UC Spark

Mr Luke Wood

School of Fine Arts; Fine Arts - Design

Fields of Research

  • Graphic design
  • Independent publishing
  • Design history/theory

Researcher Summary

Luke's research is predominantly practice-based and centers around exercises in independent publishing and print distribution.

In 2011 Luke (in collaboration with Stuart Geddes) edited, designed, printed, and published the award winning publication 'Head Full of Snakes', which explores attitudes towards individual agency, manual labor, and maintenance through the guise of a b-grade motorcycle fanzine. Issue #2 of 'Head Full of Snakes' was released in January 2013.

Luke has also founded and co-edited 'The National Grid' – an award winning NZ-based graphic design journal which is distributed internationally – in collaboration with Jonty Valentine (AUT University) since 2006. 'The National Grid' has received significant funding from Creative New Zealand.

Luke's particular research interests in relation to this project investigated how the development of independent and personalized distribution networks worked towards forming alternative communities of practice. The specific history, formation, and embedded attitudes of the New Zealand design industry have both framed and motivated this research. Luke's work sought to centralize the role of the physical artefact—the publication—in the development of an engaged network of participants. This research drew on practical examples set by small independent record labels, and also on tactics employed by certain New Zealand artists who have operated successfully on an international platform, in particular Julian Dashper.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Prizes and Awards

  • 2012 AGDA Award (Australian Graphic Design Association) for publication Head Full of Snakes. Melbourne, 2012. (2012)
  • Head Full of Snakes won a Gold Award in the Editorial and Books section of the 2012 DINZ (the Designers Institute of New Zealand) 'Best Design Awards'. (2012)
  • The National Grid #6 won a Silver Award in the Editorial and Books section of the 2011 'Best Design Awards' run by DINZ (the Designers Institute of New Zealand). (2011)
  • Collaborative experimental print project 'Itinerant Exercises: 3 Ring Circus' won a Silver Award in the Graphic Design Arts section of the 2009 DINZ (the Designers Institute of New Zealand) 'Best Design Awards'. (2009)

Publications


  • Wood, L. and Geddes, S. (Ed.) (2013) Head Full of Snakes #2. Melbourne/Christchurch: A Small Press/Ilam Press. 114. (Edited Book)
  • Wood, L. (2013) Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Magazines. Design Assembly, Auckland: Design Assembly Autumn Conversations, 20.03.2013. (Oral Presentation)
  • Wood, L. and Rust, I. (2012) 'A Question of Faith' in David Bennewith's 'Latent Stare'. CASCO, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 8 Jul-30 Sep 2012. [Wall drawing]. (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (2012) Design and designers: The National Grid. RAMP Gallery, WINTEC, Hamilton, New Zealand, 13 Aug-14 Sep 2012. [Graphic design, printed ephemera]. http://ramp.mediarts.net.nz/?p=996 (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L. and Geddes, S. (2012) 'Head Full of Snakes' in Facing Pages Magazine Library: A crowdsourced exhibition. Trans 6, Arnhem, The Netherlands, 20-22 Apr 2012. [Magazine]. (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (2012) 'National Grid' in Millenium Magazines group exhibition. MOMA, New York City, USA, 22 Feb-14 May 2012. [fanzine]. (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L. (2012) Our Best Students Being Unemployable. Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton, New Zealand: SPARK: International Festival of Media, Arts & Design, 13-17 Aug 2012. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • Wood, L. (2012) Stink-Fest 13: Stink Magnetic vs Christchurch City. The Silver Bulletin (6): 2-4. (Journal Article)
  • Wood, L. (2012) The Legs: AAAA The New Memphis Legs. Commissioned by Goner Records, Memphis, TN, USA. Album Design. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (Ed.) (2012) The National Grid #8, Winter 2012. Auckland and Christchurch: The National Grid Ltd. 96pp. http://www.thenationalgrid.co.nz. (Edited Book)
  • Wood, L. (2012) The Pin Group: Ambivalence (CD & LP). Commissioned by Flying Nun Records, New Zealand. Album Design. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. (2011) "Facsimiles" in the group exhibition "FAX". St Paul St Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand, 8-29 Apr 2011. [A fax]. (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L. (2011) A Mobile Library. City Gallery Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand, 26 Nov 2011-12 Feb 2012. [Publications, magazines, books]. (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L. (2011) Distributing Rock and Roll. Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Dunedin, New Zealand, 10 May-11 Jul 2011. [Curation of posters]. (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L. and Geddes, S. (2011) Head Full of Snakes. Melbourne: A Small Press, 108pp. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. (2011) It's Working, by James Arthur's Manhunt. Commissioned by In The Red Records, Los Angeles, USA. Album Design. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. (2011) J. Dashper, This is not writing, Auckland: Clouds, Michael Lett, and Sue Crockford Gallery. Publication Design. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. (2011) Marco Fusinato, Bruce Russell & Adam Willetts, Towards a Cinema of Pure Means. Christchurch: The Physics Room, 27 Jan-28 Feb 2010. The Physics Room Annual 2010: 10-11. (Journal Article)
  • Wood, L. and Russell, B. (2011) The 3Ds, Early Recordings 1989-90: We Bury The Living. Commissioned by Flying Nun Records, Wellington, New Zealand. Album Design. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (Ed.) (2011) The National Grid. Auckland and Christchurch: The National Grid Limited. 7 issues (2006-2011). http://www.thenationalgrid.co.nz/. (Edited Book)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (Ed.) (2011) The National Grid #7, Winter 2011. Auckland and Christchurch: The National Grid Limited. 95pp. http://www.thenationalgrid.co.nz/. (Edited Book)
  • Wood, L. and Sutherland, E. (2011) Time To Go - The Southern Psychedelic Moment: 1981-86. FNLP514. Commissioned by Flying Nun Records, Wellington. Album Artwork. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. (2010) "Surfin' Sickles it's The Don Kings". Commissioned by Kato Records (KR714), Auckland, New Zealand. Album Design. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (2010) Being a bit like the sun. In R. Copeland (Ed.), Diaspar: a mapping of randomness: 9-12. Auckland: Rafe Copeland. (Chapter in Book)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (2010) De Zines. La Casa Encendida, Madrid, Spain, 29 Jul-29 Aug 2010. [Publication exhibition (The National Grid)]. (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L. (2009) "MannTT/Baby Blue" by James Arthur. Commissioned by Perpetrator Records, Auckland, New Zealand. Album design. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. (2009) "Marinate Retard" by The Bloody Souls, published by Kato (CD/EP), Auckland: New Zealand. Album Design. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. (2009) "Step on Out" by Los Hories, published by Cheese and Toast/MUM (COTMUM004), Auckland: New Zealand. 7" Single - Album Design. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. (2009) "Step on Out" by Los Hories, published by Off The Hip (OTH7060), Melbourne: Australia. Album Artwork - CD Cover. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. (2009) "The Drab Doo Riffs, The Don Kings, The Boomers" at Mighty Mighty, Wellington, New Zealand, 11 Sep 2009, in The Mighty Evening Standard. Poster design. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. (2009) "The Drab Doo Riffs, The Hair-Dos, The Don Kings" at Whammy Bar, Auckland, New Zealand, 17 Oct 2009. Poster design. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (2009) Beyond Kiosk: Modes of Multiplication. MUDAM, Luxembourg, 15 March – 13 September 2009. [Publication exhibition (The National Grid)]. (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (2009) Forms of Inquiry: The Critical Architecture of Graphic Design. Archizoom EPFL, Lausanne (27 Feb – 09 Apr 2009);, BolteLang, Zurich, Switzerland (27 Feb – 09 Apr 2009). [Publication exhibition (The National Grid)]. (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L., Lozach, M. and Valentine, J. (2009) Itinerant Exercises: Three Ring Circus. Split Fountain, Auckland, New Zealand, Jun 2009. [Laser engraved wood-block print]. http://www.splitfountain.org/?p=781 (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L. (2009) 'McCahon' typeface included in Printing Types: New Zealand Type Design since 1870. Objectspace Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand, 25 Jul-12 Sep 2009. [Typeface]. (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L. (2009) Mo Faux: Stud Cole's Accidental Modernism. In R. Edgar, S. Geddes, P. Modra and J. Wortsman (Ed.), Design Reporter: 15. Melbourne: The Design Reporter. (Chapter in Book)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (Ed.) (2009) The National Grid #5, February 2009. Auckland/Christchurch, New Zealand: The National Grid Limited. 96pp. http://www.thenationalgrid.co.nz/. (Edited Book)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (2009) The National Grid Project. Wellington, New Zealand: Typeshed11, 11-15 Feb 2009. (Conference Contribution - Other)
  • Wood, L. (2009) Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted: a B-Grade Horror in Four Parts. In J. Valentine (Ed.), Printing Types: New Zealand Type Design Since 1870: 50-54. Auckland: Objectspace. (Chapter in Book)
  • Wood, L. (2008) "What's The Time?" by Los Hories, published by Off The Hip (OTH7084), Melbourne: Australia. Audio CD. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (2008) Beyond Kiosk: A Selection of the Kiosk Archive. ICA, Philadelphia, PA, USA (18 Jan–30 Mar 2008); Centre d’art conteporain, Geneva, Switzerland, (Jun 2008), Les Silos: Pôle Graphisme, Graphic Design Department of the City of Chaumont (Sep-Oct 2008). [Publication exhibition (The National Grid)]. (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (2008) Forms of Inquiry: The Critical Architecture of Graphic Design. Casco: Office for Art, Design and Theory, Utrecht, The Netherlands (17 Jan–17 Feb 2008); Lux°, Valence, France (06 May–21 Jun 2008);, IASPIS, Stockholm, Sweden (14 Nov–14 Dec 2008). [Publication exhibition (The National Grid)]. (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L. (2008) Message in a Bottle. London, UK: New Views 2: Conversations and Dialogues in Graphic Design, 9-11 Jul 2008. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Wood, L. (2008) Talk about The National Grid. Jan van Eyck Academie, Maastricht, The Netherlands: Seminar, Jul 2008. (Oral Presentation)
  • Wood, L. (2007) "The Day The Earth Stood Still" by The Damned Evangelist, published by Stink Magnetic Records, Whanganui: New Zealand. Album Artwork - CD Cover. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. (2007) "The Theme of the Highway Baptist" by The Damned Evangelist, published by Stink Magnetic Records (MAG 37), Whanganui: New Zealand. Album Artwork - CD Cover. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. (2007) "The Wunderbar Tape" by The Damned Evangelist, published by The Damned Evangelist, Christchurch: New Zealand. Album Artwork - CD Cover. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. (2007) "Volcana" by The Damned Evangelist (15 June 2007) , published by Mighty, Mighty, Wellington: New Zealand. Artwork for Event. (Design Output)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (2007) Forms of Inquiry: The Critical Architecture of Graphic Design. Architectural Association, London, UK, 8–31 Oct 2007. [Publication exhibition (The National Grid)]. (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (2007) The National Grid. In Z. Kyes and M. Owens (Ed.), Forms of Inquiry: The Architecture of Critical Graphic Design: 4pp, in Forms of Inquiry Reading Room Supplement. London: Architectural Association, AA Publications. (Chapter in Book)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (Ed.) (2007) The National Grid #3, July 2007. Auckland/Christchurch, New Zealand: The National Grid Limited. 96pp. http://www.thenationalgrid.co.nz/. (Edited Book)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (Ed.) (2007) The National Grid #4, December 2007. Auckland/Christchurch, New Zealand: The National Grid Limited. 95pp. http://www.thenationalgrid.co.nz/. (Edited Book)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (2007) The National Grid and Experimentation. Wanganui, New Zealand: Design Survival Camp, 3-5 May 2007. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (2007) The National Grid. In Reading Room of Forms of Inquiry: The Critical Architecture of Graphic Design. Architectural Association School of Architecture, London, UK; Casco, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Lux°, Valence, France; IASPIS, Stockholm, Sweden; Archizoom, Lausanne, Switzerland; BolteLang, Zurich, Switzerland, International touring exhibition 2007–2009. [Publications]. http://formsofinquiry.com/reading_room/the-national-grid (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L. and Herkes, D. (2006) I used to buy fake blood and "kill" myself a lot: Dylan T 'Phats' Herkes interviewed by Luke Wood. The National Grid #1: 8-15. www.thenationalgrid.co.nz. (Journal Article)
  • Wood, L. (2006) Just Hold Me: Aspects of NZ Publication Design. Group Exhibition, Objectspace, Auckland, 26 Aug-23 Sep 2006. [Graphic Design]. (Exhibition)
  • Wood, L. and Russell, B. (2006) The Aesthetics of Distribution: A Conversation with Bruce Russell. The National Grid #2: 34-45. www.thenationalgrid.co.nz. (Journal Article)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (Ed.) (2006) The National Grid #1, March 2006. Auckland: The National Grid Limited. 96pp. http://www.thenationalgrid.co.nz/. (Edited Book)
  • Wood, L. and Valentine, J. (Ed.) (2006) The National Grid #2, December 2006. Auckland: The National Grid Limited. 95pp. http://www.thenationalgrid.co.nz/. (Edited Book)
  • Wood, L. (2005) Design research: the distant past and the near future. Otago University, Dunedin: Old School, New School, Truetype School, 16-17 Aug 2005. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • Wood, L. (2005) Inviting the Monster: centralising deviance and aberration within the practice of communication design. RMIT University, Melbourne: RMIT Autumn Graduate Research Conference, 27-30 May 2005. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • Wood, L. (2005) Raiders of the Lost Ark. Prodesign: Journal of the Designers Institute of New Zealand Apr/May: 66-70. (Journal Article)
  • Wood, L. (2004) Appropriation: Necessarily Inappropriate? ProDesign Apr/May: 24-27. (Journal Article)
  • Wood, L. (2004) Descendant Mutations: The Consumption and Transformation of the Everyday in Graphic Design. Melbourne, Australia: RMIT Spring Graduate Research Conference, 15–17 Oct 2004. http://mams.rmit.edu.au/86wpsyud3r8l1.pdf. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Wood, L. (2004) The Hybrid Practitioner: Appropriation as an Evolutionary Catalyst in Graphic Design. Melbourne, Australia: RMIT Graduate Research Conference, 29-31 May 2004. http://mams.rmit.edu.au/bviislu7jpufz.pdf. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)