ITI Articles

Fun, funky New Zealand-inspired design is what makes Billi Tees stand out from the crowd. Natcoll Design Technology graduate and freelance graphic designer Jasmine Horner says it's all about celebrating us, having a laugh and (with a hefty dose of tongue-in-cheek) making small town Kiwi culture cool.

Jasmine is one half of the team behind Billi Tees, working with business partner Billi Richmond. Together they create and market the t-shirts, other clothes and accessories in the Billi Tees range – including its most recent addition: The Great Kiwi Snack Box, full of tasty treats for homesick New Zealanders abroad.

Jasmine studied for the Diploma of Computer Graphic Design because she wanted to learn how to harness and apply her natural creativity. "I'm very creative in all sorts of ways, but Natcoll opened the doors to how I could make that creativity viable. It taught me the tools to take my dreams, my scribbles, and make them real."

Jasmine had an initial fear of the amount of technology she had to come to grips with. “Natcoll gave me the confidence to do it. Now I have the computer skills and software skills. Give me any graphic design programme and I'm away laughing - that's my playground!"

After finishing the course, Jasmine worked in industry for a while, before heading back to Natcoll as a tutor in graphic design.

It was in this period that the idea for Billi Tees was formed, but it took a bit longer before the company was up and running. In that time Jasmine headed off for her big OE.

While overseas she travelled, worked as a freelance graphic designer and focused on Billi Tees in her spare time. She says that travelling was "A fantastic learning experience and a huge influence… As a designer, you're always taking things in - from signage to colours to spices and smells - travelling is really inspirational in design."

"Natcoll showed me the importance of research, development and rationale behind design. Put it all down on paper first. Although important, the computer is just another tool in the design process. The creativity comes from within."