Welcome…

…to my blog and online portfolio. I’m a freelance writer, contributing to a range of print and online media. Usually I write about design, but in the name of journalism I’ve also swum with sharks, surfed in freezing conditions and been a restaurant critic in Glasgow. Feel free to look around and get in touch.

Written by . published on November 29, 2011. Filed under Blog post. Tagged , , , . No comments.
Friel

South London-based Helen Friel had to create a new job description for what she does. The term “paper engineer” sounds surreal; against the images of heavy duty machinery and algorithms the word “engineer” conjures up, paper is a contradictorily throwaway presence. However, Friel’s craft-based design process, where she cuts and assembles paper to create inventive images for Tatler and Vanity Fair, and a range of commercial clients, is pretty straightforward.

More….

Starter for ten

Written by . published on September 8, 2011. Filed under Blog post, Web article. Tagged , . No comments.
web

This was one of those random assignments that came out of nowhere — writing Rugby World Cup hype-building travel articles for the CNN Go website. Not that the stories had a sporting slant; the ten wildlife encounters featured were of the finned, feathered or furry variety rather than with booze-soaked denizens of the Viaduct (though it’s debatable: insert rude comment re behaviour of rugby fans and their relative hirsuteness here) and the top ten outdoor activities take place outside Auckland.

So, nothing to do with rugby, but yes, there are sharks. A win-win situation.

Planes, trains and automobiles

Written by . published on August 29, 2011. Filed under Blog post, Web article. Tagged , . No comments.
blog

Amusingly, with the launch of the new Herald sustainability magazine Element, I seem to be getting all the car and transport gigs. (Well, it’s funny to me as I have neither a car nor a work commute, though I guess no-one would actually know that. I don’t think the editor does.) More….

Tank Farm

Written by . published on August 18, 2011. Filed under Blog post. Tagged , , , . No comments.
tank_hero4

Indesign just put up my news piece on Auckland’s new Tank Farm development — incidentally, it’s just down the road from my house. Quite exciting to see the city getting something actually quite large and bold in terms of urban redevelopment, without too much politicking or getting bogged down in micro turf wars. The landscape programme is rumoured to be “very High Line” too. Intriguing. I’m interested to see how this develops and becomes integrated into urban life over the next few years.

Day 3: Inappropriate laughter ensues

Written by . published on July 7, 2011. Filed under Blog post. Tagged , , , . 2 Comments.
Sister Doreen

We’ve been flat out since arriving in the Solomon Islands on Tuesday, with mere snips of time in between meetings and visits to process the information coming our way. So far, we’ve met the local YWCA, a group of Pacific midwives and aid workers here for a conference on reproductive health, the local planned parenthood association, a group of teenagers in the Save the Children peer support programme at Honiara High School, World Vision and Oxfam leaders, and the NZ Deputy High commissioner and his wife — but I think what’s got everyone actually buzzing  is our impromptu trip today to the Christian Care Centre.

Now, those are words I thought I’d never type. More….

Solomon Islands

Written by . published on June 15, 2011. Filed under Blog post. Tagged , , . No comments.
IMG_1487

To paraphrase an old comedian, a funny thing happened on the way between my station on the dining table, the fridge and the radio the other day. More….

The Vitrine

Written by . published on May 17, 2011. Filed under Blog post. Tagged , , . No comments.
vitrine

The Vitrine is the work of New Zealander Amanda Spiers and Julien Thery, who developed his savvy ways with furniture restoration at the Paris flea markets. The two are importing antique and industrial chairs, tables and lighting, mostly sourced in France, Belgium and England, through Julien’s contacts, and selling them at their rambling, atmospheric warehouse space hidden around the back of Auckland’s Great North Road. More….

Well, that’s the last time they ask for my opinion…

Written by . published on April 18, 2011. Filed under Blog post, Magazine article, Web article. Tagged , , , , . No comments.

A rambling column written on deadline and captured for posterity in print and now online. This is what happens when you have too little time, an open brief and too many ideas jostling for attention, and end up overshooting your word quota by oh, about 1,000.

Idealog

Written by . published on March 21, 2011. Filed under Blog post, Web article. Tagged , , , , , . No comments.
Idealog

A couple of links here from my recent stint covering the deputy editor’s job on Idealog magazine.

First, a short feature on John Gow, a very cool philanthropist doing great things with public art. And secondly, the story of Nathan Goldsworthy’s recent re-brand and his new self-assembled furniture, including The Adjutant desk, which will feature in my dream study, once I can afford it. Once I can afford a study, actually.

Regarding working in an office again, despite my fears about returning to a 9-5 routine after a year of early mornings and weekend work — and 3pm breaks for a swim or a nap, in case I’m misrepresenting the freelance lifestyle in any way — it was pretty invigorating to be part of a highly creative, and often also highly amusing, team again. Big ups to the new art director, Charlie McKay (ex-Metro), whose hilarious re-takes on cover lines caused me to accidentally snort-drink my coffee on more than one occasion. (Would Liz Lemon called that “sninking”? I’d like to think so.)

Hughes-Kinugawa House

Written by . published on February 9, 2011. Filed under Blog post. Tagged , , . No comments.
blog

It’s taken about 11 months, but the story I teamed up with Rachael Smith to cover last year on an Andrew Lister-designed house in Auckland’s Waterview has finally been published in the UK’s Weekend Telegraph magazine.