Student profiles

View student profiles from the School of Design Innovation and find out why they enjoy studying here.

Lawrence Reid

For Lawrence Reid, Bachelor of Industrial Design alumnus, the tertiary journey was one of challenge and growth—a journey he hopes to continue in his career.
Diane Morris

Life-long learner Diane Morris took her illustrations to the next level with a Master of Design (MDes).
Haowei Yu

Graduate Diploma in Design Innovation graduate Haowei Yu applied her undergraduate degree to design digital experiences that help stroke rehabilitation.
Eilish Marra

In Eilish Marra’s left shoe, she’s testing a bespoke insole made of special material that senses the pressure exerted by her foot as she walks.
Charlotte Teneza

Charlotte’s award-winning design is titled ‘Ulan’, which translates to ‘rain’ in Tagalog — her native language spoken in the Philippines.
Elijah Kingi

Elijah Kingi expressed their culture and personal narrative through a Master of Design Innovation.
Lara Speer

Lara Speer designs with purpose through a Bachelor of Design Innovation.
Kelly Fernandes

Originally from Mumbai, India, Kelly Fernandes is studying a Bachelor of Design Innovation at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Jwen Yap

Jwen Yap, originally from Malaysia, moved from Queenstown to Wellington to study Master of User Experience Design.
Laura Garcia

Award-winning designer-developer Laura Garcia has an artistic spirit. She was determined to ‘make it’ as a creative.
Aisha Iskanderani

Aisha Iskanderani’s experience as a mum was the motivation behind her PhD at the School of Design Innovation.
Shaz Bell

First year Design Innovation student Shaz was a recipient of the Future Designers scholarship.
Joyce Kim

For Joyce, the Master of User Experience Design was the perfect way to get into the design industry, after a career in teaching with no formal design experience
Camden Wright

Camden's passion for storytelling led him to the Master of Design Technology. Now, he uses his skills in VFX for his work at Weta Digital.
Christy Wells

While studying for her Master’s in Design Innovation, Christy was part of an international, multidisciplinary team designing an upright, head-only MRI system.
Regan Petrie

A love of technology, games, and being creative led Master of Design Innovation graduate Regan Petrie to study Design and helped him land his dream role at Lego
Carym Wharerau

Carym Wharerau hopes to use his degree in Communication Design to influence the design sector through a Māori/indigenous lens.
Alicia Esquivel

Alicia says studying in the Master of User Experience Design offered her the opportunity to learn the ropes and get into the industry quickly.
Daniel Gardner

In his Master’s project, Daniel explored how to illuminate the problem of plastic wrappers and waste through photography.
Ananya Khare

Ananya Khare’s Master of Design research is exploring the use of textiles and craft in creating circular economies.
Katie O'Brien

After completing her undergraduate studies, Katie O’Brien knew she wanted to narrow the focus on something she was really passionate about in a Master’s degree.
Steven Almond

MDes student, Steven Almond saw postgraduate study as a chance to expand his skill set and consider what the circular economy could mean for industrial design.
Will Barber

Media Design alum, Will Barber uses skills he gained studying at the University's School of Design Innovation to create award-winning websites.
Ana Morris

"I wanted to make objects with meaning and purpose."
Dipanwity Biwas

Dipanwita Biswas, a postgraduate student from India, explored her identify through two cultural tropes.
Jonathon Bishop

Jonathon's Master of Design Innovation thesis explored the way augmented reality can enrich our understanding of the world.
Molly Leishman

Molly has been inspired by the way her studies have brought her love of people and communities together with her creativity.
Rebecca Jervis

Meet Rebecca, a student with a passion for digital design, including animation, app and game design.
James Irvine

For James, switching to design studies has led to exciting research opportunities and a career in interior architecture.
Ryan Achten

The Master of Design Innovation course introduced Ryan to new design fields, including creative coding and 3D media.
Ellen Crane

Meet Ellen, a student with a passion for industrial design, and find out how that earned her a foot in the door at Weta Workshop.
Sean Harris

Sean enjoyed how his Bachelor’s course allowed him to put his study into practice.
Flavia Rose

Joining the School of Design Innovation as a BA graduate has led to some exciting opportunities for Flavia-Rose—including the chance to work at Weta Workshop.
Nicole Hone

Find out how the Bachelor of Industrial Design course has helped Nicole grow as a designer.
Jess Noone

For Jess, Wellington was the perfect place to explore her creative side and get amongst the city’s inspiring design scene.
Tamati Kawha

Meet Tamati, a Master’s student who is honing his video production skills at Victoria University of Wellington.
Qinxin Yang

Originally from Guangdong and pursuing her Master of Design of Technology (MDT), Qinxin is the director, co-writer, and animation director of Cat Hair Allergy.
Caitlin Tuagalu

Caitlin had been a surveyor for four years in Australia and was eager to make a career change before enrolling in the Bachelor of Design Innovation.
Sudha Kandarpa

Sudha initially enrolled in a science degree at another university but the search for creativity led her to Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Shannon Xiao

Ningfei (Shannon) Xiao, PhD candidate, is passionate about using architecture and contemporary art to weave shamanic traditions from China and New Zealand.