This week, 7 years ago, I had just completed an illustrated children’s book and had set up for the AUT Grad show for the Bachelor of Art and Design. It happened to be the same week as my 21st birthday and I was so busy with the exhibition that I flagged a formal 21st party. Instead, I opted for a spontaneous knees up at Rising Sun bar on K Road where The Koala worked. We lived on K Road back then so it was an easy choice. It was a good party, not that I remember, but for the next week, random strangers told me that they had met me my birthday and that I was really happy. Good to know.

Well, this year’s AUT grads are on show and I’m going to visit tonight for the preview evening of RAW. I love going to grad shows. Something about the naive enthusiasm, the relief that it’s all over and the general buzz, is great to be around. It’s always inspiring and a little daunting to see the amazing work that new grads are putting out. Every year, the are more technically advanced. Maybe because I’ve niched myself into a comfortable print world, I find web and video so awe inspiring. With over 120 students graduating from graphic design alone, there’s also exhibitions of product design, spatial design, fashion design, textiles design and visual arts.

Here is a show reel for the post grads.

More info at their website http://raw.aut.ac.nz.