Media Design School

Game developers, creators, students, and industry professionals all under one roof 🎮✨

Recently, we had the pleasure of hosting Auckland Makes Games at MDS, bringing together members of Auckland's game development community for an evening of networking, showcasing projects, sharing ideas, and making new connections.

Auckland Makes Games plays an important role in supporting the local industry and we're proud to provide a space where those conversations can happen. A special shoutout to the organisers, including several MDS alumni, for making the event possible.

Studying online with us from Wellington to working as a Junior Animator at Wētā FX, Jacynta’s journey shows that learning and career paths aren’t limited by location.

Find out how the Bachelor of Art & Design (3D Animation & VFX) programme at Media Design School at Strayer helped Jacynta craft award-winning projects and pave the path for her career!

Read more here: https://www.mediadesignschool.com/news/wellington-weta-fx-how-online-study-helped-jacynta-scurfield-launch-her-animation-career

MDS has been ranked #4 in the world in the World Brand Design Society Best Design Education Rankings 2025-26 - a major global recognition of the creative talent coming out of New Zealand.

Our Bachelor of Media Design students also picked up one Gold, three Silvers and a Bronze, with projects spanning capstones and live briefs with Sony Music Entertainment and Spark New Zealand.

Read more here: https://www.mediadesignschool.com/news/mds-ranked-4-world-design-education

We've kicked off the year with a bang 💥

8 new clubs, over 10 social events held and welcomed one of our largest intakes yet. To wrap up our event calendar for o-week, we hosted our annual Big Fat MDS Quiz Night which saw 13 teams compete head to head for huge prizes. Congrats to our winning teams, in particular, a group of solo students who braved coming along not knowing anyone and left as winners, taking first place! 🥇

Shout out to for fuelling the quiz with their shared passion for building community and having responsible fun without the social pressures of traditional drinking.

Our recently completed student film 'Flock' has been selected for Beverly Hills Film Festival and is scheduled to screen at the TCL Chinese Theatres on Hollywood Boulevard on Wednesday 15 April!

At MDS, students contribute to professional productions, not just student projects, gaining real experience that translates to global stages like this.

Check out the schedules and the competition here: https://beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com/film/flock/