52 Ideas from Media Design School Make the Finalist Cut at MAD STARS 2023

52 Ideas from Media Design School have made the cut at the finalist round of the MAD STARS 2023.

Kate Humphries, programme director at AdSchool: “Last year we broke our own record by getting 33 finalist wins at MAD STARS. This year, we’ve been hoping that we wouldn’t let down this year’s intake by failing to match that glorious number. Well, stop the bus people and hold onto your hats because this year’s MDS class has 52 ideas shortlisted in the non-professional category.

“We’ve had so many of our students win finalist places in the MAD STARS competition this year, across multiple categories, that we’ve broken our own record-breaking results from last year – with every single student in 2023 making the shortlist in at least two categories each.

“So, without further ado, a standing ovation to Frey McCahon-Jones & Joseph Faundo for Hidden Passages which won in the Pivot, Innovation, SDGs (Sustainability Development Goals, Strategy, and Integrated categories, as well as winning two other finalist places in the integrated and the Sustainability Development categories for Hell’s Eat the Rich.

“Joyous fist bumps to Lucy Yeaji Lim & George Adams for Heinz Gas Breakz which won in Design, Integrated & PR categories; to Lucy Yeaji Lin (again) & Rose Heron for Dall-E Zoo for WWF which won in the Sustainability Development Goals, Film & Video categories; and to Lucy & Rose again for DisneyUs+ which won in the Innovation & Integrated categories; and to Rose Heron (again) & Frederic Martini for Transitus which won in the Sustainability Development Goals & Film categories.

“Congratulations to Frederic Martini (again) James Sandham & Felix Ngahere for GShock which won in the Innovation, Film and Sustainability Development Goals) categories. And to Felix Ngahere & Vince Martins for EBays which won in the Innovation category;

“Raucous cheers to Cullen Wilson & Olivia Walker for KorowAI which won in the Innovation, Brand Experience and Activation, Strategy and Sustainability Development Goals categories; and again to Cullen Wilson & MiBella Villafana  for Muso Mix-Up which won in the Strategy category for Spotify Audiobooks;

“Another standing ovation to Lita Vatuvei & George Adams for Photogaiging which won in the Pivot & Innovation categories; to Lita Vatuvei (again) & Lola Luo for Books That Sing which won in the Strategy category; for Spotify Audio Books;

“Loud whoops to Reece O’Gorman & Lola Luo for LinkedOut, which won in the Innovation, Integrated, and Strategy categories. Congratulations to Reece (again) & James Sandham for eBay Weddings, which won in the Pivot, Innovation, and Integrated categories. Another round of applause to Olivia Walker, Lola Luo & MiBella Villafana for Ebae, which won in the Strategy and Pivot categories. And last but not least, a big shout-out to Vince Martins & MiBella Villafana for PlayStation Spores, which won in the Interactive, Integrated, and Film categories.

“And some massive high fives to the 2022 teams for their finalist wins: including that awards powerhouse of a team, David Gillard Allen & Anja Pieneer for Take a Bloody Break which won in the Interactive, Design, Viral Video, Data Insights, AND Sustainability Development Goals categories; as well as also winning again in the Design category for Tick to Swoosh, getting yet another shortlist in the Integrated category for Living History.

“Three cheers to Jack Beacroft & Herman Ulberg for Google GARage Project, which won in the Innovation Category;

“Jack Beecroft (again) & Kevin Ng for The Password For Your Passwords which won in the Design Category. Herman Ulberg & Robert Laking for Tug of Roars which won in the Mobile category.

Concludes Humphries: “It’s a great haul across a number of categories, which means every component area we have taught so far this year has been acknowledged by international industry judges. We couldn’t, however, have done that without input from the industry-so, a big shout-out to the industry guests who came in to critique specific projects: Kaz Maurice O’Leary, Innovation Director; Michael Tam, Global Design Director at IBM iX; Yvonne Leong, Experience & Business Director at IBM iX NZ; Lorenz Perry, Freelance Art director; and MDS’s own Industry Fellow, the inestimable Andy Blood. Big thank you also to Tess Saxby for stepping in so swiftly into the role of Art Direction tutor for 3 months.

“And to all our industry panellists from NZ, Australia and Germany, thank you for your invaluable feedback and creative direction which totally put all of the ideas on steroids. Andy Wyeth (Serviceplan Cologne) Sylvia Humphries (Thinkerbell, Melbourne); Guy Trengrove (DDB Aotearoa); Rob Cook (Cheil NZ); Brad Stratton (Dentsu Creative); Rob Longuet (Dentsu Creative); Jack Close & Zac Hawkins (ColensoBBDO). Thank you one and all, we really couldn’t have done it without you.”

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