Designer Profile:
Nuzilla.
Key People:
Christine Hobbs and Cris de Groot.
Christine Hobbs: a Rotorua escapee on a long learning curve. Tourism and retail are background experiences; add to that a later-in-life Design degree and you have a hard-working, cash-strapped recent ex student who thought starting a new business was a good idea. (Ask me again in a year).
Cris de Groot: Italian-born, Dutch national, raised in the UK , and lives on the Shore … just like every other kiwi! I’ve got a PhD in design philosophy – which is useful, and a keen interest in New Zealand’s unique flora and fauna, which has turned out to be much more useful! Redesigning simple gifts inspired by NZ nature might not answer any of the big questions, but it may inspire others to gaze in wonder at what’s around us, and consume a little more conscientiously.
Location:
Auckland by necessity.
Bio/Company History:
Formed in December 2006 and first products (actually they were prototypes – yarrghh!) shown at the Auckland Gift Fair in March ’07.
What drives you:
Christine: The need to succeed. The thought of the Aston…..
Cris: Fun, Fear, My wife
What inspires you:
Christine: Clever people, productive people, good ideas that try to break out. Nice comments about the products we have.
Cris: the peculiar, the singular and the cost-effective,
Recent Media:
We’ve been lucky – people have taken some of our stuff to their hearts and helped us along immensely. Had shots of products in NZ House and Garden, Life and Leisure, Idealog, NZ Home and Entertaining, Your Home and Garden, Canvas – watch this space: we have plans for exposure!
What are you doing when you don’t do this?
Christine: Earning a crust. But I’d rather be rowing.
Cris: beating up undergradutes.
Black or White?
Christine: Yes
Cris: Often in black, aspire to wear white.
Meat or Vege?
Christine: 1 of that and 3 of that.
Cris: Vege… dodger.
If you could spend a day with anyone, who would it be and why?
Christine:
Dead person: Sir Ed. What an inspiration!
Alive: the Queen. I’d love to chat with her about family.
Cris:
Bruno Munari. I met this famously playful Italian designer when he was already in his eighties, but because I was in my twenties (i.e; between childhood and adulthood) I did not appreciate then how elusive, precious and powerful play can be.
Best day of your life so far:
Christine: It will be hard to top the day I married the guy of my dreams, but it may be still to come.
Mac or PC?
Christine: pc
Cris: Both. But not at the same time. Makes me nauseous.
Married/Single Kids/Pets?
Christine: Yes (Hi Stew!)/ Yes (Hi Laura Em Rich and Oli!)/ Yes cat
Cris: Married. Kid. Lots of ‘em.
Describe yourself in 5 words:
Christine: I’m worth my space here.
Cris: So serious, must be silly.
more designer profiles
