“New Zealand owns black like no one else in the world,” says Andrew Ashton, creative director at Melbourne’s Work Art Life studio.
Ashton visited our shores last week as a panel judge for the graphic discipline in this year’s Best Design Awards, and it’s a sentiment he repeated during Idealog‘s conversation with him. Looking at some of the work of this year’s finalists, we have to agree. Their use of black is, simply, brilliant.
Ashton, who holds membership with both the Australian Graphic Design Association and Alliance Graphique Internationale, also told us that he’s “floored by the depth and quality of work” he saw while judging.
“There is a truly integrated forced behind the industry here. New Zealand is going to be the next Scandinavia in this part of the world.
“[This country] is leading by creativity.”
And he was left impressed by the high level of student entries.
“The student work was extraordinary. The level of inquiry and craft, the diversity of projects, the creativity… that only comes from a strong education foundation.”
Flick through our slideshow above to see some of the striking finalist designs in the graphic discipline – they prove black is anything but boring when it’s in the hands of great designers.
The Best Awards celebrates the best in New Zealand design. See all the 2015 Graphic finalists at bestawards.co.nz
- Pop Ping Pong, Alt Group. Client: Auckland Council.
- Pop Plinths, Alt Group. Client: Auckland Council.
- Me Bank, Dick & Jane. Client: Members Equity Bank Limited.
- Me Bank, Dick & Jane. Client: Members Equity Bank Limited.
- Shihad FVEY, Alt Group. Client: Warner Music New Zealand.
- Capital Dying Day, Samuel Crook (student). Massey University.
- Hear Our Voices – Ata Whakarongo Na, Pelepesite Tofilau & Rhueben Meredith (students). Massey University College of Creative Arts.
- The French Café Wallpaper, Emma Hayes Studio. Client: The French Café.
- Forager, McCarthy. Client: Forager.
- Forager, McCarthy. Client: Forager.
- The Boneline, Inhouse. Client: Waipara West.
- Aaron McLean Zine, Charlotte McCrae. Client: Aaron McLean Photography.
- 26 Characters, Alt Group. Client: Alt Group.
- Kim Pieters: What Is A Life?, Matthew Galloway. Client: Adam Art Gallery.
- Kim Pieters: What Is A Life?, Matthew Galloway. Client: Adam Art Gallery.
- Hone Tuwhare Trust Poster Series, Klim Type Foundry. Client: Hone Tuwhare Trust.
- The Briefing, String Theory. Client: Idealog.
- Te Oro, Alt Group. Client: Auckland Council.
- Methven Annual Report 2015, Methven Ltd. Client: Methven Ltd.