ITI Articles

A self-taught Christchurch-based designer, who conceptualised some of Christchurch's most renowned and commercially successful design, has finally gone to design school. Kellie McNeil is studying towards a Diploma of Computer Graphic Design at Natcoll Design Technology in Christchurch. She brings an impressive portfolio to class.

In 2002 Kellie won a Pride in Print gold medal for an Untouched World folded carton. This year she won a second Pride in Print gold medal, this time for innovative packaging for her own jewellery business Continuum.

Kellie's design talent is not restricted to packaging. For several years she was responsible for producing the sculptural installations used for display purposes at the Rockabella jewellery store. So her jewellery designs could be created exactly as she intended, Kellie also taught herself technical drawing to a "passable level".

So why would a successful creative who has got this far with just a pencil and talent, want to go to school? There are several reasons. “Because I am self taught it can be hard to put sufficient value on my time. Having a tangible qualification gives you, in some odd way, the confidence to value yourself," says Kellie.

The nine-month course covers how to produce print-ready newsletters, posters, magazines, books, ads, brochures, logos and company identities, illustrations, display folders and calendars. Students use Mac computers and industry standard design software. They also follow industry practices such as designing to meet a brief.

Kellie hopes the hands-on computer skills she is learning at Natcoll will enable her to communicate better with graphic designers on future projects.

"I will be able to work with more integrity. Up until now it has been almost like interpreting into a second language, directing the designers who do the work on the computer."

Although adjusting to a structured learning environment and learning computer skills is a bit daunting at first, Kellie is sure ultimately the world of computer graphic design will be "quite liberating”.