Media Design School

What Media Design School does

Media Design School (MDS), legally Media Design School at Strayer, is a New Zealand-based tertiary education institution founded in 1998 in Auckland and operated as a subsidiary of Strayer University under Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN). It delivers industry-endorsed creative and digital technology qualifications across foundation, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels, spanning 3D Animation & VFX, Game Art and Game Programming, Graphic Design, Motion Design, Interactive (UX) Design, Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, and Creative Advertising. Curriculum is built around production-grade tools (Adobe Creative Cloud under the Adobe Creative Campus designation), live industry briefs (Sony Music, Spark NZ, All Blacks, Eke Panuku), and work-integrated learning placements with employers including Wētā FX, Soul Machines, and PikPok.

The institution generates revenue primarily through tuition fees charged to domestic (NZ/AU) and international students, with international tuition priced approximately three times higher than domestic. Headcount sits at 51-100 employees, consistent with a small specialist school rather than a broad-based university. The school operates from a 6 Green Star purpose-built facility in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter Innovation Precinct, the only education provider with a presence in that precinct. In 2026, MDS extended into the United States with a new campus in Chamblee, Georgia (relocating to mid-town Atlanta in late June 2026), launching a Master of Fine Arts in Screen Scoring & Music Design led by Grammy Award-winning educator Andy Hill. Distribution combines direct enrollment, online/blended delivery, and international education agent networks. The institution is ranked #1 Animation School in New Zealand and Top 20 globally by Animation Career Review 2026.

Name

Media Design School

Legal name

Media Design School at Strayer

Website

https://mediadesignschool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative & Digital Technology Tertiary Education

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430), Other Specialized Design Services (54149)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Arts & Design (Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation) (EDAMAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electives & Enrichment Curriculum (Arts, Music, PE, CTE Exploratories) (EDAGAAAG), Educational Digital Courseware & Learning Platforms (LMS-Integrated) (MPAJABAH)

Keywords

• Creative technology education
• Digital design degrees
• 3D animation VFX training
• Game development courses
• Postgraduate design programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Domestic Student Tuition: Full-fee paying domestic (New Zealand/Australian) students pay tuition for certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
2. International Student Tuition: International students pay higher tuition rates for all programmes, representing a significant revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Media Design School (MDS) at Strayer is a New Zealand tertiary institution that delivers industry-endorsed qualifications in creative and digital technology fields, including 3D Animation & VFX, Game Development, Graphic Design, Interactive UX Design, Motion Design, Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, and Creative Advertising. Offerings span certificate, diploma, undergraduate, graduate diploma, and postgraduate levels, both on-campus in Auckland and online/blended, with a new MFA programme launched in Atlanta, USA in 2026.

Product overview

Media Design School at Strayer is New Zealand's leading tertiary institution for creative and digital technology qualifications, offering a comprehensive portfolio of degree and diploma programs. The institution provides industry-endorsed courses organized into two main academic tracks: the Bachelor of Art & Design (focusing on 3D Animation & VFX) and the Bachelor of Media Design (covering Graphic Design, Motion Design, and Interactive/UX Design). Supporting these core programs are specialized offerings including Game Development, Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, and Creative Advertising (AdSchool). At the postgraduate level, the school offers a Master of Design, Graduate Diplomas in Creative Technologies, and New Zealand's first Masters of Digital Transformation. Foundation programs provide entry pathways for new students. The institution recently expanded into the United States with a new Master of Fine Arts in Screen Scoring & Music Design. MDS holds Adobe Creative Campus status, integrating Adobe tools across its curriculum, and is ranked #1 Animation School in New Zealand and in the Top 20 globally (Animation Career Review 2026).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 3D Animation & VFX Courses & Degrees The Bachelor of Art & Design (3D Animation & VFX) is a three-year degree programme focused on the technical and soft skills needed in post-production for the film industry. Students specialise in compositing, modelling, technical studies, or 3D animation and work on industry-level productions in their final year.
• Game Development Courses & Degrees Programmes in Game Art and Game Programming that prepare students to create immersive gaming experiences, learning to develop environments, characters, and games from asset creation through to playable build.
• Graphic Design Courses & Degrees Programmes teaching students to communicate using text, image, and form to make visual connections and craft ideas into meaningful visual interactions.
• Interactive (UX) Courses & Degrees User experience and user interface design programmes that prepare students for careers in web design, interface design, and app development, with a focus on interactive design solutions and user-centric design approaches.
• Motion Design Courses & Degrees Programmes teaching students to produce innovative video and motion graphic campaigns for TV commercials, music videos, and logo animation.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Courses & Degrees Bachelor of Software Engineering (Artificial Intelligence) programmes preparing students for careers in AI development, machine learning, and data analytics, with an emphasis on work-integrated learning with industry partners.
• Information Technology (IT) Courses & Degrees Programmes that develop key information technology skills while cultivating creativity and innovation, combining technical IT knowledge with creative applications.
• Bachelor of Media Design A three-year undergraduate degree introducing students to Graphic Design, Motion Design, and Interactive (UX) Design. Students choose their major for second and third year and work on live briefs with real companies like Spark NZ, Sony Music, and the All Blacks.
• Graduate Diploma of Creative Technologies One-year postgraduate programmes in areas such as Interactive Design, Motion Design, and Graphic Design for students wanting to specialise or transition into creative technology fields.
• Creative Advertising (AdSchool) The most awarded creative advertising programme in Australasia, taught and mentored by industry experts. Known as 'AdSchool', it prepares students for careers in advertising through project-based learning and live briefs.
• Master of Design A 30-week full-time postgraduate programme (NZQF Level 9, 120 credits) with weekend classes designed for design professionals who want to advance their creative careers, featuring one-on-one professional mentoring and support for personal projects.
• Master of Digital Transformation New Zealand's first Masters of Digital Transformation, with Postgraduate Diploma or Certificate tracks that help professionals update their skillset to stay ahead in their careers.
• Foundation Level Courses & Degrees Pre-degree pathway programmes including the NZ Certificate in Digital Media and Design (20 weeks full-time/part-time) that prepare students for higher-level study.
• Master of Fine Arts in Screen Scoring & Music Design A 15-month MFA programme launching at MDS's first U.S. campus in Chamblee, Georgia (relocating to mid-town Atlanta in late June 2026), led by Grammy Award-winning educator Andy Hill and offering up to 20 full-tuition scholarships to its inaugural cohort.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates have worked on Avatar, The Hobbit, and other major film productions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AdobecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026Adobe Creative Campus designation provides all MDS students with full Adobe Creative Suite access throughout studies plus 6 months post-graduation. Students also receive Adobe Firefly generative AI access and can earn Adobe-certified badges. This partnership ensures students master industry-standard creative tools.
• Sony MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLive Brief Partner providing real industry projects for Bachelor of Media Design students. Students work on actual Sony Music briefs as part of their curriculum, gaining practical experience with major entertainment industry clients.
• Spark New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLive Brief Partner collaborating on multiple projects including Matariki augmented reality experience. Students from Bachelor of Media Design worked on live briefs for Spark NZ, creating AR experiences and digital content.
• New Zealand All BlacksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLive Brief Partner providing industry projects for MDS students, working on creative briefs for the national rugby team.
• X is YcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuckland-based data and analytics consultancy providing work-integrated learning placements for AI programme students. Students completed 3-month placements working on AI agents, MCP, and workflow automation projects. Director describes collaboration as 'perfect mix of giving back and getting better'.
• Website WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand-based website hosting and CMS provider partnering with MDS for AI student placements. Student helped integrate AI for support interactions including RAG, API design and production-level deployment. Company now rolling out AI-driven chatbots.
• Torrens UniversityminorOthersPartnered organisation referenced in sustainability/social responsibility context.
• Rainbow AucklandminorOthersCommunity partner organisation for diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Eke Panuku Development AucklandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment development agency commissioned MDS students to create interactive experiences for Matariki 2022 celebrations. Students developed 'Origins of Fire' interactive storytelling experience and 'Tūrama' augmented reality activation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SAE Institute: Global private tertiary provider with campuses worldwide offering programs in animation, game development, film, audio, and creative media — directly comparable international creative-tech education model with broader geographic footprint than MDS.
• Gnomon School of Visual Effects, Games + Animation: US-based specialized school offering degrees and certificates in 3D animation, VFX, and game art — direct peer to MDS's 3D Animation & VFX programme, with comparable focus on industry-standard software and graduate portfolio outcomes.
• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD): US-based leading art and design university with strong animation, VFX, motion design, and interactive design programs — competes for international students in the same category as MDS, but with broader program breadth and larger global brand.
• Full Sail University: US-based private tertiary institution offering degrees in animation, VFX, game design, film, and creative technologies — directly comparable to MDS in scope and international student positioning, but at significantly larger scale.
• Yoobee Colleges: NZ-based private tertiary provider offering diplomas and degrees in animation, film, game development, graphic design, and digital media — most direct domestic peer to MDS, competing for the same NZ and international student pool.
• Vancouver Film School: Canadian private post-secondary institution offering one-year intensive programs in animation, VFX, film, game design, and digital design — directly comparable to MDS in international student recruitment, program structure, and creative industry orientation.
• Billy Blue College of Design: Australian design college under Torrens University Australia (also under Stride, Inc.) — sibling institution to MDS under the same parent company, offering overlapping design programs and sharing the Strider corporate structure for international growth.

Broad incumbents

• RMIT University: Major Australian public university with substantial animation, design, and media programs — broader incumbent with overlapping creative disciplines, particularly competing for Asia-Pacific international students that MDS targets.

Regional players

• Auckland University of Technology (AUT): NZ public university offering degree programs in design, animation, creative technologies, and digital media — domestic competitor in the Auckland market but with public university positioning and broader academic orientation than MDS.
• Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design: NZ private tertiary institution specializing in arts, design, and creative technology programs — domestic peer offering similar creative disciplines at certificate, diploma, and degree level, competing for NZ and international students.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Media Design School