines, I often find that inspiration doesn't occur 'on queue' so you need to save the things you find that excite ideas (as you find them) as one day they may fuel a creative project you never knew was coming your way.
FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
KC: I don't have just one aesthetic style, for each project I believe the creative output is determined by the objectives and tone of the messaging.
FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
KC: I live in Aotearoa, New Zealand. My Māori culture and identity has had immense influence and impact on the way I approach design and also the types of clients I do design for.
FS: How do you work with companies?
KC: Collaboratively.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
KC: Review their past projects and accolades. Ask what their creative process is and how they involve you in their process.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
KC: Collaboration is the key ingredient in our design process; clients actively participate and interact with our creative team through each design phase to ensure we understand and meet their creative needs.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
KC: A carved bone broach (gifted to me by Master Carver Bernard Makoare), a kauri carved key (gifted to me on my 21st birthday by my whānau/family), a carved stone necklace (gifted to me by my whanaunga/cousin), an empty kauri snail shell (found in my ngahere/bush by my children) and my Dad's drawings/ artwork (he passed away when I was 8yrs old from cancer).
FS: Who are some of your clients?
KC: New Zealand Green Building Council, KiwiRail, Agrisea New Zealand, DB Breweries, Maketū Pies, Green Building Council of Australia.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
KC: We are currently doing a
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
KC: I mostly work on my projects myself but the team can expand and contract as needed to suit the design outcomes required or the scale of the project.
FS: How can people contact you?
KC: https://www.threaded.co.nz/
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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