Chris Anderson
3rd-year student, Bachelor of Design Te Tohu Paetahi mō te Hoahoa in Industrial Design with minors in Design for Health & Digital Fabrication
When he stepped into AUT’s School of Art and Design, he knew this was a place where he could thrive, says Chris Anderson who is studying industrial design.
“Being in the School of Art and Design has placed me around people with shared interests. Everyone was so welcoming to me and has a genuine passion to help me unlock my potential and enjoy university as an experience. As an art and design student, you spend a lot of time in studio, building up a core group of mates, and it makes the experience fun. With the addition of minors, you meet people outside of your degree, and you quickly form a network of multidisciplinary friends that you can see yourself working alongside.”
Chris says he had long been drawn to industrial design for its mix of hands-on making and applied critical thinking, but admits there were some times when he wasn’t sure if he was on the right path for his career interests. Talking to his lecturers and the art and design technicians reassured him.
“My lecturers and the technicians helped me by bringing in their expertise and guiding me to craft portfolio pieces sure to stand out. One project I’m especially proud of was my second-year project, AIRY, a shower perch that recycles warm shower air to dry its users. It was selected as a finalist for the Best Awards. Attending this event was a big achievement, and I’m excited to see how my recently nominated project, Helix, a wool bike saddle for commuter cyclists, stands up in the 2025 Best Awards. I’m passionate about helping people find their full potential outdoors and live a healthy, happy lifestyle that respects the limits of the land and ocean, and once I graduate, I want to be involved in the outdoor and recreation industry.”
A great place to experiment
For Chris, having access to the art and design facilities has been the most enjoyable experience.
“I love to tinker, explore new processes, iterate and develop. Having all the industry-standard technology at arm’s reach has accelerated my learning journey. A day in the workshop can make any challenging week more enjoyable.”
He has also been impressed by the lecturers and technicians.
“Every lecturer and technician I’ve interacted with has shown interest in my work. From Glenn and Angus in wood and metal work helping me shape knife blades and handles, to Matt and Joan in digital fabrication pushing how I can 3D print bone-marrow-like structures between a broken deer antler, and Harriet, ET and Sav pushing my sometimes smelly but unique experiments with strong wool in the wet labs.
“But most of all, I’ve received support from Professor Steve Reay. Lecturing me through all three years of the Design for Health minor and in the second year of the Industrial Design major, he could appreciate my willingness to show up and learn, and has helped foster that curiosity throughout the degree. Exciting opportunities have been presented to me by Steve, and I look forward to the potential of studying my master’s degree with him and the design for health team in 2026.”
Advice for other students
Expecting to graduate later this year, Chris has some great advice for other students interested in studying art and design.
“Spend as much time in your studio and the workshops as possible. You learn by interacting with the space and the other students, so make the most of the safety net university provides. If you treat your degree like a 9-to-5 job and show up daily, you’re guaranteed to find your flow, build a tight group of mates and enjoy the space as your second home.”
He wouldn’t hesitate to recommend AUT’s art and design programmes to others.
“I’d recommend studying at AUT because of the people, facilities and opportunities. If you make an effort, you’ll find the lecturers and technicians care about your studies and will help push you further.”
