AdSchool alumni win big at Axis 2016

Axis 2016 was an exciting night of significant wins for past, present, and future students from the AdSchool at Media Design School.

The CAANZ Axis awards, which continue to recognise creative excellence in New Zealand, were held last night at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland.

During the course of the evening, graduates of Media Design School’s AdSchool picked up a Grand Prix award, 3 Golds, 6 Silvers, 19 Bronzes, and 26 category finalist nominations.

Says David Bell, standing in for Kate Humphries, creative director of the AdSchool at Media Design School, who is currently overseas teaching at Media Design School’s Milan campus: “We were picking up so many awards my beer went flat. I was texting her every time our graduates won something but the news was coming so fast, I couldn’t keep up.”

Amongst the recent graduates acknowledged on the night were Renee Bryant, who received the Marsden Inch Emerging Talent award with her partner Katyana O’Neill at BC&F Dentsu, as well as Tom Anderson and Will Towle (BC&F Dentsu) and Heathcliffe Hall and Steve Clarke (True), who were all finalists in the NZME Student Axis competition.

Former AdSchool student Tom Paine, now at Y&R, contributed to the globally acknowledged McWhoppa campaign which got a deserved AXIS Grand Prix, while Ben Polkinghorne, who was last year recognised as being one of the 30 Most Creative People In Advertising Under 30, played a big part in Colenso’s ‘Agency of the Year’ accolade.

Says Bell: “Coincidentally, Ben was having breakfast with Kate Humphries in Milan when news of his string of wins started filtering through. He nearly choked on his cappuccino.

“It was wonderful meeting up with so many AdSchool graduates on the night and their wins are testament to the fact that the AdSchool continues to produce graduates who are amongst the best in their field. Congratulations to all the AdSchool Alumni who were acknowledged on the night.”