History
Originally from 'out in the wops', a small place far away from everywhere else, Dan showed great creative promise with his early exhibition, Kindergarten Creations (circa 1986). Mainly badly constructed cardboard and Play-Doh creations, they were regularly published in the Newman Family Holiday Newsletter (1982 - ).
His sporting potential was evident in his swift graduation from halftime orange-preparer to reserve, and the subsequent Douglas Villa Football Clubs Most Improved Player Award (circa 1989). Off field his talents bloomed with a win in the Milky Bar Kid Colouring-in Competition (date unknown).
Experience
On a more serious note, these days I'm an Interactive & Identity designer with experience producing creative and strategic solutions for some of New Zealand's leading brands. Though much of this experience was gained working as part of a multi-disciplinary design studio, I have also worked as a freelance designer, a contractor and a company director. These roles have helped to establish a comprehensive set of skills that allow me to confidently code, write, design and produce work which exceeds clients expectations.
As the sole proprietor and founder of two design companies, I've also become well versed at mixing design and business, and appreciate the effectiveness of clear communication, a point of difference and converting ideas into reality.
Education
Prior to working in both the web and graphic design sectors I received a scholarship in 2005 to complete my Masters in Computer Graphic Design through the EU/NZ Pilot Exchange Project. As part of the exchange, and as a visiting researcher at Nottingham University & FH Oberosterreich, I was involved in the Leonardo Project, which was a multi-national exploration in interaction design and research.
From this experience, I developed a theory/thesis entitled Malleable Branding: A new strategy for maximising social network interaction, user-generated content, online communities and new technology. The exchange and my thesis research has inspired an ongoing interest in how, through all types of creative disciplines, we interact with brands to define our identity, culture and society.