Kindness & Curiosity with Shauna Sieger
Words & Photography
by Holly Graham
I arrived later than I'd have liked. Ten minutes behind schedule. A tardiness Shauna graciously didn't mention. When I stepped foot inside their home, I felt somehow more myself than I had the hour prior. I felt at home within theirs. That came as no surprise, though, because even during our very first interaction, some 8 years ago, I felt completely at ease. More so than I’d been with almost anyone I was meeting for the first time. Before I really knew it, I sensed there was something quite remarkable about them. I wasn’t wrong.
Shauna lives in a part of Melbourne’s inner north that is culturally vibrant, they speak of the strong affinity they have with the neighbourhood and the different types of people that make up its community. Community is a thread that runs through almost all aspects of Shauna’s world: voluntary work, projects at the local shed, studies in community services, hosting dinners at home with a bevy of close friends.
Playing in the background when I arrived was NTS radio, switched when we moved upstairs to Brian Eno. Two more shared appreciations we hadn’t yet connected the dots on. As we continued the home tour, the conversation shifted to the record player in their bedroom, and the Massive Attack vinyl sitting atop it from the gig the night before. Shauna, also a Cocteau Twins fan, was evidently still basking in the afterglow of Elizabeth Fraser’s surprise Teardrop cameo.
We got to talking about identity, and the different iterations of self. How both of us had changed over the years since we’d first worked together, and how differently our paths had unfolded. One of many straight-to-the-crux-of-it conversations we had that day, and every other time we’ve spent together. It’s like Shauna possesses something that draws the honesty out of you, not by coercion, but by simply being. Always present, always curious, always open. In this particular chapter of ‘deep talk’, I brought up my morning of working out who I was, and how, as a result, comfort had won out in the way I was dressed. Shauna was dressed in all stripes, their “having people over outfit,” before changing into an everyday “uniform” of all black with a bright red highlight, adding just the right touch of ‘let’s not take this too seriously.’ Perfectly apt for their personality.
I'm very much a person of comfort and uniform. I enjoy clothes, but I don't necessarily think about them all that much. A lot of the pieces in my wardrobe I've had for nearly 10 years, which may be odd to some, but also speaks to how I like to buy. Most of the time, I'd rather purchase something I know will have longevity than something I'll only wear for a season. And when I find an outfit I like, boy, that becomes my personality for weeks. Day in, day out. I love a uniform.
That's true of what I've been wearing today, too. My black zip-up knit, for example, I bought in 2016 and I'm still wearing it. I think there's something nice about that; clothes becoming familiar, lived-in and attached to different versions of yourself. I do have a slightly different version of myself when I have people over too, a bit more playful than my usual, perhaps, like these stripes.
Our conversations often end up drifting into identity in some way or another. Is there something about how you present yourself, in manner or matter, that's shifted in recent years?
I'd say leaning into my authentic self, embracing the inner dork and being vulnerable. I'm enjoying getting older.
Is there something outside the world of graphic design that's influenced how you think about your work?
Nature and architecture. I'm fascinated by how the world around us is formed, and how it connects to everything we consciously and passively engage with. Nature is probably the front runner. Feeling like a small speck amongst a beauty that has existed for so much longer than I have gives me a sense of perspective, while also allowing me to explore the possibilities within myself and the world of design.
On principle or just instinct, is there anything in our industry right now you find yourself quietly not subscribing to?
Not design specifically, but I don't pay much attention to social media trends or feeding the algorithm. I just use it as a folio of sorts, and a place for occasional documentation of life happenings. Honestly, I don't subscribe to design trends much at all. I'm happy in my own world.
I'm a very curious person, and I think learning is one of the ways we expand our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. I also think it's a privilege to be able to access education, so being able to return to study and explore a completely new field feels really meaningful to me.
The desire to study came first, but Community Services felt like a natural direction. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more conscious of my values and where I want to place my energy. At times, I’ve felt a tension between design and consumerism — perhaps controversially — and while there’s absolutely a place for that, I’ve found myself increasingly drawn towards work that feels more directly connected to people and community.
I think we’re living in a time where people need support more than ever, and I’d like to explore how I can contribute to that. For me, going back to study is less about leaving design behind and more about expanding the way I can engage with the world
You said the Massive Attack gig left you forever changed. Is there another piece of art in any form, a gig, a film, a book, that’s done the same, shifted something permanently in how you move through the world?
Seeing Patti Smith in Edinburgh when I was 20 was pretty transformative. There was something about experiencing her live at that age that really stayed with me.
The film, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I think it speaks for itself. It’s a story that really pulls at the heartstrings, particularly the idea of loving people who have shaped you, even when those relationships end or become complicated. To erase the people I’ve loved, and still love, would also be to erase a part of myself. I think there’s something quite beautiful and painful in that.
I recently read the book A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck and thoroughly enjoyed its warped take on the afterlife. A strange mixture of theology, absurdity and the existential horror of a seemingly never-ending library. It’s bleak.
To accompany this first edition of Resident, you’ve curated a playlist for us. What's the thread running through this particular selection, and is there a way you'd want us to listen to it?
My music taste is a conglomeration of nostalgia, beat-boppy rhythms and a little bit of debauchery. The playlist is a mix of some of my favourite artists and songs that have stayed with me in different ways, whether through a particular time, place or feeling. I’d recommend listening to it in order, with a 5–10 second crossfade to get the best listening experience.
Resident is a periodical we’ve penned “Observations from the worlds we inhabit.” If you had to describe the world you’re building for yourself, not the home, the actual world, how would you describe it
A world of kindness and curiosity, that’s all.
Listen to Shauna’s playlist here or to add to your own library for future listening.
Shauna is a communication designer, and a recent addition to the Apartment 12 roster. Their practice spans identity, print and packaging systems, through an aesthetic quality that harmonises play and restraint. We share the belief that good work starts with genuine curiosity about the people behind each brand, and the worlds it's designed to serve. Alongside thoughtful conversation and great taste in music, Shauna brings a dedicated intelligence to the work itself.
