Angela Vink

I started my design career early, with a box of crayons and a bedroom wall. It wasn’t that my parents couldn’t afford colouring-in books; modifying my bedroom wallpaper far was more interesting to me than staying strictly inside the lines of fairies and princesses. By the time I was a teen I had my own business making small padded photo frames with lace and dried flowers. Don’t laugh, it wasn’t just my aunties, neighbours and grandparents who bought them off me. I made enough money to fuel a steady supply of paints and 35mm Kodak film so I was happy.

At 18 I finally left the Hawkes Bay and No-Dozed my way to an honours degree in Computer Graphic Design. I landed my first real job at Capiche in Wellington, and later Clemenger BBDO, then from 2001 I worked at DNA producing the best work of my career. Two years ago I created one of my proudest works – my darling son – but when he started redesigning the walls with his non-toxic markers I was reminded that it was time for me to get back to business.

My restless entrepreneurial streak has never waned. I’ve moved on from the photo frames to developing a range of innovative gift products. I love retail and I love seeing my creations on store shelves. But nothing compares to the thrill of seeing them moving off shelves almost as quickly as they’re stacked.

My interest in the art of 'selling' extends wholeheartedly into the business of graphic design, regardless of medium. Everything I create is designed to connect with its recipient – to catch their eye, hook their interest and be compelling enough for them to react in the way I'd like them to. It could be to buy a bottle of wine, donate to a good cause, or encourage contributions to a workplace intranet. There are plenty of design problems out there – varied in scope and difficulty – and I'm always up for the challenge.