The Nationalgrid
Mit einer detaillierten Wegbeschreibung von Luke in der Hand machen wir uns per Leihauto auf den Weg zum Office des Magazines „The Nationalgrid“ .
Von Auckland aus fahren wir in Richtung Westen, die Route ist wunderschön, auf und ab geht’s durch dichte Wälder, vorbei an kleinen Ortschaften mit skurrilen Kiosken und ab und an können wir einen Blick auf die wilde Küste und das schäumende Meer Neuseelands werfen. Kurz nach dem kleinen Ort Titirangi geht’s rechts ab auf die Konini Road und ein paar Serpentinen weiter stehen wir vor Luke’s und Jonte’s Bleibe mitten im Wald.
Das flache Haus im Bungalowstil, aus dem ein schwarzer Hund geschossen kommt, hat Kultfaktor, die Einrichtung im 50er Jahre Look ebenso. Luke setzt einen Espresso auf und erzählt von seinem Magazin.
When did you start „National Grid“?
Jonte and me did the first issue in 2006. We were working on it a couple of years to get funding, because we don’t have advertising in the magazine. The first two magazines were founded by the Canterbury University I was working. But they didn’t want to continue because National Grid wasn’t a proper academic journal. So we applied to Creative New Zealand, which is the Government Arts Body and got the money.
Do you plan to integrate ads in your magazine?
We prefer not to, but it came down to it, why not. The magazine is not sustainable in terms of money at all. If we would place ads in it, we would like to design them, which we did once.
How did your career as a designer develop?
I studied fine arts and afterwards I worked at a contemporary art gallery as their inhouse graphic designer. There I met my partner Jonte, but a short time later he went to Yale to do his masters and I followed a girlfriend to spain and did do nothing for two years. After I came back I worked at a good and small design studio in Wellington. From there I went to Canterbury University Art School in Christchurch and got my first real proper teaching job, which was really cool. I still regret leaving it to come to Auckland University.
What is your favourite place in New Zealand?
I quite like Auckland, but my favourite place is probably in the Southern Island, I lived in a very small town called Littleton, that’s a very nice place.
Where can you find the creative soul of Auckland?
Oh, I don’t know, its all very hidden. There are a couple of good Art Galleries, but that’s about it.
What do you like about Auckland?
I don’t like the city so much, but around Auckland the landscape is amazing. I think Piha is stunning. If you go north from Auckland, it’s absolutely mind blowing.
What would you do if you would have all the money and time in the world?
I guess I would just work on the publication and continue doing independent arts publishing.
How much is the budget you need for one magazine?
Around 5.500 New Zealand Dollars (around 2.400 Euro) just for the printing. We print 500 magazines. But the distribution is very expensive.
What do you love about making magazines?
The best thing is that we can meet a lot of interesting people. And learn of them. Also we have the creative freedom to design the magazine how we like it and write about design or people.
What other designs do you do besides making a magazine?
I design band and music posters or record covers. I love to do work for bands.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
A lot from music. I listen to lots of 50’s and 60’s stuff.
Tipps from Luke
NZ Place: Dansey's Pass, Central Otago
NZ Bar: The Wunderbar, Lyttelton
NZ Gallery: The Physics Room, Christchurch
NZ Artist: Tom Kreisler
NZ Designer: Dylan T. Herkes
NZ Band: The Tape Men
NZ Record store: Slow Boat, Wellington
