Source: Massey University
Troix Kokich’s Care Package (left) and Zené Krige’s Trax (right) have both been shortlisted for a global design show in collaboration with GUCCI.
Zené Krige
Troix Kokich
Two Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts graduates have been shortlisted by design industry experts for the ARTSTHREAD Global Design Graduate Show 2021 in collaboration with GUCCI.
The 2021 show is the second edition of the initiative, and was open to all art and design students who graduated in the year 2020-2021, whether at undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate level, anywhere in the world.
Industrial design graduate Zené Krige and visual communication design graduate Troix Kokich both made it to the shortlisting phase of the show, out of 5211 students worldwide who submitted their end of year projects.
ARTSTHREAD’s panel of independent expert judges included representatives from companies such as Nike, Apple, WarnerMedia, and the United Nations.
Zené Krige is shortlisted for her autonomous herbicide vehicle Trax, which was designed with farmers in mind. Using image sensing technologies and three different herbicides, Trax is able to locate and map weeds in selected fields.
Zené says the project was initiated by a desire to design an impactful product that delivers benefits to farmers while exploring the relationship we have with autonomous devices and their data. The design also looks at sustainable practice, minimising chemical waste and herbicide resistance, and a future where treating weeds with minimal to no chemicals is a reality.
“I have always been interested in robotics and the relationships and interactions we have with them. Trax allows for the expression of these interests to overlap, and for design to be presented in an area which is often engineering-driven.”
Zené says the support and mentorship of the university’s industrial design staff enabled her project to grow from an idea into a protoype.
To find out more and vote for Trax, click here.
Troix Kokich made the shortlist for Care Package – a wellbeing resource kit for natural disaster victims that serves as a conceptual exploration into how communication design can help manage and facilitate mental health recovery following disasters.
Troix says the idea for his design came from watching bushfires ravage Australia in early 2020. After researching disaster relief systems, Troix found that most disaster victims experience mental distress such as anxiety or stress, yet effective wellbeing resources following such traumatic events are uncommon.
Care package provides a mixture of methods for improving wellbeing after disasters, under the framework of providing support, security and entertainment with families in mind.
Troix says developing his project at Massey was integral to its success. “I think Care Package would’ve turned out a lot less developed if it wasn’t for all the like-minded people at Massey who helped me scope and critique my project, even when it wasn’t what I wanted to hear.”
Troix says it’s an honour to be recognised on a global scale, and it makes the late nights and coffees past 9pm worth it.
To find out more and vote for Care Package, click here.
Professor Brian Lucid, head of Ngā Pae Māhutonga, Wellington School of Design, says the school is incredibly proud of the two graduates.
“Zene and Troix being shortlisted in the world’s largest and most competitive showcase of recent graduate work reflects the excellence of their designs. Congratulations to them and the faculty and staff who have supported them through their studies.”
The panel of judges will select their winners, and there is also a public vote which allows the public to view the submissions and select their favourite. Public voting is now open, and runs through until Wednesday 13 October, with winners announced on Monday 18 October.
Votes can be cast here: https://www.artsthread.com/events/globaldesigngraduateshow
