MDS Ranked #4 in the World for Design Education
Media Design School at Strayer (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.
To kick-start 2026, students from our Bachelor of Media Design programme took home one Gold, three Silvers and a Bronze at the awards. The winning work included a mix of final-year capstone projects and outcomes from live industry briefs with global and national brands such as Sony Music and Spark New Zealand.
Global recognition. Real industry briefs. Real impact.
The World Brand Design Society Awards celebrate excellence in branding and design on a global stage. To see MDS ranked in the top four worldwide - alongside leading institutions from around the globe - is a testament to the ambition, creativity and industry focus embedded in our Bachelor of Media Design.
Our students don’t just create hypothetical projects. They:
- Work on live briefs with real clients
- Tackle contemporary social and commercial challenges
- Develop industry-ready portfolios before they graduate
- Learn from lecturers who are active creative professionals
Recent award-winning projects include powerful motion work confronting modern slavery and innovative branding projects recognised at major design awards. You can explore some of the winning projects here:
Shine a Light: Motion Design students earn international recognition confronting modern slavery
Looksee: MDS students win Gold at the Australian Good Design Awards and Best Awards
A global stage from day one
From Auckland to the world, our students are competing, and winning, on an international platform.
Being ranked #4 globally reinforces what we already know: the Bachelor of Media Design at MDS is built to prepare creative thinkers for a global industry. Whether you major in Graphic, Motion or Interactive design, you graduate with:
- A professional portfolio
- Industry connections
- Experience presenting work at an international standard
- The confidence to enter a competitive creative market
As we celebrate this achievement, we also recognise the faculty who guide, mentor and challenge our students to reach world-class standards. Congratulations to all the students and staff involved in this outstanding result.
If you’re ready to study design at a school recognised among the best in the world, explore the Bachelor of Media Design at MDS and start your own global journey.
Looksee
Gold Award winner in Graphic Design (Student) Integrated, created by Bachelor of Media Design students Ryen Muir, Amy Wood, Aston Gregory and Matthew Jackson.
Made You Look
Silver Award winner in Digital Design Website Application, developed for a Sony Music live brief by Bachelor of Media Design students Aston Gregory, Dearna Smith, Eilish Neal and Jules Castillon.
Jiā
Silver Award winner in Digital Design Website, created by Bachelor of Media Design student Monica Luu.
#SHINEALIGHT
Silver Award winner in Advertising Integrated Campaign, created by Bachelor of Media Design students Mehmet Gultekin, Jules Castillon, Jayme Ducommun, Eilish Neal and Scarlett Kang.
Whakatipu i Tō Reo
Bronze Award winner in Digital Mobile Application, developed for a Spark New Zealand live brief by Bachelor of Media Design students Mehmet Gultekin, Jules Castillon, Jayme Ducommun, Eilish Neal and Scarlett Kang.
