Logan Dinning joined the Familton team earlier this year, bringing his artistic expertise to our new social enterprise, Ward Lane Print Co. We talked about screenprinting, Dungeons & Dragons and more – read on below!
How did you first get involved with Zeal?
Logan: I first found Zeal in my late teens when I start attending hardcore and punk gigs at Zeal West in Auckland. I found the atmosphere surrounding Zeal to be super welcoming to newcomers and I quickly found fellow young creatives to form new relationships with.
After finding out about the job at Zeal I knew I had to jump at the opportunity to join the team as it was a perfect environment for my weird and creative self. I have also had a growing interest in the realms of teaching and youth work as I see we are lacking in strong role models and gurus in our growing modern world of technology.
What does your typical day at Zeal look like?
Logan: Being a graphic designer and illustrator, jumping into the role of Head Screenprinter was super exciting for me, as Ward Lane Print Co. is fresh on its feet I am finding it both challenging and rewarding. My weeks as of late have been taken up with equipment and product research, as I am currently outfitting the workshop to allow for a more proficient process with both client jobs and tutoring. I am also beginning some private tutoring with one of our young people over the Christmas holiday period.
What are some epic moments you’ve had during your time at Zeal so far?
Logan: My time at Zeal so far has been inspirational, seeing the amount of great work everyone at Zeal does to make life better for the young people of our little country is super motivating! Getting to meet everyone at my first Zeal Hui was awesome, and I’m excited to keep working with such an awesome family of people. I have enjoyed working with the Hamilton team, and love how we all seem to find a way to make each others jobs easier or more pleasant.
Over the last month I have been working with a group of young people from a local High School, in order to complete a series of printed hoodies. Seeing my students come in nervous, and leave with a sense of confidence and pride has been super rewarding. With the group selling 20+ hoodies, I would say thats a great early success story for our young and budding print shop.
What’s some advice you would pass on to someone wanting to get a job in a creative industry?
Logan: Bring your A game, and don’t be afraid to share and embrace your unique ideas and flair. Always be ready to improvise and lend a hand to other creative projects around you, but first and foremost, GIVE IT YOUR ALL!
