Page Hammond - Graphic Design Graduate Spotlight
Page Hammond is a Graphic Design student in the Bachelor of Media Design at Media Design School at Strayer (MDS), whose graduating project explores identity, culture, and reclaiming self through design. Drawing on her whakapapa and personal experiences, her project Ngā Pou transforms reflections on unconscious bias into a powerful visual narrative of healing and empowerment.
Tell us a bit about yourself
Kia Ora, I’m Page! a 25-year-old designer based in Taupō, New Zealand, currently completing my Bachelor of Media Design (Graphic Design) through MDS. I come from a large farming family, so creativity wasn’t the obvious path, but it’s the one that I was always drawn to. I hail from Ngāti Pāoa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa, and my whakapapa plays a huge role in the way I approach my design.
What was the focus of your graduating project?
My project began by exploring how unconscious and subconscious bias shapes how we as Māori see ourselves, how we move, speak, and carry our identity in spaces not always made for us. Initially, I was focused on the emotional and psychological toll of that hyper-awareness and code-switching, but over time the project transformed into a process of reclamation and healing. Ngā Pou is now an autoethnographic visualisation of how I’ve shifted my own perspective from internalising bias to reclaiming identity on my own terms. And with guidance from my mentor, Don Chooi, the project has evolved into something I could not be more proud of.
I was inspired by artists like Adrian Piper, who used her art to confront and reframe racial bias through personal experience, and the way she turned everyday encounters with prejudice into acts of resistance. That perspective really helped shape the direction and intention behind my own project, transforming personal experiences into something both reflective and empowering. The project culminates in a 22-card Tarot deck, each card is a chapter within six guiding statements that chart my journey of identity, reclamation, and becoming.
Why did you choose the Bachelor of Media Design?
I waited a while after high school to pursue higher education. I always knew design would stay at the back of my mind, but for a long time, it was more of a hobby than a career path. I think part of me was scared that turning something I loved into work would make me lose that spark. After moving cities, a million bartending jobs, and eventually moving home again, I realised that design was the one constant. It was the thing I kept coming back to no matter what.
What did you enjoy most about the programme?
What I’ve loved most about MDS is how you’re constantly thrown into the deep end. Pitching, problem-solving, and iterating, and that chaos becomes your greatest teacher.
The lecturers are working professionals who treat you like a creative equal, which is both terrifying and empowering in the best possible way. You learn through doing, asking questions, and failing spectacularly. It’s an environment that strengthens your skills and builds real creative confidence."
One thing in particular about MDS is how close you become with your cohort. You go through the highs, lows, and deadlines together, and those connections turn into genuine friendships. These are the people I know I’ll keep crossing paths with throughout my life and career as a designer.
What was your biggest challenge while studying?
By far the biggest challenge I faced while studying was confidence. I’ve always been a naturally shy person. During my first presentation, I think I managed to get out more “ums” and “ahs” than actual sentences (and maybe a few choice swear words for flavour). But looking back, that moment was really a turning point. Over time, I learned to back myself and to trust that my ideas and voice were worth hearing. Through supportive lecturers, honest feedback, and a lot of practice, I’ve grown from someone terrified of just being perceived to someone who can now share myself, my work, and my story with genuine pride and confidence.
Who (or what) inspired you to pick design as a career path?
My high school photography and design teacher, Mr Lindsay, was the first person who really saw something in me. I still remember the day he looked at my work, and said, “You’ve got such an eye for this.” I suppose that sentence shaped everything that came after. I will say, I don’t think I’d be doing what I’m doing now if it weren’t for him.
Who is your favourite designer?
It might sound cliché, but David Carson was the first designer I came across who made me stop and go, “Wait, you’re allowed to do that?” His work felt alive and chaotic, and so very human. It broke every rule we’re told to follow, it broke every rule we’re taught to follow, and that sense of rebellion pulled me in. He helped me to see the messiness of design and the process. How my work can be personal, and completely against the grain… and still be beautiful.
What is next for you?
Honestly, I’m still figuring that out. Finishing this degree has taught me that the best work comes from staying curious and open to wherever creativity leads. I want to keep exploring storytelling through design. I’d love to collaborate with people who value depth, culture, and emotion in their work. For now, I’m just excited to keep learning and keep creating, and finding new ways to connect with people and my culture through design.
Find out more about the Bachelor of Media Design
Article courtesy of our friends at Design Assembly
