Kōrero Pitopito: A Coffee Chat with David Parkinson
Today, we sat down for a very special 5 minute kōrero with the new kaitiaki of Digital Arts Network \ New Zealand — David Parkinson. After many years across the globe, David has come back to lead Digital Arts Network NZ as we continue to build valued partnerships and explore new horizons with Aotearoa’s most progressive organisations.
David’s superpower is his love for people. In his own words: The thing that I enjoy most is hearing our clients complement not just the work we deliver but the people that deliver it. It makes me feel like all the meetings are worth it!
1. How did you get into your career path?
In 1996, I had a good friend who had started up his own website development company at the top of Dominion Road in Auckland. An absolute pioneer, considering HTML was only a few years old. This was in the era of dial-up modems, when webpage loading times were measured in minutes, not milliseconds. He needed someone that could build HTML web pages. I was about to leave for my Overseas Experience and needed more cash, so I spent a few months building websites and knew that the technology industry was where I belonged.
2. What does a typical day at DAN look like for you?
Meetings followed by meetings, then on occasion a meeting thrown in for good measure!
3. What’s the best thing about working at DAN?
The thing that I enjoy most is hearing our clients complement not just the work we deliver, but the people that deliver it. It makes me feel like all the meetings are worth it!
4. What inspires you in your work?
I love seeing people develop. When someone shares a skill or an experience with someone else in the team, it confirms why we are here and inspires me to do more to grow the business.
5. What interesting thing is happening in your field right now?
The interaction between humans and technology has always been one of the most interesting aspect of this industry. How people will or won’t interact with AI is something that I am currently enjoying exploring. I’m looking forward to the day where I can spend and hour or two drinking beer and chatting with some friends and a couple of AI engines!
6. What is the one thing that you wish someone had told or shown you when you started out?
Buy a house now! What I mean by that is that if you can do something now then do it. The experience will pass you by. It might sound like an exerpt from a self help book, but as humans our brains do two things of which we are in control: firstly, store our experience and secondly, predict the future based on our stored experiences. The more you experience, the more accurate the prediction of your future will be!
Digital Arts Network \ New Zealand is the User Experience Centre of Excellence for the global TBWA marketing & brand network of 275 offices in 119 countries. We leverage design and strategy to create experiences at scale, build organisational capability and accelerate innovation. If you’re ready to partner up and create some brave work, you can get in touch with us here.
