Graduate Sian Hosking-Berge, students Liam Brankin and Lucy Polson, senior tutor Klaus Kremer, student William Lockwood-Geck and Head of Wellington School of Design Brian Lucid.
Awards for a kitset ride-on for children and a unique recovery centre for native wildlife have helped Massey University’s Wellington School of Design Ngā Pae Māhutonga to be named the number one University in the Asia-Pacific region by global design award agency Red Dot.
This ranking returns Wellington School of Design to the top of the Design Concepts category, after being in the top three for the past five years. It is the only School of Design in Australasia to be ranked in the top 15 and was previously ranked number one in 2017.
An internationally-recognised quality label for design excellence, Red Dot selects expert juries in the areas of product design, communication design and design concepts to choose award recipients. The rankings recognise the top 15 companies, design studios and universities across Asia-Pacific including in Australia, China, Japan and Singapore.
The annual international celebration of design saw eight entries from the Wellington School of Design acknowledged in various categories at the awards ceremony at the Red Dot Design Museum in Singapore last night.
Massey University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas congratulated the winners and the College of Creative Arts. “This is a testament to the hard work and creative brilliance of our staff and the innovation and excellence of our students and graduates. The college is so important to our presence and role in Wellington but also gains us enormous status and recognition nationally and internationally. Well done to everyone and thank you.”
Sian Hosking-Berge's BOU Bike.
College of Creative Arts Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Claire Robinson says the ranking is verification of Massey University’s long history of excellence in design. “This is a massive achievement for Massey University and the individual designers and staff who have showcased their creativity, innovation and designs internationally.
“Design is a major contributor to the economic value of New Zealand’s creative industries, and a major differentiator for New Zealand. This ranking also confirms Wellington as being the centre of design excellence in the country,” Professor Robinson says.
Some of Massey’s Red Dot award winners were at the ceremony in Singapore to collect their awards, including graduate and assistant technician Sian Hosking-Berge, who won a Best of the Best Award for her BOU Bike, a customisable kitset ride-on tricycle for children.
The design of the Central Energy Wildbase Recovery Centre in Palmerston North, by Open Lab and senior lecturers Stuart Foster and Tanya Marriott, was also a Red Dot winner.
The centre is a world-class rehabilitation facility for New Zealand's endangered birds in Palmerton North. The design of the space is heavily influenced by the natural world, such as concrete paths etched with bird’s footprints, leaves and twigs, boulders used as barriers and natural forest colours, right down to the forest green door hinges, all of which create a highly satisfying visitor experience.
Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery Centre.
Massey University Red Dot 2019 winners:
Red Dot Best of the Best Award:
Bou Bike – Sian Hosking Berge, assistant technician, School of Design, and Bachelor of Design with Honours graduate.
Red Dot Awards:
Floodscape – Klaus Kremer, senior tutor, School of Design.
Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery – Tanya Marriott and Stuart Foster, with Open Lab team Michael Kelly, Connah Hazelwood, Adrienne Potts, Jennah Rasmussen, Bo Moore, Chaz McManus, Alex Love, Laya Mutton-Rogers, Kezia Tubbs, Taylor Wickman, Denzelle Marcovicci and Harry Brown
Out of Bounds – Lucy Polson, Bachelor of Design with Honours graduate.
Compact – Michael Hindmarsh, Postgraduate Diploma in Design (industrial design) graduate.
Harvest Manager – William Lockwood-Geck, Bachelor of Design with Honours graduate.
Swarmstorm – Liam Brankin, Bachelor of Design with Honours graduate
Honourable Mention
The Kea Project – Kelsey Gee, Bachelor of Design with Honours graduate