Lushdesigns

Lushdesigns Lushdesigns was founded by Joanne Lush in 2002, with the aim of empower lifelong learning through th

Just checked out The Creative Store New Zealand Salary Survey 2026 — and as always, it’s such a useful snapshot of what’...
29/01/2026

Just checked out The Creative Store New Zealand Salary Survey 2026 — and as always, it’s such a useful snapshot of what’s going on in our industry 👀✨.

It highlights where demand is strongest (think paid ads, social media & content roles, client service, and hybrid skill sets), how freelance vs permanent trends are shaping up, and what skills are really moving the needle right now.

Reading through this each year gives me a great gauge of where we sit in the creative market — whether you’re thinking about your next move, negotiating a salary, or just curious about the landscape. 💡

If you haven’t seen it yet — worth a look! 👇
👉 https://thecreativestore.co.nz/creative-talk/spotlight/the-creative-store-new-zealand-salary-survey-2026/

Circle’s 2026 Community Trends Report is out, and it’s packed with insights that every creator, founder, and community b...
25/01/2026

Circle’s 2026 Community Trends Report is out, and it’s packed with insights that every creator, founder, and community builder needs to see. In a world where attention is everywhere but connection feels scarce, this report shows just how powerful intentional community building has become.

🔍 What’s inside:
• Why communities are now a key differentiator for businesses — not just a “nice to have.”
• How member transformation and emotional connection are shaping retention and growth.
• The move away from one-size-fits-all community models toward experimentation and human-centered design.

If you’re building for real connection, not just metrics, this is a must-read.

👉 Download the full report here: https://tinyurl.com/38u3j6t7

🎬 The Commercial Filmmaking Trend Report 2026 is hereCreated by Filmsupply in collaboration with Musicbed, this new repo...
25/01/2026

🎬 The Commercial Filmmaking Trend Report 2026 is here

Created by Filmsupply in collaboration with Musicbed, this new report explores the creative shifts shaping the future of commercial filmmaking — from the return of analog textures and imperfect visuals to more intentional pacing, editing, and storytelling.

It’s packed with insight for filmmakers, editors, creatives, and brands looking to stay culturally and creatively relevant in 2026 and beyond.

👉 Download the full report here: https://tinyurl.com/577t95ud

Big thanks to Filmsupply & Musicbed for sharing such a thoughtful, industry-forward resource.

🚀 Planning 2026 doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Too many goals and not enough clarity? I’ve been there.I’ve been usin...
28/12/2025

🚀 Planning 2026 doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Too many goals and not enough clarity? I’ve been there.

I’ve been using ChatGPT not to plan my life for me, but as a thinking partner — helping me ask better questions, spot blind spots, and turn big intentions into realistic, sustainable plans.

In my latest blog post, I share the exact prompts I’m using to plan across career, learning, health, habits, and reflection, so you can try them too:
👉 From broad life strategy prompts to targeted ones for habits, energy, and reflection.
👉 Tips for getting better results from ChatGPT.
👉 A process that centres clarity, sustainability, and iterative planning.

💡 If you’re ready to think smarter — not harder — about your year ahead, this is for you.

🔗 Read the full post here:
https://lushdesignsblog.wordpress.com/2025/12/28/planning-2026-with-chatgpt-how-to-think-smarter-not-harder/

I’d love to hear from you: what’s one prompt you use to plan or reflect on your year? Share it in the comments!

I made these printable habit trackers because sometimes apps feel like too much — and writing things down just works bet...
26/12/2025

I made these printable habit trackers because sometimes apps feel like too much — and writing things down just works better.

They’re:
✨ simple
✨ printable (A4)
✨ no pressure, no perfection required

Perfect for tracking things like movement, water, mood, routines, or creative time.

You can download them for free here:
👉 https://lushdesignsblog.wordpress.com/2023/02/26/printable-a4-habit-tracker/

If you use one, I’d love to know what habit you’re working on 💛

12/12/2025

BEHIND THE IMAGE: How I Created This Midjourney Image – Tilt-Shift Style

I’ve been exploring how AI can emulate photographic techniques, and this project was all about Tilt-Shift photography in Midjourney. Using a structured prompt hierarchy — from subject, angle, and style, to lighting, details, colour, tone, and composition — I was able to guide the AI to create a visually compelling miniature city.

PROMPT HIERARCHY
1. Subject (Auckland city skyline)
2. Angle (aerial)
3. Primary Style (tilt-shift photography)
4. How technique behaves (focus landmark/blur edges)
5. Lighting (Golden hour sunlight)
6. Key scene details (Tiny boats and cars)
7. Colour mood (Vibrant and saturated)
8. Tone/Atmosphere (Dramatic and intense)
9. Detail Level (Hyper-realistic)
10. Composition (Wide cinematic sweep)
11. Lens/Technical Notes (Shallow depth of field)

PROMPT SENTENCE TEMPLATE
[1. Subject], shot from a [2. Angle] in a [3. Primary Style], with [4. Technique behaviour]. Lit by [5. Lighting], featuring [6. Key details]. [7. Colour mood], [8. Tone/Atmosphere], [9. Detail Level]. [10. Composition], with [11. Lens/Technical Notes].

WHAT I LEARNED
• Midjourney can convincingly replicate tilt-shift effects, miniature perspectives, and soft edge blur.
• Even when provided with reference images, the AI couldn’t fully replicate Auckland’s landmarks or shoreline, showing that these images are best for creative exploration rather than commercial accuracy.
• Breaking the prompt into structured layers gave me control and consistency, and iterating the prompt was key to refining the mood and detail.

Curious to see what you can create?
Try the prompt hierarchy yourself and share your results — I’d love to see your interpretations and suggestions!

10/12/2025

I am learning Midjourney and thought I would share what I made to day.

The video it made from the still image is interesting. It has a stop motion quality. It does not seem to do a good job at animating the see though :-) something for me to work on.

Keep growing and having fun :-)

PROMPT =
3d model of an old fishing boat, with a simple and minimalistic design, in a cute and cartoonish style. the boat is painted in a light blue color with white stripes around it, and has small windows on top. it features hanging colorful lights from its roof, and life rings on each side. on the background of a dramatic ocean scene with stormy waves and dark clouds, creating an atmosphere of mystery and adventure, --ar 1:1

06/12/2025

I’ve been working on a new design project inspired by Twilight at The Park—and I’m excited to finally share it!

This concept explores how a community summer event could feel elevated, inviting, and full of that warm “Twilight” energy. From the colour palette and typography through to key visuals and event assets, the goal was to create a cohesive identity that feels relaxed, welcoming, and made for long evenings under the trees.

It was all about capturing atmosphere—moments with friends, live music drifting through the park, and a sense of community coming together.

Want to see the full design direction and process?
👉 View the case study: https://www.lushdesigns.co.nz/casestudy2

Absolutely loved bringing this vision to life. Hope you enjoy the look through!

24/11/2025

A Fresh New Look for Red Valley Orchard 🍒✨

I’ve been working on a personal branding project inspired by Red Valley Orchard—and I’m excited to finally share it!

The idea was to explore how a hardworking orchard could be reimagined as a premium, giftable brand that captures the feeling of an Otago summer. From a refined logo and handcrafted packaging to a refreshed visual system and improved website flow, this project was all about storytelling, heritage, and beautiful design.

Want to see the full concept and process?
👉 View the case study: https://www.lushdesigns.co.nz/case-study-1

I loved creating this one—hope you enjoy the look through!

My 2025 showreel brings together some of my favourite motion design projects, including title graphics, logo animations,...
11/10/2025

My 2025 showreel brings together some of my favourite motion design projects, including title graphics, logo animations, and product advertising pieces.

Just found out the entire run of Emigre magazine is now online at the Letterform Archive—and wow, it hit me right in the...
28/09/2025

Just found out the entire run of Emigre magazine is now online at the Letterform Archive—and wow, it hit me right in the design nostalgia.
https://shorturl.at/QYsMT

I first discovered Emigre in a coworker’s magazine pile, and it completely changed how I saw typography and layout.

Born as a cut-and-paste zine in the ’80s, Emigre became the playground for breaking rules and pushing early digital tools to the limit. Every issue felt like a one-off experiment—wild, raw, and totally inspiring.

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Auckland
1022

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https://www.behance.net/joannelush, https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannelush/

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