A Lot on My Plate with Annie Portelli.
As part of my monthly newsletter, I will be sharing short interviews with friends and creatives who have a lot on their plate. Everyone has been through a lot in recent times, and I wanted to check in and see how they're going, if these trying times have changed them or their relationship with their work, what good things they're enjoying and doing and most importantly, what they're eating.
Interview #10 is with my gorgeous friend Annie Portelli. Annie is one of those people who is an incredible all-round creative. Whilst being a trained (and practising) Graphic Designer, Annie is also the Art Director at The Design Files! I have known Annie for some time now, we first met when I was working at Monk House Design and Annie came in to take over the website and graphic design bits and bobs while Elise was away. I remember that Annie had recently been to japan and had been making a little "Japan Guide Book" which was, as you'd expect, perfectly put together.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into Graphic Design?
Hi Clem! Wow okay so I just did the math and I have shockingly calculated that this will be my 11th year in the graphic design biz!? I can hardly even believe that myself. It seems like such a long time but I guess, just like most roles these days, our jobs evolve, twist and turn before our eyes, whilst the actual degree you graduated in remains the same.
When I was in high school, I didn’t really know what I wanted to ‘be’. I come from a family of Chiropractors and Engineers (and lots of boys) so Graphic Design wasn’t a career path that came up in conversation….ever. So naturally, purely based on fear and familiarity, I chose subjects that did not suit my skill set whatsoever with the plan to ‘become’ something in the field of health - thinking this was the best option. Luckily, when I hit VCE and the time came to make some of those ‘serious’ subject selections which would allegedly shape my entire life, I had some really supportive teachers (Ms Mitchell, Ms Avery, bless you!) who encouraged me to keep at least 2 of the creative subjects on my timetable since it was clear that I was pretty good at them! So I did! And just as well, because I basically flunked all other subjects and received glowing marks for the creative ones, which inevitably lifted me into the entry grade to attend my university of choice to study a Bachelor of Communication Design at Swinburne University. Put simply - I seemed to be pretty good at ‘graphic designing’ at the time, and I enjoyed doing it which was a bonus, so I just figured that those were both good enough reasons to explore a future in that realm.
How have last years events impacted your outlook/practice/focus?
Oh yes, the year that was (and kind of still is?). Like everyone, my outlook/practice and focus fluctuated like something major! Some days I was filled with optimism and productivity and other days you could hardly get a word out of me - flat as a pancake. However, out of boredom, and an abundance of free time and the sudden urge to save money in case things got REALLY bad...I took on a lot more freelance projects on the side with my partner Simon (who is also a graphic designer). I work full time at The Design Files as the Art Director. My job at TDF remained secure - which was amazing, and our team still maintained a VERY busy 9-5 schedule working from home. However, I felt the need to keep my mind distracted in the evenings, and also earn a little extra cashola on the side. So between Simon and I, we’d share the load of work and collaborate together on branding projects. It was quite fun! Some projects are still ticking along today but it really saved us from the tight grip of the lockdown blues, and also drew us away from the tight grip the reality TV show ‘Below Deck’ was gaining on us. Lol - who am I kidding, we fully fell into the deepest depths of that magnificent show and we’re still very much sucked in.
The old adage goes, some eat to live, others live to eat. Where would you place yourself?
I come from Maltese heritage, so as a kid I was taught ‘If you don’t eat, you get sick’. But at the same time, there was ALWAYS a delicious abundance of food around me at all times, so I didn’t need much encouragement to ‘eat, eat, eat’. Still to this day - if you ‘pop in’ to my parents house on any given day, there will always be freshly baked goods on the counter, a fridge filled with leftovers or food in the making, jarred preserves stacked high up in the pantry and hidden away behind the couch and all the dark corners of the house. Literally, everywhere you look - there’s something to eat. I guess their house is suitable for both those who ‘eat to live’ or ‘live to eat’ now that I think about it. If the world comes crashing down - I’m heading straight over to mum and dad’s for survival.
How do your cooking habits change when you are busy/stressed/tired?
I always try and cook. Even if there’s heaps of shit to do. Especially dinner. I’m all about a yummy dinner, even if I’m not hungry. It’s my reward for getting to the end of the day. I am finding these days that I don’t have that much motivation to cook new things. I’m sticking to my staples that I know off the top of my head, and can make with my eyes closed in record time. A little boring I know but I’m fine with that. More time to watch Below Deck.
What are your favourite ways to enjoy food with people in Melbourne?
I think pre 2020 I would have answered this question by saying ‘I love going to a friend's house for a cute little dinner party’ and don’t get me wrong - I still love doing this when we’re allowed to BUT at the same time, these days, I’m kind of sick of being inside houses! I’m craving the public spaces, with unfamiliar faces and loud noises, accidental bump ins and yummy cocktails which a home bar just can’t manage. Also, we’re so lucky to live in Melbourne. There's a ridiculous number of incredible restaurants to try, and I’m so eager to continue eating my way through them with friends by my side! I went to Sunda the other day and it totally blew my socks off.
Could you share with us some of the music that’s been getting you through the past few months?
This is the only mix you need right now by Sally Tabart and Jeremy Barr : SO MUCH SO MUCH!
I’m truly blessed to be able to work alongside Sally Tabart each day, and be her real life pal every other. She delivers all the joy, and positive vibes I need in my heart, and now my ears.