April Gourdie

Designer @Allbirds

MarketingInterior DesignerGraphic Designer🐦 DesignFashion DesignerContent ManagerSMM Manager

I am a designer, a maker, a bit of a daydreamer. I'm a believer in only adding things to this world that need to be here, to create and consume with good intention for this earth we live on. I graduated with a Bachelor of Design, majoring in Textiles, splitting my degree between Massey University in Wellington and Auckland University of Technology. My greatest love is for digital knitting and you might also find me covered in Pantone chips because the world needs to wear more colour. I am living an unfolding existence in this world of design, realizing that I contribute daily to an industry that encourages over consumption and mindless creation of waste. And so my voice, my role as a designer, is to start educating consumers on how we can better protect the future of our planet and its people through the products we consume. I showed my 5 piece knitwear collection at New Zealand Fashion week in 2018, and received the NZ Best Emerging Designer Award at iD Dunedin Fashion week that year. I designed and developed this collection while growing expertise in Shima Seiki digital flatbed knitting software. This experience was furthered through a summer stint at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, working on the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Ideation team, designing and developing digital knit and textile applications for masks. I then became an early member of the Allbirds design team based in San Francisco. I dove into the world of textile design with natural fibers and sustainable materials for both performance and lifestyle footwear and apparel. Along my journey with Allbirds I have explored digital flatbed knitting for footwear and apparel, graphic design applications for knit, print and outsoles, sock and accessories design, apparel design and more recently colour design and creating energy product for partnerships with other brands. I am on an exciting journey learning how to consume less and consume better, and help those around me do the same.

Feedback from April’s ex-colleagues