Brand Designer
Tāmaki Makaurau
And so, Tekija was born. A homage to 1950’s Yugoslavia, and the glorious Yumex era mixing Mexican culture and Slavic bones. Much like a lovechild between Yugoslavia and Mexico, this project brings together two high-alcohol worlds. Rakija and Tequila. Yumex, Tekija.
Making a type piñata? Purely optional.
This whole thing is a tutu around with a derogatory phrase bandied about by the British Settlers in early 1900s Aotearoa. They called the wine made by the Croatian gum-diggers Dally Plonk - deeming it wine not worth drinking (plonk), from the odd people of Dalmatia (Dallies).
Inspired by old wine labels and newspaper mastheads, this piece elevates what was once considered un-drinkable shit, to its respectable place in our history. Celebrating what was once just bottles clinking in the back sheds of our Croatian immigrants, as the modest origin story our globally-renowned wine industry.
A giant plastic plaid bag. Our coming-of-age totem.
In the face of moving houses, cities & lifetimes - these bags carry us. Despite the flimsy exterior – they’re a manifestation of our ‘she’ll be right’ attitude and a bit of dumb luck. We ignore bulging zips barely holding our worldly posessions together, or the fabric threatening to rip, shlepping our baggage place to place.
Built from a plaid bag and sewn together, this entry shines a light on a humble staple in kiwi culture, whether crumpled at the back of a cupboard or the proud tapestry in our garages.
Together with Mark Wilson, we hosted an Aotearoa version of 36 Days of Type, as the international creative challenge remains on hiatus. Together with 20 other type enthusiasts across Aotearoa, we each created a type-based project, posting one glyph every day.
Newmarket is a WIP typeface - somewhere in the ballpark of a geometric humanist sans, with plenty of rough edges to iron out.
Stoked to be a shortlisted entry on the 36 Days of Type story (four times), and reposted on the main feed (three times).
This piece speaks to the horrors persisting. But so do we.