Massey back on top with number one design ranking

Awards for a kitset ride-on for children and a unique recovery centre for native wildlife have helped Massey University’s Wellington School of Design Ngā Pae Māhutonga to be named the number one University in the Asia-Pacific region by global design award agency Red Dot.

This ranking returns Wellington School of Design to the top of the Design Concepts category, after being in the top three for the past five years. It is the only School of Design in Australasia to be ranked in the top 15 and was previously ranked number one in 2017.

An internationally-recognised quality label for design excellence, Red Dot selects expert juries in the areas of product design, communication design and design concepts to choose award recipients. The rankings recognise the top 15 companies, design studios and universities across Asia-Pacific including in Australia, China, Japan and Singapore.

The annual international celebration of design saw eight entries from the Wellington School of Design acknowledged in various categories at the awards ceremony at the Red Dot Design Museum in Singapore last night.

Massey University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas congratulated the winners and the College of Creative Arts. “This is a testament to the hard work and creative brilliance of our staff and the innovation and excellence of our students and graduates. The college is so important to our presence and role in Wellington but also gains us enormous status and recognition nationally and internationally. Well done to everyone and thank you.”

Former Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Claire Robinson says the ranking is verification of Massey University’s long history of excellence in design. “This is a massive achievement for Massey University and the individual designers and staff who have showcased their creativity, innovation and designs internationally.

“Design is a major contributor to the economic value of New Zealand’s creative industries, and a major differentiator for New Zealand. This ranking also confirms Wellington as being the centre of design excellence in the country,” Professor Robinson says.

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