Harry Withers

Harry Withers (Head Prefect 2022) says he instantly loved Design when he took the subject for the first time in his final year at St Andrew’s. During his Year 13 studies, Harry learnt about the highly-considered and sometimes painstaking decisions behind every creative project, and started to refine his own creative process. The course also gave him the confidence and technical proficiency to move into studying a Bachelor of Design majoring in Visual Communication Design at Massey University in Wellington, where he is currently in his third year.

Harry describes Head of Art, Mallory Swadel, as an amazing mentor, who created a supportive environment, taught with patience and enthusiasm, and provided a good grounding in the idea of how briefs, deliverables, and outputs function in a design scope alongside creativity. It was Mallory who encouraged Harry to seek his current tertiary pathway at Massey University, where he has had the opportunity to study abroad in Sydney for six months thanks to the university’s exchange programme.

Harry says studying Design has changed the way he sees the world around him in all areas, whether branding, advertising, film, or visual storytelling. Once he graduates from university, he plans to enter a creative career, either joining a design agency or diving straight into freelance work.