Media Design School
36°50′33″S 174°45′25″E / 36.84249°S 174.75688°E
Media Design School campus in Wynyard Quarter, Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Motto | Turn your passion into a career |
|---|---|
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1998 |
| Location | |
| Campus | Urban |
| Affiliations | Torrens University Australia |
| Website | mediadesignschool |
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Media Design School is a private tertiary institution that provides specialist industry training in 3D animation and visual effects,[1] game art,[2] game programming,[3] graphic and motion design,[4] digital media artificial intelligence,[5] and creative advertising.[6] It is currently the most awarded private tertiary provider in New Zealand for digital and creative technology qualifications.[7] In 2022, the school was also ranked as New Zealand's #1 and world's #10 Animation School by Animation Career Review,[8] and among the top three creative media and entertainment schools in the Southern Hemisphere by The Rookies.[9]
The school is located in central Auckland, New Zealand and was established in 1998. Its qualifications are approved by New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). It offers courses from Level 6 and 7 diplomas through to Level 8 and 9 postgraduate certificates and a Masters programme.[10]
Game development
Media Design School is the only tertiary institute in New Zealand where students can develop for PlayStation platforms with console development kits, due to an exclusive partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.[11] Graduates have gone on to work at a variety of game development studios,[12] such as PikPok, Bohemia Interactive, Rainbite, Grinding Gear Games, Gameloft, EA Digital Illusions CE, RocketWerkz and CerebralFix. Ninja Kiwi, who developed the popular Bloons Tower Defense game, was also founded by a graduate of the game development course.
The joint game development department also runs an annual national initiative called Girls in Games, focused on providing experience in programming and game art for high-school aged female students based in the North Island.[13]
In 2015, Media Design School Studios was established as the first games focused accelerator programme in a New Zealand tertiary institution.[14] This programme has resulted in commercial releases such as Split (Itsfine Games),[15] Dolly (MA Studios)[16] and Tons of Guns (Voidworks)[17] on Valve's Steam platform.
Animation and visual effects
Media Design School was ranked one of the worlds top 10 animation schools by Animation Career Review in 2022.[18]
Student short films and productions have received major international accolades, with titles such as Accidents, Blunders and Calamities being awarded Best Animated Film at San Diego Comic-Con's independent film festival in 2016.[19]
Graduates from the program have been employed by Weta Digital to work on blockbuster projects such as Avatar and The Lord of the Rings,[20] and other animation studios such as Pūkeko Pictures and Oktober.
Notable productions include:
- Accidents, Blunders and Calamities (2015)[21] – San Diego Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival Best Animated Film 2016, Show Me Shorts People's Choice & Best Editor 2015[22]
- Escargore (2015)[23] – SIGGRAPH Asia Official Selection 2015, Idaho Horror Film Festival Best Animated Film 2015, Columbus International Film & Video Festival Official Selection 2015, Animago Awards Best Character 2015[24]
- Shelved (2012)[25]
- Funeral Home Pinatas (2012)[26]
- Dr Grordbort Presents: The Deadliest Game (2011)
- Rotting Hill (2011)[27] starring Anna Hutchison
- Das Tub (2011)[28]
- First Contact (2010)[29]
- Time for Change (2010)[30]
Other departments
Creative Advertising
The AdSchool at Media Design School was named fourth best creative school of the decade by YoungGuns Awards, which recognises the world's hottest creative talent under the age of thirty.[31]
Kate Humphries, program director, was the recipient of the inaugural Comms Council Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2024 AXIS Awards for her impact on creative careers and outcomes in Aotearoa.[32]
Campus
Media Design School's Wynyard Quarter campus was officially opened in 2021. Some key building features include recycled rainwater for the living wall, solar panels, and carparks with electric vehicle charging points.[33]
In 2022, the campus was awarded a 6 Green Star NZ - Education Built v3 certified rating. The project was awarded a total of 76 points from NZGBC.[34]
References
- ^ "3D Animation & VFX | Media Design School New Zealand | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Bachelor of Creative Technologies (Game Art) | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Bachelor of Software Engineering (Game Development) | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Bachelor of Media Design | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Bachelor of Software Engineering - Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Media Design School".
- ^ "Creative Advertising | Media Design School New Zealand | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- ^ "MDS ranked world's 4th best VFX/Animation school". screenz.co.nz. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Top 25 International Animation Schools and Colleges - 2022 College Rankings". Animation Career Review. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "10th Annual Rookies World School Rankings® 2020 Announced Today". 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Current Courses | Media Design School New Zealand | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ [1] Archived April 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Alumni | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Girls in Games 2016 | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Media Design School Studios | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Split on Steam". store.steampowered.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Dolly on Steam Greenlight". steamcommunity.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Tons of Guns on Steam Greenlight". steamcommunity.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Top 25 International Animation Schools and Colleges - 2022 College Rankings". Animation Career Review. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "iwi film Accidents, Blunders and Calamities wins award at Comi-Con". stuff.co.nz. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Bachelor of Art and Design | Media Design School New Zealand". mediadesignschool.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Accidents, Blunders and Calamities | Vimeo". vimeo.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Previous Winners | ShowMeShorts". showmeshorts.co.nz. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Escargore | Vimeo". vimeo.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Escargore: A snail horror comedy". scoop.co.nz. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Shelved on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- ^ "Funeral Home Piñatas on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 15 July 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- ^ "Rotting Hill on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 12 June 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- ^ "Das Tub on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- ^ "First Contact on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 28 November 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- ^ "Time For Change on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- ^ "Media Design School named in the Top 5 Creative Schools in the World | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. 10 September 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ^ "MDS legend Kate Humphries first ever winner of Comms Council Outstanding Achievement Award". Campaign Brief NZ. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Media Design School - Our campus at 10 Madden Street in Wynyard Quarter has achieved a 6 Green Star rating 💚 The campus was completed in 2020 designed to spark creativity, and support modern, agile ways of working. Some key building features include recycled rainwater for the living wall, solar panels, and carparks with electric vehicle charging points. We're proud you can enjoy our campus guilt free! | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ "Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited on LinkedIn: We are pleased to announce that 10 Madden Street has achieved a 6 Green…". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
