Ara ākonga shine in national design competition
10 November, 2025
Five Ara ākonga (students) were recently recognised in the prestigious GSM Magazine and BJ Ball Student Design Contest, taking out nearly half of the 12 national awards on offer.
The annual competition celebrates the next generation of creative talent in visual communication, and this year it attracted more than 70 entries from tertiary institutions across Aotearoa, including Whitecliffe, WelTec, AUT and Ara.
All five Ara winners are studying towards a Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication Design):
- Juli Molina (Year 1) – Come Home
- Hannah Andrew (Year 1) – Welcome Home
- Lisa Howden (Year 1) – Real Fruit Real Summer
- Ben Comfort (Year 1) – It’s all Fun and Games
- Claire Lenitua (Year 2) – Made with Love.
Their winning mahi (work) will feature in the 2026 BJ Ball promotional calendar, set for release in November. As part of their prize, the ākonga will also be invited to attend the press check at Spectrum Print – a behind-the-scenes opportunity to see their designs being printed for the calendar.
Academic Staff Member Alf Walker said it was fantastic to see Ara’s ākonga being recognised for their creativity and design thinking.
“Their work stood out in a highly competitive field and reflects the strong foundation they’re developing here at Ara.”
Mark McEntyre, Portfolio Manager – Creative and Media, said the results were a powerful endorsement of both the students and their tutors.
“What a result! It speaks volumes about the calibre of our ākonga and the quality of teaching here at Ara. To have five of our students recognised nationally – and their work featured in a professional publication – is an outstanding achievement.
“It’s also a great example of how industry partnerships can create real opportunities for emerging creatives. We’re grateful to BJ Ball and GSM Magazine for continuing to champion student design in Aotearoa.”
