Kate is making
Hi, I'm Kate Butler. I'm a designer and maker, specialising in object and graphic design. Here's some of my work!
Spider E-Spinner
Graduation project on redesigning the spinning wheel
Australian Museum
Design projects for
the Australian Museum, Sydney
Packaging
Conceptual packaging design around the ideas of "Ritual and Repair"
Graphic Interventions
Exploring the site of Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve
Loom
Expanding on the traditional idea of a loom
Packaging
This was a conceptual packaging design project, where I had to create a cohesive visual language for two things representing "Ritual and Repair". For repair, I chose the needle and thread and for ritual I chose a packet of poppy seeds.I created many iterations of the needle and thread box to perfect the glue-less folding house design, as well as the pop-up centerfold in the seed packet. This project was largely about elevating the domestic and everyday. I kept to a very minimal colour palette to reduce the impact of printing, as well as to highlight the type and illustrations.
Graphic Interventions
The brief for this project was to create a series of site-specific graphic interventions. I chose the site of Cabbage Tree Bay, Manly, where I was drawn to the ocean setting and wildlife.The process involved many visits to the site where I collected data, drew sketches and took photos. Through this process of iteration I developed a specific illustrative style to represent the animals. I conducted secondary research on the animals as well, which led me to include UV ink in the design as a little Easter egg. UV light/colours are invisible to the naked human eye, but visible to most other animals.As wildlife was my subject matter, I wanted the design to be animal-centered where possible. This was how I came up with the idea for bird perches on the tall panels.
Loom
This was my vision for redesigning a traditional rigid-heddle loom. I wanted to completely reconsider the design and how fabric has been woven for centuries. I loved the idea of a wearable loom, hence the circular shape - the user is forced to wear the loom otherwise it will roll away during use.The aim of such a loom is for the user to reconsider their relationship to the textiles, and take some time to consider the labour that goes into textile production.
Spider E-Spinner
Spider e-spinner, graduation project completed in the final year of my Bachelor of Integrated Design at the University of New South Wales.
Australian Museum
These are a variety of design projects I worked at the Australian Museum, Sydney as part of the in-house design team. The briefs range across education, marketing and exhibition design.
Documents
Click below to view my resume and portfolio.
Documents
Click below to view my resume and portfolio.