"I was definitely a bit of an outlier. I took odd jobs and sold cookies when I was 15 and bought my first house at 21."
Meet Jen Jones — founder of Auckland Design Week
By 21, she’d already bought her first home.
Not with generational wealth.
But with grit. Christmas cookies. And vision.
• First job at 13
• Checkout by 14
• Sold cookies every summer at uni
• Saved every dollar
• Bought a house in Grey Lynn with her own deposit
Why?
Because she was tired of waiting for permission.
That same drive now powers a platform that’s helping New Zealand’s design community punch above its weight.
And it’s exactly why we created the Misunderstood. It's Critical.'s new podcast for creatives and innovators who never quite fit the mould.
It's for the ones who:
• work the job and the side hustle
• draw floor plans as kids
• stay home to save
• care about design that lasts and ideas that matter
If you’ve ever felt like the industry doesn’t quite get you — tēnā koē and welcome home!
🎧 Full episode streaming now on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3fPezGQv79NcMMkIR2oGWh?si=-t-nX4r5SxSVJ63B25e1oQ.
🎥 Video version up too. YouTube: https://youtu.be/FqblgcSzN5s
If this story moved you, share it or tag someone who’s building something quietly powerful.
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