She designed a life she loved!

My journey began in 2005, while I was working in a little cafe in Auckland. I had been studying photography at nights and was finally nearing the end of my course. I thought photography was what I wanted to do; that it was my passion and would be my future career. However, once I completed my studies, I discovered that the only aspect I really liked was editing the photos… cue the panic! I had put years of work into this, only to discover right at the end that I didn’t actually enjoy it. My life plans were crumbling around me, but I was determined to find a new path. I began researching other areas of work that I was interested in, and that’s when I stumbled upon a graphic design course down in Invercargill. I applied to it on a whim, never expecting anything to come of it. A few days later I received an acceptance and the next week, throwing caution to the wind, I packed up my life and move down to the bottom of New Zealand. 

 

Looking back, that was one of the best decisions I have ever made. In between partying hard and studying harder, I became independent, made life-long friends, and even met my future husband! 

 

In 2008, I graduated and I moved back home to Pukekohe. It was strange to be back home after such a whirlwind three years, where I felt like I had really discovered who I was. The job market had become even more competitive, and I struggled to break into the design industry. I found myself back in the hospitality sector (which I loved but wasn’t part of the plan). Then, one day I was job searching and dropped into my local design and print shop to photocopy my CV. I got chatting to the store owner about graphic design, and they offered me a job on the spot! 

 

This job marked the beginning of my design journey, and was the first real taste I got of the industry. I quickly discovered I had a real thirst for knowledge, and wanted to experience as much as possible. I moved around jobs a lot, mastering the trade before moving onto the next one. Eventually, I had built up a huge wealth of experience after working in multiple industries, including newspaper, an apparel shop, signage, digital printing, commercial printing, managing a design and print studio, designing graphics for transportation services, and a few others. 

 

Nile design wasn’t built on nothing. See, I had always dreamed of owning my design business, but had just chalked it up to my desire to escape the rat-race of business life. However, the more experience I gained, the more I felt like it was actually something I could achieve. I spent years putting in the effort and learning as much as I could; so that when I began to take on my own clients I could give them the best possible results. By 2017, I knew that I was ready. I knew that my business was going to work. I had spent almost eight years preparing for this, and I was going to succeed at it! I was confident in my skills, experience, and portfolio. 

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After working from home for four years, in August 2021 I moved Nile Design out of the house and into a beautiful office space in Waiuku. Having a bright, inspiring and comfortable office with larger amount of space has been a game changer for me. My own space away from home It has been a big step up and something I am extremely proud to have achieved.

 

Apart from my family life, Nile Design is one of my proudest achievements. I love working in the design industry, and my clients love my work too. I know you’re supposed to have a work-life balance, but I truly live to work. Design has been my calling, and that passion makes me excited to sit down every day and get stuck into it.