My project explores the lived experience of the last generation of New Zealanders to grow up largely free from digital influence. Drawing from memories of neighbourhoods where connection was built face-to-face, it reflects on the simplicity, creativity, and sense of community that shaped early 2000s childhoods in Aotearoa.

The Local is my first outcome – a newsprint publication intended to capture the more personal and nostalgic side of this generation. It focuses on stories, reflections, and visual snippets that remind readers of what once felt ordinary but now holds a deeper meaning. Designed in a modern newspaper layout with a black-and-white twist, it balances nostalgia with contemporary design sensibilities.

My second outcome, The Two Dollar Mix and Fish n Chips, is a printed book that celebrates the simplicity of a Kiwi childhood before screens took over – when weekends were measured in corner dairy runs, fish and chips on the beach, and the thrill of a gold coin in your pocket. Through a combination of photography, graphics, illustration, and text layout, the work captures the everyday magic of growing up in New Zealand, exploring themes of community, play, and connection in a time defined by genuine friendships and simple joys.

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