Australian Infront

For this weeks Field Trip questions we talked to Benja Harney. I first met Benja many years ago when he was just starting out in the world of paper and it has been an absolute delight to watch his career grow. He is also one of the best dressed men I know. Here is 10 questions so you can get to know him better too.

1. State your name, location, medium, and the last meal you ate.
Benja Harney
Sydney
Paper Engineer
I cooked dinner for my mates. We had organic pork knuckle roasted with potatoes and apples and then bread and butter pudding to follow. I think I've got a crush on Nigella Lawson.

2. What are you working on at the moment?
I'm just off the back of a huge three months of work with projects for Sportsgirl, Penguin Books, David Jones, Cat Power and Arjowiggins Creative Papers. I'm now currently working towards my next solo art show to be held at the end of November at NGArt Gallery in Chippendale, Sydney.

3. Describe the last person you saw do a live talk that really inspired you.
I was invited to present my work Semi-Permanent in Sydney/Auckland earlier in the year. Two speakers really stood out. The Spanish typographer Alex Trochut (http://www.alextrochut.com/) and his work was a complete inspiration to me - unique, striking and all generated from a strong rationale base which I think is essential. Beautiful stuff. Also, Florian Schmitt from Hi-ReS! (http://hi-res.net/) was such a top bloke and I really appreciated his unique thought process and the inventive ways of approaching design to deliver unexpected solutions.

4. Name a tool of the trade which you use, digital or otherwise, that is absolutely essential to your workflow.
My hands and mind. It all flows from that. Paper would clearly have to be the most essential tangible item I use.

5. What are the top three tracks in your 25 most played iTunes playlist?
The top three are all tracks off Frank Ocean's Channel ORANGE. It's been on constant rotation since I downloaded it. One of the best albums I have heard in years!

6. If you could boil down the most important lesson you've learned as a professional creative to three words, what would they be?
Passionate hard work.

7. What is your favourite website for comic relief?
I have loads of sites I visit regularly to refuel my creative brain but specifically for comic relief: www.dailymail.co.uk Totally trashy, but hey!?

8. Can you tell us a bit about your plans for your Field Trip performance?
I've presented my work on many different occasions now. I really like the aspect of audience participation for these types of events so there will be an element of that. I'd like us all to create and build something huge together. Just got to figure out what it is now...

9. What do you hope the Audience will take away from your presentation?
Find what you love and then don't let anything get in your way to follow that path I guess. I found paper engineering by accident at design college but I was immediately hooked. No one ever tells you that you can work with paper as a full time profession but I was determined to make it my career. 7 years of hard work later and it has been a most rewarding journey. Always keep pushing yourself. Passion is everything.

10. Who is your daddy and what does he do?
My Dad is a civil engineer and lives in America. He oversees the building of huge infrastructure projects like Marine bases, jails and bridges.

Thanks Benja! Anyone who has seen him in action on stages knows you are up for some audience participation, so grab a ticket to Field Trip now as you only have over a month to go. Prices start at just $75! Big thanks to our sponsors Rhodia for this weeks round of questions.