Designing with Purpose: How Deaf student Evan Huang is breaking barriers at MDS
At Media Design School at Strayer (MDS), creativity isn’t just about aesthetics – it’s about impact. For Year Two Bachelor of Media Design (Graphic Design) student Evan Huang, who is Deaf, design has become a powerful way to amplify underrepresented voices and create meaningful change.
Through his work, Evan has developed as a designer while inspiring improvements to accessibility support across the campus. His journey is a shining example of what’s possible when passion, advocacy, and a supportive learning environment come together.
Finding a creative home
Evan’s decision to study at MDS came from a simple starting point: a love of graphic design. What he didn’t expect was how deeply he would engage with understanding design's real-world potential. He shares that he “didn’t realise the Bachelor of Media Design would teach so much about how the graphic design industry works in real life,” and that this learning made him see design as “powerful and able to create messages with real impact.”
He was especially struck by the lack of Deaf representation within the design industry in New Zealand. Although he had struggled to find role models he could relate to, this sparked ambition rather than doubt. Evan hopes “to see more Deaf designers in the future – designers who can create powerful work that influences, positively changes, and helps move the Deaf community forward.” That, he says, is the kind of designer he is determined to become.
Turning lived experience into impact
Many of Evan’s projects draw directly from his own experiences, using design to build understanding and representation. Sign It Out – New Zealand Sign Language Flashcards, one of his favourite projects, tackles the lack of fun NZSL learning tools for children. Rather than relying on static posters or books, he designed an interactive game with illustrated characters and playful packaging to encourage learning through engagement.
He also created DEAF, a publication exploring Deaf culture and NZSL, and Reo Ringa, a concept for a more accessible interpreter booking platform designed to address current challenges faced by the Deaf community.
A defining moment of Evan’s time at MDS came when he presented his Sign It Out project. He was “surprised and shocked” that it inspired one of his lecturers to encourage their department to learn New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) for professional development. “I didn’t expect it at all,” he explains. “It was a small group and I thought they wouldn’t be interested, especially since my project was aimed at children.” In the end, seven lecturers began learning NZSL. Their skills have since improved and they can now use basic signing in conversations, which Evan says has made day-to-day communication easier. Reflecting on the experience, he says it was the moment he realised how powerful design can be when it connects with people and creates change, “no matter how small the impact may seem.”
Design can influence others, no matter how small the impact may seem. Like a ripple, it can spread and create change.”
Advocacy through action
Evan’s advocacy journey began even before arriving at MDS. Prior to enrolling, he was advised against it due to interpreter availability. Despite this, he chose to attend, preparing alternative communication strategies. Initially, the experience was challenging, but he says that “over time, things improved because everyone was keen to learn about me and support the best possible environment.”
Since then, speech-to-text software licenses have been made available for students' use, and soon New Zealand Sign Language interpreters will be able to be booked, and the cost of their services supported by MDS – improvements that will benefit future Deaf and hearing-impaired students. Evan sees this as just the beginning. He hopes to see more Deaf and disabled students studying design and using their lived experiences to influence change.
Every Deaf and disabled person deserves the right to study without barriers. Don’t let anyone stop you — go study and follow your passion. We, Deaf and disabled people, can do it."
Looking forward
As he moves into his third year, Evan plans to continue producing work that supports the Deaf community. He is considering further study in Deaf Studies and hopes to eventually establish a freelance design practice supporting Deaf clients.
He sums up his motivation simply: “Creating a better place for the Deaf community by eliminating struggles and barriers, and achieving improved accessibility and equality through the power of graphic design.”
Find out more about Neurodiversity and Disability Support at MDS
See more of Evan's work:
Sign It Out - New Zealand Sign Language Flashcards is designed to address the lack of fun NZSL resources in NZ. This is a playful tool where Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing children can learn sign language in an engaging way.
DEAF is a magazine that teaches hearing people about Deaf culture and NZSL, while providing NZSL resources.
Reo Ringa – Sign Interpreting Agency addresses a major problem in Deaf accessibility: the broken booking system. The website was designed as a more user-friendly and accessible solution by learning from the flaws of existing interpreting platforms. It takes a small step toward solving this issue.
