From inventive barcode designs to games, digital experiences and storytelling projects, this year's E/Merge exhibition gave Whitireia and WelTec ākonga the opportunity to share their creativity and hard work with whānau, industry guests and the wider community.
One of the highlights of the exhibition was the announcement of the 2026 Raise the Bar barcode design competition winners. Delivered in partnership with GS1 New Zealand, the competition challenges design ākonga to turn an everyday barcode into something unexpected and memorable, while still meeting industry requirements. Along the way, ākonga develop a complete product identity, including branding, logos, packaging, colour palettes and visual storytelling.
This year's barcodes were transformed into everything from tangled cats and tiger tails to picnic blankets, setting suns and soaring tīeke, showcasing both creativity and technical skill. More importantly, the competition gives ākonga valuable industry experience, helping them apply their ideas in a real-world design context.
Congratulations to the 2026 Whitireia and WelTec Raise the Bar winners: Seth Pengelly for Tieke Ti (first place), Emma Guy for Gino's (second place) and Awhina Anderson for Pink Tiger (third place).
Beyond Raise the Bar, E/Merge featured work from Master of Design and Bachelor of Creativity ākonga across a wide range of disciplines, including digital media, product design, gaming, illustration, user experience design and storytelling.
Digital Media and Design kaiako Niki Krishnamurthy said E/Merge provides a platform for ākonga to step beyond the classroom and share their creativity with others. "For many ākonga, E/Merge is the first time they present their work to a wider audience. It gives them the space to talk about their creative process, receive feedback, and gain confidence in sharing their ideas as emerging designers."
Among those exhibiting at this year's showcase was Master of Design ākonga Akshaya Shanker, who presented Thadam, an original board game inspired by her Tamil heritage. Through gameplay, Thadam celebrates culture, identity and storytelling. "Thadam is very personal to me because it's inspired by my own cultural background and brings together a lot of the creative things I love," says Akshaya. "Sharing it through E/Merge feels like sharing a part of who I am with others."
Fellow Master of Design ākonga Elena Lapteva showcased a visual novel game exploring how people share and experience culture through relationships. "I hope my project encourages people to be more open-minded about relationships and to look beyond gender, nationality or other differences," says Elena. "At the end of the day, we are all people, and we can learn a lot from each other's cultures and experiences."
E/Merge is about much more than displaying projects, says Cyril Peter, Head of School for Innovation, Design and Technology. "It's an opportunity for ākonga to share the thinking behind their work, receive feedback from industry professionals, and build confidence in presenting their ideas. The connections they make and the conversations they have can open doors to internships, employment, and future opportunities in the creative sector."
From projects exploring cultural identity and inclusion to innovative digital experiences and design solutions, E/Merge highlighted the creativity, talent and fresh thinking emerging from Whitireia and WelTec's creative programmes.
