How did you end up in the world of interior design?

Alison Gwerder (AG): I vividly remember, at a young age, acquiring a couple of old design magazines: discarded library copies with the covers cut off. I was completely fascinated, spending hours lost in their intriguing spaces and imagining the people who lived there. It was escapism: a window into worlds so different from my own rural Taranaki upbringing. When a teacher asked what I wanted to do when I grew up, without any thought I said “interior design”. I gravitated towards creative pursuits, enjoying making things in my dad’s workshop and with my mum’s sewing machine. In some ways, it was my way of carving out my own identity. I studied interior architecture at Victoria University’s School of Architecture and Design and, later, joined Beca’s newly established interior design team.

What influences your work?

AG: I find inspiration everywhere and am constantly distracted by my surroundings, from the built environment to art, film, graphic and textile design, and, especially, nature. I’m always looking for new connections and ideas and I’m currently inspired by New Zealand fashion designers and their intuitive sense of how we like to dress and which colours resonate.

Tell us how you use colour in your projects.

AG: Colour plays an integral role in the ways in which I create and define spaces. My approach tends to swing between two moods, depending on the project. I prefer working with the colour inherent in the materiality and am inspired by the surrounding environment to give a palette a sense of place. But my other colour ‘personality’ embraces big, bold and joyous use of colour. We went all-in with candy-coloured, vibrant hues in dynamic forms, inspired by Chelsea Sugar’s branding, in the company’s head office exterior colour scheme; that project won us the Resene Total Colour Master Nightingale Award at the 2024/25 Resene Colour Awards. It was a chance to inject some energy and playfulness into the building and surrounding public space. Ultimately, I think colour has a powerful ability to shape how we experience architectural spaces. Whether it’s subtle or exuberant, colour can elevate space and make it truly engaging and joyful.

What was the thinking behind your collab?

AG: Because I grew up at the foot of Taranaki Maunga, the mountain has always been a beacon that meant home to me: my happy place. The landscape holds an enduring sense of mystery and balance, while also feeling invigorating. No matter whether the sky is moody and overcast or clear and bright, the colours are always vibrant. The quality of light here is truly unique, with an ethereal ability to make colours pop unexpectedly. I wanted the collab to feel both ancient and ever-changing, reflecting a place that grounds and inspires me: moody yet uplifting, mysterious yet familiar. My hope was to evoke that elusive feeling of standing on the mountain as dawn breaks, when light slowly unveils layers of colour across a landscape that feels both timeless and renewed.

Tell us how you selected your colours.

AG: The colours are inspired by the maunga and its surrounding landscape. Resene Iko Iko captures the green native foliage after rain and Resene Campground echoes the deep, enigmatic hues of the shadowy undergrowth and moss. Resene Bullwhip depicts the golden tussocks catching dawn’s first light and Resene Grey Suit reflects the soft lilac-blue as clouds cloak and reveal the mountain’s form. The deep blue of Resene Avalanche captures the mysterious, moody presence of the mountain itself. Each colour evokes the organic balance and ever-changing, uplifting spirit of this place.

See more from the Resene Colour Collab series here.

ArchitectureNow works with a range of partners in the A&D supply sector to source appropriate content for the site. This article has been supported by Resene.