Tokitoki and James Caddell by Rowan Heap.
A game to help people learn sign language and a testing kit to encourage young men to get tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are among the student projects that won gold pins at the Best Awards in Auckland on Friday night.
Of the 49 Massey student projects from Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts that were finalists, seven projects won gold, nine were awarded silver pins and a further nine won bronze pins.
The Best Awards are an annual showcase by the Designers Institute of New Zealand which acknowledge the best in graphic, spatial, interactive and product design.
Master of Design graduate Rowan Heap’s publication won gold in the Graphic category. The work is centred on a case study of a Māori/Pākehā encounter that occurred around Foveaux Strait in 1810 and explores how “visual narrative can reframe early Māori/Pākehā encounters from a decolonising perspective.”
Visual communication design graduate Emma Davies’ Hands On project gamifies learning sign language and won gold in the Public Good category. The judges said it was “a great fun way to address a social issue of increasing NZ sign language among the general population.”
Padraig Simpson also won gold in the Public Good category for his innovative Take the Piss project, which enables young men to get tested for STIs without having to see a doctor. The testing system aims to address the issue that STI testing rates are much lower in males than females. The judge’s said it was a “creative solution to an often-awkward conversation” and uses “design to make men’s health easy to manage.”
3D Printed ceramics by Zöe Lovell-Smith
Industrial design graduate Zöe Lovell-Smith earned praise from the judges for her gold pin winning 3D printed ceramics collection. “The technical enterprise and creativity displayed by the application of the self-built 3D ceramic printer coupled with the design sensitivity and material representation displayed by the resulting vessels is highly impressive.”
Katie Valentine’s publication Sign of the Times won a gold pin in the Graphic category and addresses climate change. The judges said: “Bold, simple, raw, direct and appropriate for the subject matter. A well-constructed piece that is a definite call to action!”
Third-year industrial design students Thomas Mackisack, Charlie Budd, Ben Fernando’s Leg Up is a new design for surfboard vehicle racks. The judges were impressed by the “thorough research and conceptual thinking which generated this refined presentation and well resolved and ergonomically innovative design proposal. Surf’s up!”
And industrial design graduate Hannah Reid’s Arrived design is a beautiful floor lamp designed for the entranceway of the home. The judges said the simple elegance of this desirable piece captured their admiration and the thorough research and development behind its design sealed the gold award. “Arrived is a great example of design that identifies human rituals to facilitate in the creation of helpful habits. The understated aesthetic of Arrived ensures the piece can complement a range of spaces while fulfilling its functional needs.”
Massey staff members Rachael Rakena and Mike Bridgman from Whiti o Rehua School of Art were also recognised for their co-curated project Mana Moana, which won bronze in the Toitanga award.
“Like the proverbial saying, Mana Moana guides the way through the glistening of light and water – bringing to life the power and prestige of the ocean through presenting Māori and Pacifika stories in a visually compelling and impactful way on the Wellington waterfront. The judges were impressed with both the breadth of collaboration and compelling presentation, bringing our cultural landscape to life in our urban landscape,” said the judges.
Leg up by Thomas Mackisack, Charlie Budd and Ben Fernando.
The full list of Massey winners is below:
Gold Student Graphic Rowan Heap
Gold Student Graphic Katie Valentine
Gold Student Product Thomas Mackisack, Charlie Budd, Ben Fernando
Gold Student Product Zoë Lovell-Smith
Gold Student Product Hannah Reid
Gold Student Public Good Award Emma Davies
Gold Student Public Good Award Padraig Simpson
Silver Student Digital Holly Downer
Silver Student Moving Image Hannah Wedlock, Duncan Van Der Schyff, Jess Williams
Silver Student Product Zoë Lovell-Smith, Daniel Shorrock, Chris Warren, Oscar Jackson, Fergus Salmon, Liam Avery
Silver Student Product Samantha Hughes
Silver Student Product Georgia Millward
Silver Student Product Carmen He
Silver Student Public Good Award Laura Cooper
Silver Student Public Good Award Julia Hope
Silver Student Public Good Award Briar Patel
Bronze Toitanga Rachael Rakena, Mike Bridgman, Robert Appierdo, Allan Walker, Andrew Croot, Charles Anderson, Arpo Deer, Tim Konieczny, Kereama Taepa, Kura Puke, Stuart Foster, Kurt Komene, Louise Potiki Bryant, Karlo Mila, Michel Tuffery, Jess Feast, Rob Thorne, Cathy Livermore, Jasmine Togo-Brisby, Johnson Witehira, Warren Maxwell, Tina Ngata, Terri Crawford, Regan Balzer, Horomona Horo, Laughton Kora, Te Rina Warren
Bronze Student Graphic Hannah Colenbrander
Bronze Student Graphic George Boyd
Bronze Student Graphic Sam Fraser
Bronze Student Moving Image Kelly Moneymaker, Rebekah Curtis-Motley, Jessica George, Mason Rudd, Ben Dickens
Bronze Student Product Lisa Newman
Bronze Student Product Charlotte Klinge
Bronze Student Spatial Jack Dyer
Bronze Student Public Good Award Rosa Shand
Bronze Student Public Good Award Jacob Dollman-Low
Finalist Student Graphic Kimberley Zhou
Finalist Student Graphic George Boyd
Finalist Student Graphic Frankie Hayman
Finalist Student Graphic Eden Kleiman
Finalist Student Graphic Mary Vickers
Finalist Student Graphic Lauren Kjestrup
Finalist Student Graphic Sophie Douglas
Finalist Student Digital Luke Burrough, Vasley Thompson, Aran Campbell-Hawker, Josh Laubscher
Finalist Student Moving Image Solomon Drader
Finalist Student Moving Image Duncan Van der Schyff, Daniel Symons
Finalist Student Product Daniel Shorrock
Finalist Student Product Thomas Mackisack
Finalist Student Product Taylor Wickman
Finalist Student Product Kristal Roberts
Finalist Student Product Daniel Shorrock
Finalist Student Product Matthew Smith
Finalist Student Product Genevieve Jensen
Finalist Student Product Olivia Spinetto
Finalist Student Spatial Kate Stanley
Finalist Student Spatial Tom Calder
Finalist Student Public Good Award Matt Kendrew
Finalist Student Public Good Award Eden Kleiman
Finalist Student Public Good Award Emma Macdonald
Finalist Student Public Good Award Esther McDowall, Jacob Paterson