Jake Yocum

director and co-owner

Born in Sydney Australia, Raised in Appleby New Zealand, I have had an excellent introduction into my creative career. A large extended family of writers musicians and artists, who all encouraged creative potential and forged prosperous careers from their chosen fields.

An intense interest in various metals and sculpture through art school led to a brief apprenticeship in industrial blacksmithing, then onto a true passion of lost wax bronze sculpture casting in the United Kingdom. I started my apprenticeship in Oxfordshire England for the first year and another three years in Limehouse London. Specializing (and managing) in wax work and mould making. My next step was into the film industry, prop making, special effects and prosthetics. I have had amazing opportunities and adventures on various films and locations such as filming on ice floes off the coast of greenland, to bloody battlefields in mexico.

Eventually towards the end of 2004 I made the decision to test the reality of coming home to live in N.Z. I began work on King Kong in Miramar Wellington. Here I have had the good fortune to land in a prop shop, where I met my now fellow directors and business partners Chris, Tony and Simon. The birth of Izzat Design was realized on 4th of may 2005. An auspicious date as two years later my son was born on the same day!

Throughout my life I have continued my passion for making art. The combined experience of skills, knowledge and support of Izzat has allowed me to expand my boundaries and explore new methods and media..

Another amazing person in my life, is my beautiful loving partner Renée, mother of my child (with another on the way) and soul mate for he last 14 years (an artist in her own right, graphic designer, painter, printmaker) Every random career path I have wandered down, she has either been right behind me or up ahead showing me the way.

Looking forward to the next installment