EMMA KITSON   BFA, B DES

Pae Tahi

Te Whanganui-a-tara Design, Art

Kāi Tahu + Kati Mamoe + Waitaha

After graduating in the late 90’s with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Otago Polytechnic, I went on to work in Museums and Theatre. This gave me some insight into the stories that objects can tell, the history and nostalgia associated with them and their connection with rituals and emotion.

I then went on to study Industrial Design at Massey University. My final year project involved researching the potential for Maori Industrial Design. My aim was to create a theoretical framework to aid the design of Maori centered products. I also designed and developed a Maori product as a case study for this research.

Since then I have been working in Exhibition, Retail and Hospitality design both in New Zealand and the UK. Through this work I hope to express cultural insights and stories that connect with the audience. I am interested in working with Clients and Designers in a collaborative way that encourages dialogue and communication and ultimately provides a satisfying outcome.