Strong Architecture projects lead Best Awards '26

Ten of our talented Architecture ākonga are finalists in the 2026 Best Design Awards, alongside five finalists from the School of Design (Communication & Product).

The Best Design Awards is an annual showcase championing Design excellence in spatial, animation, digital, film, graphics, and industrial design across Aotearoa.

The prestigious awards are run by The Designers Institute of New Zealand and recognise outstanding work across a range of disciplines.

The awards promote the contributions of educational institutions, studios, and companies and form an important archive of contemporary New Zealand design.

Our Architecture finalists in the Student & Academic Spatial category are:

• Year Three: Hannah Winter - Castle on the Cliff
• Year Four: Hudson Ross - Te Kore Te Pō Te Ao
• Year Four: Flynn Connolly - Pīwakawaka Landing Next to Water
• Year Four: Patrick Ketchen - Korowai o Aotearoa
• Year Four: Sarah Scott - Tipping Point
• Year Four: Abby Taylor - A Circular Approach
• Year Four: Ryno Von Wielligh - Lighthouse Entertainment Precinct
• Year Five: Erica Morris - Where People Go
• Year Five: Omea Hall - De-institutionalising Dementia Care
• Year Five: Eden Yon-Rose - Between Walls and Words
  
  

Associate Professor Tobias Danielmeier, Head of the School of Architecture, says he’s incredibly proud of this year’s lineup.

“Having ten finalists across Years Three (Bachelor of Architectural Studies), Four and Five (Master of Architecture (Professional)) programmes is an exceptional result.”

“It reflects the quality and breadth of our students’ work and the commitment of our staff who have supported them.”

In addition, we have five finalists from the School of Design:

• Communication Design - Stella Caulton - Little Kiwi
• Communication Design  - Jessica McGeorge - The Power Mix
• Communication Design  - Ash McFarlane - Staple Noise
• Communication Design  - Eloise McIver, Sophie Broadley - Workbook magazine
• Product Design - Janiqua McCarthy - Axis Hip Box

Machiko Niimi, Head of the School of Design, says she was thrilled to see strong results coming through in the film category for this year's awards.

"Alongside our consistently strong Graphic and Product Design outcomes, these achievements are a recognition of the excellent creativity and talent of our students and the support of our experienced staff across a diverse range of design disciplines."

Meanwhile, Product Design student Janiqua McCarthy (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hako) is hoping to follow up her success at last year's Best Design Awards, where she claimed two golds for her biodegradable placenta burial kit Whenua ki te whenua.

"Janiqua's Axis Hip Box product is the fruit of a fantastic industry collaboration with Evolve Outdoors Group," says Machiko.

The company develops products for the Hunting & Fishing NZ retail chain and international outlets.

"Evolve's lead designer Alex Broad is an Otago Polytechnic alumni, and he mentored Janiqua on this project," she says.

Congratulations to all of our ākonga recognised as finalists this year.

The Best Design Awards 2026 national finals night will be held on 9 October in Auckland.