Jenny Miles
Hardhat is the graphic design studio of New Zealander Nik Clifford and Brit Jenny Miles. They have been thoughtfully crafting websites, books, illustrations, packaging and brands for over 10 years, splitting their time between their three homes - Auckland, London & Brooklyn. Hardhat collaborate with clients who provide quality craftsmanship, bespoke services, forward-thinking and outside-the-box creativity, and a sense of humour. Collaborators include furniture & fashion designers, fine artists, architects & interior designers, boutique hotels & restaurants, independent artisanal food & beverage producers, organic beauty brands and book publishers.
Nik & Jen are also focussing their attention in 2015 on creative collaborations outside their primary practice; working alongside other creatives and craftsmen to create products and/or experiences whether it’s homewares, small batch liquors, pop-up events, or more conceptual work. Current projects include a stationery line with interiors design studio Ladies & Gentlemen, and this project for Make Something with NZ/US based Thing Industries. Hardhat has grown into an award winning studio, with work published widely worldwide. Nik & Jen both also write about design, in particular most recently about slow design, community building, sustainability, and how their own practice can fit within these principles.
Thing Industries
Thing Industries, established very recently by Bridie Picot and Matt Smith, is an online store that designs and produces useful things. It began as a means for Bridie to finally get her hands on the Sacrificial Chair that Matt had sampled but never produced, and has grown to an award winning company with a decent-sized collection and more things in the pipeline. Its founders are both from New Zealand but one of them lives in New York. The other one wishes he lived in New York. They communicate on email with a massive time delay. They also produce things with other people, usually stuff that Bridie and Matt aren’t able to figure out themselves. Things that involve pottery, plantology, and complicated welding techniques.
