Media Design School

36°50′33″S 174°45′25″E / 36.84249°S 174.75688°E / -36.84249; 174.75688

Media Design School
Media Design School campus in Wynyard Quarter, Auckland, New Zealand
MottoTurn your passion into a career
TypePrivate
Established1998
Location
Auckland, New Zealand
CampusUrban
AffiliationsTorrens University Australia
Websitemediadesignschool.com

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]

Student games

Graduate Diploma of Game Development

  • Discord[35]
  • Sklum Lord[35]
  • Dead Steel[35] – IGF China 2010, Excellent Student Award,[36] IGF 2011 Student Competition Entrant,[37]
  • No More Gentlemen [38] – IGF 2011 Student Competition Entrant [39]
  • Guardians of Eldvery [38] – IGF 2011 Student Competition Entrant [40]
  • Nightfall[41][42]
  • Roadblock[43]
  • Affliction – IGF Student Showcase, 2008 [44]
  • Shear Factor – Crowbar Awards 2007, Bronze Medal Winner [45]
  • Goliath[46] – Crowbar Awards 2006 Silver Medal Winner, IGF Student Showcase Winner 2006 [47]

Diploma of Interactive Gaming

  • Cygni
  • Total Cube Domination
  • Interstellar Excavation
  • The Uprising[48]
  • Harvest[49]
  • Battleballs[49]
  • Loop Troops[50] – Bronze Medal Winner, Crowbar Awards, 2009[51]
  • Oddballs – Silver Medal Winner, Crowbar Awards, 2008 [52]
  • Happy Traps – IGF Student Showcase, 2008.[53][54]
  • Rash

Bachelor of Software Engineering (Game Programming)

  • Sky Noon [55]
  • Sprint Robot Championship[56]
  • Frame of Mind[57]
  • Zeitgeist[58]
  • Longhaus[59]
  • Forknights[60]

Alumni games

  • Reverie, by Rainbite Studios
  • Trigger Witch, by Rainbite Studios
  • Valleys Between, by Little Lost Fox
  • Bug Fables, written and directed by Jose Fernando Gracia

References

  1. ^ "3D Animation & VFX | Media Design School New Zealand | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Bachelor of Creative Technologies (Game Art) | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Bachelor of Software Engineering (Game Development) | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  4. ^ "Bachelor of Media Design | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Bachelor of Software Engineering - Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Media Design School".
  6. ^ "Creative Advertising | Media Design School New Zealand | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  7. ^ "MDS ranked world's 4th best VFX/Animation school". screenz.co.nz. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Top 25 International Animation Schools and Colleges - 2022 College Rankings". Animation Career Review. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  9. ^ "10th Annual Rookies World School Rankings® 2020 Announced Today". 7 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Current Courses | Media Design School New Zealand | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  11. ^ [1] Archived April 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Alumni | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  13. ^ "Girls in Games 2016 | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  14. ^ "Media Design School Studios | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  15. ^ "Split on Steam". store.steampowered.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  16. ^ "Dolly on Steam Greenlight". steamcommunity.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  17. ^ "Tons of Guns on Steam Greenlight". steamcommunity.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  18. ^ "Top 25 International Animation Schools and Colleges - 2022 College Rankings". Animation Career Review. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  19. ^ "iwi film Accidents, Blunders and Calamities wins award at Comi-Con". stuff.co.nz. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  20. ^ "Bachelor of Art and Design | Media Design School New Zealand". mediadesignschool.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  21. ^ "Accidents, Blunders and Calamities | Vimeo". vimeo.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  22. ^ "Previous Winners | ShowMeShorts". showmeshorts.co.nz. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  23. ^ "Escargore | Vimeo". vimeo.com. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  24. ^ "Escargore: A snail horror comedy". scoop.co.nz. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  25. ^ "Shelved on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  26. ^ "Funeral Home Piñatas on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 15 July 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  27. ^ "Rotting Hill on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 12 June 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  28. ^ "Das Tub on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  29. ^ "First Contact on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 28 November 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  30. ^ "Time For Change on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  31. ^ "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.
  32. ^ "MDS legend Kate Humphries first ever winner of Comms Council Outstanding Achievement Award". Campaign Brief NZ. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  33. ^ "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.
  34. ^ "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.
  35. ^ a b c "Play Our Games | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  36. ^ "Game Developers Conference China | November 12–14, 2011 | Shanghai Exhibition Center | Shanghai, China". Gdcchina.com. 12 November 2011. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  37. ^ "The 14th Annual Independent Games Festival – Dead_Steel". Igf.com. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  38. ^ a b "Play Our Games | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  39. ^ "The 14th Annual Independent Games Festival – No_More_Gentlemen". Igf.com. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  40. ^ "The 14th Annual Independent Games Festival – Guardians_of_Eldvery". Igf.com. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  41. ^ "Nightfall – Production Blog". Gdfeb08.blogspot.com. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  42. ^ Resumes by Name (3 July 2009). "Media Design students launch Nightfall game | The Big Idea | Te Aria Nui". The Big Idea. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  43. ^ [2] Archived June 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  44. ^ "The 14th Annual Independent Games Festival". Igf.com. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  45. ^ "The Crowbar Awards 2006 : Advertising" (PDF). 4as.org.sg. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  46. ^ "Goliath – What The Apocalypse Didn't Kill, Goliath Will". Goliathgame.com. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  47. ^ "The 16th Annual Independent Games Festival". Igf.com. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  48. ^ "Game programming students to present The Uprising | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  49. ^ a b "Game coders are blogging | Media Design School New Zealand". Mediadesignschool.com. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  50. ^ "IGAPR08". Igapr08.blogspot.com. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  51. ^ "The Crowbar Awards 2009 : Best of Show" (PDF). 4as.org.sg. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  52. ^ "Oddballs". GameCareerGuide.com. 23 April 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  53. ^ "The 14th Annual Independent Games Festival". Igf.com. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  54. ^ "Student Postmortem: Happy Traps". GameCareerGuide.com. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  55. ^ "Sky Noon on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  56. ^ "SRC: Sprint Robot Championship on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  57. ^ "Frame of Mind by [SAMPLE TEXT] Studios ltd., Stuart Whittaker, Ben Aitkenhead, Selrate, ChromaSmith, Smaugler". itch.io. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  58. ^ "Save 80% on Zeitgeist on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  59. ^ "Longhaus by Gendly Games, pixelgrapher, Ben-Delamore, SurfaceToAirMissile, Matthew_Moore, huskydreaming". itch.io. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  60. ^ "Fork Knights on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 25 November 2022.

External links

  • Media Design School
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