The next wave
Meet Joelle, Shayna, Jude and Kelly. Welcome to the Folk team

Joelle Black

Senior Experience Designer, fan of trivia, Cherry Coke, and Tommy Tomato (her greyhound), member of Slytherin.

Joelle brings seven years of professional and entrepreneurial experience in business and design, with degrees in fine art, Business (Management) and Interactive Visual Design.

Favourite quote?
“It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.” Admiral Grace Hopper.

Prioritising action is hugely important to me. Growth can only move as fast as your decision making.

Famous person, dead or alive, you’d most want to share a meal and conversation with?
Without any hesitation, Dolly Parton. She is unapologetically herself, intelligent, witty, business savvy, a feminist and incredibly giving. It’s also hard to not love someone that sparkly.

Early bird or a night owl?
I think in a past life I may have been a vampire. If I had it my way my work hours would be 10pm-5am. The sun is overrated anyway.

Behaviour or personality trait you most attribute your success to, and why?
I’ve never been one for following rules. Although it was a challenge for my school teachers it has been a blessing for my career. The best ideas are never safe. 

What does the future of design look like to you?
The only thing AI can’t replace is creativity. My hope is the “factory modelled” education system that values meeting performance targets will be replaced with design thinking and embracing the individual. In the future I believe everyone will be a designer and I am here for it.

Shayna Kite

Senior Brand Designer, hiker and camper, enthusiast of Wes Anderson, classical music and sugar.

Shayna brings ten years’ experience in brand identity and creative expression; graphic, UI and motion design; and a dab-hand at illustration.

Something you consider under-rated?
Documentaries, Reisling, custom keyboard shortcuts, spoon rests, birthday calendars. 

Irrational loathing?
The stringy white bits on the outside of a mandarin. I won’t eat it til they are ALL gone.

Design superpower?
Illustrating, while snacking, and binge listening to true crime podcasts.

Personality trait you attribute success to?
I have a high threshold for repetitive or intricate tasks (as a child my happy place was sorting thousands of tiny, coloured beads). I’d like to think that has translated to an obscene level of patience and killer attention to detail. 

Favourite film?
Pride and Prejudice. Controversially, the movie rather than the miniseries. But despite my previous answer about patience, I can’t be bothered to watch six episodes of something that can be so perfectly condensed into one movie.

Jude Horsburgh

Junior Experience Designer, dog-person (big black lab), does ballet and skateboarding (separately).

Jude has recently completed a degree in Product Design at UTS, with a side study in Innovation and Creativity.

When it’s safe, where do you want to travel overseas next?
Iceland, it’s a place I’ve always wanted to visit. It feels like the complete opposite of Australia, and the landscape is absolutely stunning. I’ve always preferred the cold over the heat so for me the weather is just a bonus.

One thing most people don’t know about you?
I’m related to the designer Gordon Andrews! He’s my Great Uncle, my Grandma’s brother, however he sadly passed away whilst I was too young to have met him. I can’t claim to have learnt anything from him, but it is an interesting connection to have.

Favourite film or TV show – the one you’re watching on repeat?
Anytime I need a boost of energy or a pick-me-up, ‘Nailed It’ is always my go-to. Seeing people messing up, having fun, and just having a great time in a kitchen always makes you feel good, and it helps that you always have some baking disaster to laugh at too.

Behaviour or personality trait you most attribute your success to, and why?
I’ve often described myself as persistent, and it’s a trait that’s helped me out in more ways than I can count. As a designer, you need to be persistent on a problem, on a task, on a brief, on anything really, to allow you to tackle it as fully and as holistically as possible, rather than taking it at surface level.

Describe your job in three to five words.
Design behind the design.

Kelly Rigby

Digital Project Manager, gym-bunny, cat-lover, film-buff, peanut-butter-nutter.

Kelly brings seven years’ experience in project management (more if we include managing all the various games with siblings), copywriting, and is learning web development in her spare time (read: when-not-at-the-gym).

Something you consider ‘over-rated’?
Going to start off strong by making some enemies and say coffee. Don’t really care for the taste and prefer to lean into my exhaustion rather than mask it.

One thing most people don’t know about you?
I can play the flute. I started learning when I was eleven, but after leaving school let it fall by the wayside. Every now and then, I pick it back up and try to play – muscle memory is a real MVP!

Favourite film or TV show – the one you’re watching on repeat?
Most of my vocabulary is made up of TV quotes. But the show I always circle back to is Friends. No matter how many times I’ve watched it, it never fails to make me laugh.

Behaviour or personality trait you most attribute your success to, and why?
My incessant need to be productive. As a result, I’m extremely efficient and reliable. I always want to do a good job and will take the necessary steps to ensure that I do. It hasn’t let me down yet.

Your job in three to five words.
“Just wanted to check in…”

If people make places (they do), we have rewarding days ahead. Welcome aboard.

Thank you for reading.