WILLIAM TONGUE

illustrator. designer. overthinker.

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This poster’s original sketch had about eight different parts drawn on separate sheets before being digitally collaged, edited, and printed on A3 for re-pencilling and inking. Because TAZ is a series that has sucked me in and made me emotional over fiction again in a way that hasn’t happened in over two years. Spent way too long trying to put little references into the boys’ clothes so appreciate that, okay?

(Just for posterity: my interpretations have Magnus as Polynesian, because Travis’ post-Moana tweets made my afakasi heart ache; Merle as Japanese (I modelled him after Pat Morita/Kesuke Miyagi); and Taako as an elfin Joe Dirt-type greaseboy with browner skin and natural dark hair, growing out blond dye from after Glamour Springs.)

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Promotional posters for Curtis Bunker’s first exhibition, Neglected Future—a photographic showcase of abandoned buildings and derelict spaces around Auckland. Captured by Curtis over the last two years, a large portion of the photos featured have never been previously released. In addition, many locations in the exhibition are now inaccessible or demolished—a testament to the temporary nature of our constructions and a reminder of the importance of documenting them. Original photos by Curtis Bunker, design by me.

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from a graphic done for Mangere Bridge School in Auckland. The migration and direction northeast represents the philosophical journey towards connection with Pasifika culture and its place within effective and deep teaching/learning. Mangere Mountain represents native Maori cultural connection.

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Logo graphic for Auckland photographer Curtis Bunker's freelance brand "CurtisCoffee". He's a skilled artist with an immaculate eye for composition and subject matter, and I recommend him highly.

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Logotype design for a local boater. Client ended up going with the second one but I like both still.

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Hey, so I’m now (virtually) finished with my WSD Bachelor of Graphic Design! If you want to contact me for design or illustration work, feel free to email me at [email protected] or message me. 

If you want to view a sampler of the work I can offer, look through this blog or download my portfolio here. 

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Illustrations for final degree project this year, included in the Whanganui School of Design “In Process of Becoming” exhibition. This is about 400+ hours of work.

The series is an expression of my struggle with being mixed-race (palagi and Samoan), never feeling like one or the other and wondering if I have the right to call myself Samoan. This is about coming to terms with that and moving forward by using it as empowerment. The collage used to represent the rich, disparate heritage is a mix of family photos, traditional tapa, tartan, and lavalava patterns.

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Short comic to go on the back of my business cards, making a series of six.

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Album cover design for the Auckland band Frankie Snake Hands’ EP. Brush/ink and Photoshop.

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Degree work. Personal manifesto of creative philosophy. “Cut” is something I got from my stepdad, who got it from The Legend of the Seeker. All the lettering in this was done with a sable brush and dip pen.

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You’re here for them, so listen to them.

Comics done for my university internship project, where I interviewed kids about their experiences within local youth services. They were all so open and honest about their experiences, which was wonderful. It meant that apart from tweaking to fit the comic structure, these words are theirs. The people who I worked with specifically wanted the content to be focussed on the kids and their perspectives, which is a refreshing change from campaigns I’ve seen elsewhere about how hard it is for parents and friends—instead of, y’know, talking about the kids, who have to deal with their problems every day.

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I’m glad Chris Paolini’s coming back to Eragon eventually because I need some reconciliation for my 16-year-old self. That series still makes me feel things years later, mostly bitterness.

Anyway. Heads of most of the first book’s main cast, because that’s all I can do after last semester. (Eragon, Brom, Roran, Murtagh, Arya, Durza, Angela, Ajihad, Nasuada.)

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some of my favourites from experimental photography. (A combination of overphotocopying, splicing, and liquefying.)

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Artemis Fowl cover redesigns of the first three books, done for a graphic design campaign assignment as part of my degree. Inspired by 70s sci-fi novels and pulp fiction. (That title type is all hand-drawn.) For each cover I tried to use a strong central concept or scene that defined each novel; so in the first, the acorn in Holly’s ritual that leads to both her capture and escape; in the second, the AAA batteries that power the goblins’ Softnoses against a backdrop of the Russian Arctic; and in the third, Butler being shot and thus becoming the first of many prices Artemis must pay for his arrogance.

The first image was a promotional poster done with the same philosophy; Holly and Artemis/Butler’s first meeting defines not just the novel but the entire series, so it felt natural to use it. Plus—meeting under a full moon at a river-bend oak? How could I pass up a chance to draw that.

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Winter’s only a couple weeks away, so I needed a new wintery Prince Orion for the occasion. (scarf is the Merc’s Muffler.)

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AESTHETIC: powered youths aged nineteen and up (relaxation doodle)

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Samurai Champloo is like a favourite record that I enjoy listening through to the end. (done for a university assignment in answer to the question “what is your favourite journey?”)