Earlier in the year, Andy Florkowski, associate director at RCG was selected as the only New Zealand participant for the Dulux DIAlogue on Tour scholarship programme, along with four designers from Australia. DIAlogue on Tour takes recipients to two cities for cultural tours, studio visits and meetings with design minds. The programme aims to promote the exchange of ideas and insights across cultures and disciplines. Ashley Cusick caught up with Andy after he returned from his trip to hear all about it.

Ashley Cusick (AC): Can you sum up each city you visited (Tokyo and LA) in one sentence?

Andy Florkowski (AF): Tokyo is a city that relentlessly and overwhelmingly engaged all my senses – a city wrapped in rich culture, custom and order. Los Angeles is a city of neighbourhoods, cultures, a showcase of architectural eras, all of which are pulled together under an unstructured umbrella.   

AC: What did you learn from Dulux DIAlogue on Tour that you’ll be taking back in to your practice here in New Zealand?

AF: It was great to have the opportunity to explore other studios and gain an understanding of the design processes they follow and what values their studios hold. The focus on craft and model making was a recurring theme across Tokyo and it was fascinating to see that a lot of the creative work is born ‘by accident’ while testing and playing with forms. This emphasis on physical model making was more important than I appreciated and has opened up avenues of thought, including how to integrate a better workflow between the physical and digital.

The trip also made me realise and appreciate the things we do well in New Zealand – for the most part we have a great work/life balance, not regularly sleeping in studios overnight! Sustainable design is at the forefront of our process; it was non-existent in a lot of the studios we saw. We also have a good relationship and understanding of our indigenous culture and its importance to our national identity.

AC: What did you find was similar about Tokyo and L.A.? What were the biggest differences?

AF: They are both big, busy and overwhelming cities with strong identities – that is probably where the similarities end! The cultural parameters between the cities are incredibly different and this filters through all aspects of daily life. Everything about Tokyo was wrapped in custom; a simple question and conversation with locals was continually funnelled to follow a complex process of ‘who we are, where we come from and establishing if there is a more appropriate superior to discuss our query with’ – you get the idea.

There is always a protocol to follow; tasks had a strong sense of mechanical methodology, whether exchanging business cards or exploring forms within their design studios. Los Angeles on the other hand, was a lot more unstructured. It is a city of neighbourhoods, each with strong identities all contributing to the LA landscape.

Unlike Tokyo, the city has a terrible public transport network and supporting infrastructure, and the city has experienced huge urban sprawl. The biggest problem it faces is introducing more intensive housing to suburban areas – very similar issues to Auckland!

AC: Can you pick one top moment from your trip?

AF: There are too many highlights – a private tour of The Broad, a sunset viewing of Stahl House, an afternoon with Christopher Hawthorne, the interactive exhibition at TeamLab, exploring the bustling laneways of Tokyo.

However, what really defined the experience for me is the people I shared the tour with; four companions from Australia who elevated the experience and made the tour incredibly special – that is my highlight. Amanda, Cushla, Daniel and Sarah-Jane are incredible individuals who are excelling on the world stage in their own fields. It was fantastic to have two weeks alongside such inspiring professionals and be able to get to know them on a personal level away from practise life.

AC: What advice would you give to people who are thinking of applying for the next Dulux DIAlogue on Tour?

AF: Spend time crafting your submission and be sure to be yourself. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on your journey, to think about your values and where you want to steer your career. It will be the best thing you ever do.

The Dulux DIAlogue on Tour programme is backed by the Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ), the Design Institute of Australia and Dulux.