Two teams from MDS make the final shortlist for Google Student Axis 2023

After two rounds of judging a multitude of ideas from MDS and AUT, the final ideas going forward for AXIS judging in 2023 have been announced,  and two of the final four come from Media Design School’s creative teams.

Says Kate Humphries, programme director for AdSchool: “Thank you to the judges Wihan Meerholz, digital creative director, DDB;  Maria Devereux, chief innovation officer, Colenso BBDO; Haylie Craig, senior creative, Colenso BBDO; Sam Stuchbury, executive creative director, Motion Sickness;  Jordan Stent, creative director, Motion Sickness; and Josh Reiri-Allen, agency relationship manager, Google. Knowing how busy you all are, we do really appreciate you taking the time to nurture future talent by putting yourself through two rounds of judging, as well as providing invaluable feedback for all MDS and AUT teams.

“Many thanks also to James Wotton and Kirsten Pearce from the Comms Council for organising the competition, and our grateful thanks to Tolga Balabaner, creative strategist at Google Sydney for the briefing; and Josh Reiri-Allen, agency relationship manager, Google, for organising the student briefing at Google and for being part of the judging process. To the invaluable Andy Blood, who has fed back on the final work ahead of entry into the Google competition for a number of years now, and this year you did it again –with a shortlist and direction that proved indispensable.

“And lastly, a big congratulations to our two teams: Letitia Mackenzie and Astrid Henare for Drawward for Ronald McDonald House, for an idea which the judges commented: ‘It uses Google Tech effectively…(and) we see it actually working, and making a real tangible difference  in children’s lives’; Jack Becroft and Herman Ulberg for the Garage Doors Project AR which the judges applauded as being a ‘great way to bring lesser-known kiwi artists to light….(and) builds a community around Garage Project (as a) beer brand that’s actually facilitating and making art’.

“Congrats to the AUT finalists for their projects, we look forward to sharing the Google Student Axis table with you next year at the Axis awards. A heart cheer also to our other 14 first round finalist for some stunning ideas that your mentors and industry visitors at our end of year show all enthusiastically applauded for being some of the strongest ideas they’d seen out of the competition. A result for which you should all be delighted.”