Samoan links inspired winning design
BY KRIS DANDO - KAPI-MANA NEWS
Pacific vision: Emily Pita says she was spurred on by her desire to develop, on paper at least, a space where Pacific artists could channel their creative talents.
Emily Pita's on top of the world after being awarded top honours in a prestigious design competition, but all she craves right now is a break.
The 24-year-old from Porirua has not long graduated from Weltec with a bachelor of design (interior). It's taken "six long years" to complete her degree, much of it part-time, as she has a young daughter to consider.
But success on the national stage has shown she has the talent to go far.
Ms Pita was encouraged to enter her third-year (2008) project, called Bloodline, into the student section of the BeST Design Awards for 2009.
This is a national competition recognising the country's best graphic, product and spatial design.
Being half-Samoan and recently having been conferred the title Tagaloa Uialatea, it was apt that her winning concept was inspired by her heritage.
The concept involved a multi-floor "art and design centre" for Pacific artists and designers, with traditional Samoan tattoo carved into the walls, floor and ceiling.
The realistic setting inside Anvil House, next to the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington would also contain stages for music and dance.
"It actually began with a poem I did about being half-Samoan and the designs just flowed from there. I wanted to create a hub where people could feed off each other and draw inspiration from the past. The tattoo is a sign of power, creativity and hierarchy."
After sending off her entry, Ms Pita didn't think about it again until she was surprised to learn she had been nominated in the student section at BeST for spatial design.
The awards ceremony, which she attended with her mum, was held at Auckland Museum on October 16.
"It's a huge honour and I remember thinking 'this is just so crazy'. They [the awards] might not be known much outside the industry but to be part of it with people you are inspired by is very exciting."
Ms Pita says the support of tutor Tony de Goldi and her family as she completed her degree was invaluable.
"Some time out" was what she desired most at the moment, with her energy directed towards four-year-old Madison, but a master's degree in architecture and a career as a commercial architect "somewhere you can be as creative as possible" are on the horizon.
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