Melody Renaud

Discovering Design - and a New Home 

When Melody Renaud first left New Caledonia for New Zealand in 2015, she knew two things: she loved art, and she wanted to pursue graphic design. After completing a foundation course to build her portfolio, she discovered Media Design School - and felt an immediate connection. 

“It was really the digital focus that drew me in,” Melody recalls. “I liked that MDS talked about future-focused careers using technology.” The smaller class sizes and approachable teaching style also stood out, particularly compared to the more formal French education systems she was familiar with in New Caledonia. 

At MDS, Melody found a supportive environment where she could connect with both local and international students, build friendships, and gain confidence in her new home. 

Study Life, Real Projects, and Lifelong Friendships 

During her time studying the Bachelor of Media Design, Melody’s passion for creativity and collaboration flourished. One of her most memorable experiences was a live client project for Auckland Live’s digital screen at Aotea Square. Working as a team, she helped design an interactive experience called Aotea Symphony, which later secured government grant funding and became a real-world installation. 

“That project taught me how important it is to work iteratively - testing, improving, and bringing a vision to life based on feedback,” she says. It also sowed the seeds for what would later become Blob Collective, a creative partnership between Melody and her former classmates blending art, technology, and community engagement. 

Beyond academics, Melody notes the personal challenges that came with being an international student - particularly around accommodation and building a social network. “Friendships took time to form,” she admits. “But getting involved with clubs and reaching out for support helped a lot.” Today, she encourages international students to actively seek communities outside of just their cohort and to make full use of the resources available at MDS. 

Designing Her Own Career Path 

Upon graduating, Melody quickly found herself in demand. She secured her first industry role at Catchi, a digital agency specialising in conversion optimisation, while still completing her final year at MDS. After graduation, she moved on to Datacom, where she honed her skills as an interactive designer for three years. 

With a plan to diversify her experience, Melody intentionally crafted a diverse career journey, gaining experience in large corporates, startups, and freelance work. “I wanted to try different environments to learn how businesses work and to see the real-world impact of my designs,” she explains. Working at a startup gave her valuable insight into product development, while freelancing with agencies like Rush Digital kept her creativity sharp. 

Throughout her career, the practical, industry-relevant skills gained at MDS served as a strong foundation. 

The course prepared me technically and creatively - especially by teaching the tools that are used in the industry today,” she says. “Training on software that reflects current industry practice like Figma and understanding real-world workflows gave me a real advantage.”