Media Design School

Coordinates: 36°50′53″S 174°45′50″E / 36.8481°S 174.7639°E / -36.8481; 174.7639 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 and creative advertising.^[5] It is currently the most awarded private tertiary provider in New Zealand for digital and creative technology qualifications.^[6] In 2015, the school was also ranked the fourth best provider globally for visual effects and animation training by the Autodesk CG Student Awards.^[7] It is located in central Auckland, New Zealand and was established in 1998. The school is part of Laureate International Universities, the world’s largest private university group with over 70 universities in 29 countries and online, including dedicated design schools in San Diego, California, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; and Milan, Italy.

Media Design School's 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.^[8]

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.^[9] Graduates have gone on to work at a variety of game development studios,^[10] such as PikPok, Bohemia Interactive, 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.^[11]

In 2015, Media Design School Studios was established as the first games focused accelerator programme in a New Zealand tertiary institution.^[12] This programme has resulted in commercial releases such as Split (Itsfine Games),^[13] Dolly (MA Studios)^[14] and Tons of Guns (Voidworks)^[15] on Valve's Steam platform.

Animation and Visual Effects

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.^[16]

Graduates from the program have been employed by Weta Digital to work on blockbuster projects such as Avatar and Lord of the Rings,^[17] and other animation studios such as Pukeko Pictures and Oktober.

Notable productions include:

• Accidents, Blunders and Calamities (2015)^[18] - San Diego Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival Best Animated Film 2016, Show Me Shorts People's Choice & Best Editor 2015^[19]
• Escargore (2015)^[20] - 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^[21]
• Shelved (2012)^[22]
• Funeral Home Pinatas (2012)^[23]
• Dr Grordbort Presents: The Deadliest Game (2011)
• Rotting Hill (2011)^[24] starring Anna Hutchison
• Das Tub (2011)^[25]
• First Contact (2010)^[26]
• Time for Change (2010)^[27]

Other departments

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.^[28]

Student games

Graduate Diploma of Game Development:

• Discord^[29]
• Sklum Lord^[29]
• Dead Steel^[29] - IGF China 2010, Excellent Student Award,^[30] IGF 2011 Student Competition Entrant,^[31]
• No More Gentlemen ^[32] - IGF 2011 Student Competition Entrant ^[33]
• Guardians of Eldvery ^[32] - IGF 2011 Student Competition Entrant ^[34]
• Nightfall^[35][36]
• Roadblock^[37]
• Affliction - IGF Student Showcase, 2008 ^[38]
• Shear Factor - Crowbar Awards 2007, Bronze Medal Winner ^[39]
• Goliath^[40] - Crowbar Awards 2006 Silver Medal Winner, IGF Student Showcase Winner 2006 ^[41]

Diploma of Interactive Gaming:

• Cygni
• Total Cube Domination
• Interstellar Excavation
• The Uprising^[42]
• Harvest^[43]
• Battleballs^[43]
• Loop Troops^[44] - Bronze Medal Winner, Crowbar Awards, 2009^[45]
• Oddballs - Silver Medal Winner, Crowbar Awards, 2008 ^[46]
• Happy Traps - IGF Student Showcase, 2008.^[47][48]
• Rash

References

External links

• Media Design School