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.

Melody (centre) with Blob Collective - a creative partnership blending art, tech, and community, founded with her former MDS classmate (right) and her partner (left).
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.
Aotea Symphony was a live brief project for Auckland Live that became a real-world interactive installation at Aotea Square.
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.”

Melody’s final-year capstone project Moments was a Best Awards finalist.
Back in the Classroom - This Time as a Mentor
Today, Melody has come full circle. Returning in a contract teaching role, Melody brings her industry experience back to MDS - guiding today’s students through the same programme that shaped her own design journey.
Initially drawn to mentoring through online platforms, Melody soon realised how much she enjoyed supporting young designers and decided to reach out to MDS directly. "I wasn’t initially looking to become a lecturer," she laughs. "But I ended up loving it. I feel happy in this role."

Melody with the 2024 Year 2 Bachelor of Media Design students during the Auckland War Memorial Museum live brief project.
Staying Creative, Staying Grounded
As for the future, Melody plans to continue balancing her teaching career with creative pursuits through Blob Collective, focusing on community-driven, playful projects without the pressure of commercial profitability. “It’s important for me to have that space for pure creativity,” she says.
Though open to new opportunities, Melody is happy to stay in New Zealand, drawn to the country's positive work culture and the strong network she has built. Reflecting on her journey, she encourages international students to embrace every opportunity:
Find your community early, reach out when you need help, and say yes to new experiences - you never know where they might lead.”

MOTAT's Wishing Stars experience by Blob Collective, December 2024 - an immersive, playful installation blending light, interaction, and storytelling.