Massey creativity shines at Best Design Awards

The annual awards by the Designers Institute of New Zealand showcase excellence in graphic, spatial and industrial design, and digital, animation and film. More than half of the 50 student finalists from Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University who entered were successful, coming away with nine gold, eight silver and 10 bronze awards.

The award-winning students represent six of the major design courses of study at Toi Rauwharangi College of Creative Arts on Massey’s Pukeahu Wellington campus.

Head of the School of Design, Sven Mehzoud, says this year’s success reflects students’ understanding of the critical role that creative thinking has in the world around us.

"It reflects the passion and dedication of Massey staff to helping students tackle real-world problems.

“Design at Massey is firmly focused on preparing students to become future leaders driving societal transformation towards a sustainable future.”

Best Design Awards – Massey’s Gold winners

Sound of the Underground – Zoe Bell

‘Sound of the Underground uses soil eco-acoustics to reframe soil as a living, communicating system and invites audiences into a sensory relationship with underground biodiversity. Zoe’s work uses probes and contact microphones to capture soil sounds, which are then transformed into immersive soundscapes and generative visuals. These are enhanced by taonga pūoro (traditional Māori instruments), surround sound and 260° projection to create a fully immersive experience.

Poppie – Sophie West and Zené Krige
Poppie is an innovative sanitary management solution designed for public bathrooms, combining a sanitary waste bin and toilet roll dispenser into a single compact unit. Developed by industrial design student Sophie West and PhD researcher Zené Krige, the product has a motion-activated bin flap to avoid contact, a deodoriser spray to reduce odour and sticking, and a notched ring for secure sealing of the waste bag. It has additional thoughtful elements like a bag hook, non-slip dish for personal items and a rear-hinged service.

PulseOx – Grayson Scadden

PulseOx is a veterinary pulse oximeter designed to securely monitor blood oxygen levels in anaesthetised animals, addressing common failures in existing devices. Through extensive prototyping and collaboration with veterinary experts, PulseOx improves grip and reduces detachment, enhancing surgical safety and efficiency. The design features engineered sensor housings that improve grip and reduce detachment during procedures.

The Undone – Eden Laing

A 2D animated short film by concept design student Eden Laing, The Undone reimagines the hidden queer relationship between Eliza Raine and Anne Lister in Regency-era England, using metaphor and fantasy to explore identity and connection. The animation employs experimental techniques, particularly scribbly, frenetic line work and expressive colour to symbolise the internal emotional states of its characters.

The Queen and The Bee – Holly Gascoigne

Visual communication design student Holly Gascoigne has created a bilingual book, The Queen and The Bee, that reintroduces warmth, texture and imperfection into visual storytelling, challenging the cold uniformity of digital design. The project combines hand-painted black-and-white photography, stitched graphic shapes and tracing paper overlays to create a tactile, layered reading experience. These handcrafted elements contrast with digital precision, using bold typefaces, material interventions and bilingual storytelling to slow the viewer down and invite deeper engagement.

What Is It, If It Is Not This? – Thomas Cumming

Research-led visual communication design project What Is It, If It Is Not This? explores the evolving and often ambiguous landscape of the ‘artist’s book’ through an auto-ethnographic lens. Thomas created a series of book works that challenge and expand the boundaries of what constitutes an ‘artist’s book’.

Mollusc Muse – Georgia Ryder

This woven textile collection transforms the intricate structures and colours of seashells into fabric through techniques like collapse weave, curved twill and natural dyeing. Inspired by her personal shell collection, Georgia’s Mollusc Muse project explores the ecological beauty of marine life and invites viewers to reconnect with the ocean’s stories.

Kākā Pod – Nero Asher

The Kākā Pod is a compact, ergonomic egg incubator designed for hands-free carry. What appears to be a simple egg incubator in a cylinder employs a suspension-based system in which a kākāpō egg is held between two flexible elastic material pads. These pads absorb and dampen impact forces, significantly reducing the risk of physical trauma to an egg – even when attached to a backpack. The Kākā Pod is chargeable via USB port to enable up to three and a half hours of environmental control while an egg is being transported. It can also be used for eggs from other native bird species.