MDS looks sharp at AdStars & Student Orcas

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BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA, Wednesday: In the space of one week, the creative ad students at Auckland’s Media Design School have been shortlisted 12 times across three categories at AdStars, and also scored four finalist places in the Student Orcas.

MDS CD Kate Humphries said: “So, big congratulations to our four teams shortlisted in the AdStars Innovation category: Alayna Martinez & Slade McDonald for Vans Off The Wall Paint; Ashleigh  Reid & Jackson Bliss for Durex by Spotify; Slade McDonald & Steve Jamieson for Durex Phone Sex; and Jaymi Redpath & Maraea Walker for Rekindle.

“And a standing ovation to our AdStars Print finalists: Grace Bader & Luke Ryan for Bag Block (Mental Health Foundation); Aleyna Martinez & Steve Jamieson for Cathartic Cooking (Mental Health Foundation); Darryl Ng & Jackson Bliss for Peace Among Passengers (VW) and double congratulations to Jaymi Redpath & Patrick Sutton for scoring two shortlisted ideas, Brestaurants and Food Breasts, for the same brief from mumsnet.com.

In the AdStars Video category, congratulations to Laurena Roquero & Max Barrow for Durex Grow; Grace Bader & Luke for Nike Footprint;  and Max Barrow & Steve Jamieson for UsGrammarly.


“David Bell, TRB’s Alison Watt and I are pulling strings to get all finalists recorded for the last round of judging next week.”

“And for the Student Orca finalists, high fives to Mareae Walker & Max Barrow for Aged Beautifully, Unlike You (Puhoi Cheeses); Grace Bader & Harley Wise for Vogel’s Matariki Bread; and double congratulations to  Ashleigh Reid & Jackson Bliss for their two Vogel finalists ideas, You Don’t Toast it, You Cook it and It’s Not Bread it’s Vogels.

“It’s a great haul across a number of categories, which means every component area we’ve taught so far this year has been acknowledged by industry judges both nationally and internationally.

“But we couldn’t have done that without input from industry – so, a huge thanks to our industry guests who came in to critique specific projects: Beth O’Brien & Thom Darlow (Colenso BBDO); Ossie Amir (Carbon Valley); Allan Parr (Mukpuddy Animation), and Lorenz Perry (Saatchi & Saatchi); as well as the industry panellists who came in to critique all the students’ ideas for AdStars: Kent Briggs (Ogilvy); Ashwin Gopal (TBWA), Rob Cook (BCF Dentsu); Renee Bryant (DDB); Cameron Watts & Tom Davies (Special); Liz Richards & Nick Dellabaraca (Pitchblack Partners).

“As for the student Orca judges (Peter Vegas & Leisa Wall FCB; Steve Hansen & JP Twaaalfhoven (Clemenger BBDO), and Hannah Habgood (99) know that David Bell and I are currently pulling strings left right and centre, with the help of Ally Watt at TRB, to get all those finalists recorded for the final round of judging next week.

“With all of the above generously donating their time, every single person in this year’s intake has an idea or ideas shortlisted either in innovation, film, print or radio. Which, we think is a pretty promising way to have brought our updated, brand new qualification – the Grad Dip in Creative Advertising – to half-time.”


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