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A team of university students have taken out this year’s grand prize of $5000 in the yMedia Challenge for their work with community group, Natural Health Practitioners NZ.

yMedia is a social enterprise that connects tertiary students, creative professionals with not-for-proft community organisations to solve their design and digital needs.

The team named ‘Designasoaurs’ includes Josephine Ross, Olivia Mills, Rachael Mobberley, Karina Tedjapoernama, who created a complete solution that included renaming the organisation, a Facebook page, new website and packaging for the organisation’s Natural First Aid Kit.

The judges were full of praise for the Designasoaurs who have “made an astounding contribution to Natural Health Practitioners NZ Inc,” says Judge Friday O'Flaherty from Running with Scissors.

“We were really impressed by the team’s thorough understanding of the organisation and its audience, their thinking throughout and simplicity of their solution,” he says.

The winning students say the competition helped give Natural Health Practitioners NZ a new identity that is sympathetic to the organisation and will provide them with the tools to maintain a sustainable brand.

“With the new forms of media and the re-designed website, awareness has grown and reached a younger, wider audience that will continue to increase in membership.”

The team picked up their award last week at a ceremony held in the Auckland Viaduct. Co-managing director of yMedia, Eddy Helm, say the competition was a one of the toughest in the awards four-year history and standards were high across the board.

“This year a record 62 students and 20 community groups were involved in the 8 week challenge,” she says.

The Natural Health Practitioners NZ Inc’s (formerly New Zealand Charter of Health Practitioners) aim is to support and represent natural healthcare professionals in the healthcare sector. The organisation acts as an umbrella organisation representing 62 Affliate Signatories.

See the Designasoaurs team’s progress over the 8 weeks on their blog.

Other Category Winners:

Runner Up - Team 5 - Monique Griffn and Suneil Narsai for Child Poverty Action Group

Best Use of Design - Team 5 - Monique Griffn and Suneil Narsai for Child Poverty Action Group

Most innovative - Team 1 - Fritha Hookway, Plummy Woods and Rolen Chetty for ArtStation

Most sustainable - Team 2 - Stewart Duffy, Alistair Mahoney, Jackson Coley and John Christall for Benefciaries Advocacy & Information Service (BAIS)