The Bright Awards is a celebration of secondary school students across Aotearoa in Years 11—13 who are bringing their creative craft to life.
2019 Winners
Bright Awards Winners 2019
School of the Year
Macleans College
Joel Graham - Three Short Stories
Animation
Cashmere High School
Yuewei Zhang – Totally Realistic Sledding VR
Games
Pakuranga College
Faith Belisario - The Year was 1985
Graphic Design
Hillcrest High School
Abbie Simpson - Horror/Death
Photography
Long Bay College
Kate Middleton - Veil Poetry Festival Website
Web & Interactive
Macleans College
Highly Commended Entries
Andrew Watson - Transmission
Animation
Kings College
Isabel Li - Moon Rabbit: Terra Incognita Character Concepts
Animation
Macleans College
Tyler Gamble - Which way is down?
Games
Pakuranga College
Abdul Boateng - Top Down Game
Games
Pakuranga College
Rosa Flood - Youth in Fashion
Graphic Design
Hamilton Girls High School
Joshua Nelson - The Blizzard
Graphic Design
Hamilton Christian School
Greer Burton - Visual Contrast
Photography
Northcote College
Rebekah Cook - Frozen Flowers and Faces
Photography
Kerikeri High School
Schedule
Call for entries
01 July — 15 Sept 2019
Assessment
16 Sept — 11 Oct 2019
Awards announced
18 October 2019
Categories
Evaluation Criteria
In this category, we’ll be looking for pieces that represent you as a graphic designer. This could be traditional or digital art and can span anything from works that create a visual identity for a person or organisation (such as logos, typefaces, letterhead or posters); magazine covers or layouts; product packaging and design; designs specifically for t-shirts or apparel; or illustrations.
We’re looking for work that is all your own – that is, work that is based off of original thoughts, concepts and ideas that you have created yourself. Our judge will be looking at both the aesthetics of your design ideas (what it looks like visually) and the user friendliness and functionality of your concept.
Entry Requirements
We are looking for between 3 — 10 images that represent your breadth of work as a graphic designer. Ideally, we'd like your images to be in JPEG or PNG format in RGB colour mode.
The easiest way to submit a video for this category is to upload it to a video-sharing website such as Vimeo or YouTube. If you want to make your video private, you'll also need to send us to password to view your video too!
Evaluation Criteria
In this category, we’ll be looking for pieces that represent you as a web or interactive designer. Entries for this category could span anything from functional websites to interactive installations or UX projects … or even just concepts for any of the above!
We’re looking for original thoughts, concepts and ideas that you have created by yourself. Our judge will be looking at both the aesthetics of your design ideas (what it looks like visually) and the user friendliness and functionality of your project.
Entry Requirements
The easiest way to submit a video for this category is to upload it to a video-sharing website such as Vimeo or YouTube. If you want to make your video private, you'll also need to send us to password to view your video too!
If you have created a website to display your interactive projects on, you can send us a link to your page — just make sure it's live so we can see it!
Evaluation Criteria
In the Photography category, we’re looking for images that showcase your photography skills. Your photographs could be of anything: architecture, landscape & nature, portrait, still-life, street photography ... you name it, we'll accept it!
We’ll be judging your work based on your creativity, the composition of the shot, and the story or narrative behind them.
Entry Requirements
In this category, we are looking for three images. The smallest image size that we recommend you submit would be 1MB and the largest size 5MB. Ideally, we'd like your images to be in JPEG or PNG format in RGB colour mode.
About this category
A submission in the Animation category could be anything from a concept for a 2D or 3D character right through to an animated short film. We’re looking for work that is based off concepts and ideas that you have created by yourself (so no replications or fan art entries, please). We’ll also be judging this category based on the potential story behind the creative output, originality, and the technical execution of the animation.
Entry Requirements
We are looking for between 3 — 10 images that represent your breadth of work as an animator. Ideally, we'd like your images to be presented as JPEG files or as a multi-page PDF (where each image or concept is presented on a different page) in RGB colour mode.
The easiest way to submit a video for this category is to upload it to a video-sharing website such as Vimeo or YouTube. If you want to make your video private, you'll also need to send us to password to view your video too!
Alternatively, if you want to send us the original file, you will need to compress the video and submit it as FULL HD (1080p) or HD (720p).
About this category
The Games category is open to everyone from 2D or 3D artists who have devised a concept for a game to those who have created their own playable demo.
We’re looking for work that is all your own — that is, work that is based off of original thoughts, concepts and ideas that you have created yourself. Our judge will be looking at both the aesthetics of your design ideas (what it looks like visually) and the user friendliness and functionality of your concept.
Entry Requirements
We are looking for between 3 — 10 images that represent your breadth of work as a game designer. Ideally, we'd like your images to be presented as JPEG files or as a multi-page PDF (where each image or concept is presented on a different page) in RGB colour mode.
The easiest way to submit a video for this category is to upload it to a video-sharing website such as Vimeo or Youtube. If you want to make your video private, you'll also need to send us to password to view your video too!
Judges
Jim Murray
Jim Murray originally trained in England, and received a Diploma of Graphic Design from Harlow College and a degree in 3D Design from De Montfort University. He has since had more than fifteen years' experience in the field of media design. Six of those years were spent at Interbrand, which is one of the world's leading brand consultancies. Jim now works at Media Design School as the Programme Leader for the Bachelor of Media Design.
Don Chooi
Don has a Bachelor of Graphic Design from AUT. His career began at boutique design firm Grafikos — run by the late David Bartlett — where he immediately plugged into the many design disciplines and mediums involving print and multimedia. After a couple of years, Don moved to Electric Art as a senior designer where he became more involved with studio management, art and creative directing. After nearly 13 years in the role, Don joined Media Design School as its Course Leader in the Graphic Design department. Though having worked in various mediums — ranging from photography, advertising, web and print design — his passion for illustration remains.
Rafael Bonatto
Originally from Brazil, Rafael studied design and computer graphics in Rome at the European Institute of Design and has worked at production studios around the world including, most recently, Digipost in New Zealand. He is highly skilled in all aspects related to 3D animation, design and video production and has worked on projects for TV, cinema, websites and advertising. Rafael has a passion for photography, particularly in the areas of photojournalism, lifestyle, dancing and fashion. In his spare time he enjoys extreme sports like surfing, skating, snowboarding, technical diving and climbing. Rafael speaks three languages: English, Italian and Portuguese.
David March
After graduating from Baylor University with a degree in business, David started his career in game development in Dallas, Texas at 3D Realms. Over the past 15 years he has worked on many AAA titles across multiple platforms as an accomplished 3D Artist and Animator. David has worked at companies such as Crytek in Germany and 2K Games in Australia. David also helped the Guildhall at SMU get off the ground teaching advanced courses in 3D and animation. Before starting at Media Design School he shipped Homefront for THQ as the Lead Cinematics Animator.
Tammie Leong
Tammie brings substantial industry experience to Media Design School through her time as a CG artist working in an automobile team at Malaysia's Codemasters Studio. In addition she has lectured 3D and Advanced 3D Character Modelling at the One Academy in Malaysia and has a number of TVC credits to her name.
Simon Nicholls
Designer, Artist and educator. Simon's main areas of practice are Interactive Media and Graphic Design. He has exhibited locally in NZ, with an emphasis on collaborative research projects to create wide-ranging interactive exhibition, web and publication work. As a Lecturer at Media Design School his role includes teaching, design practice and connecting with a community of creatives.