Vajk Peter
3rd-year student, Bachelor of Design Te Tohu Paetahi mō te Hoahoa in Industrial Design
His dream is to become a boat designer, says Vajk Peter who is currently completing a Bachelor of Design Te Tohu Paetahi mō te Hoahoa in Industrial Design.
“I love everything about the ocean and outdoors, and once I graduate from AUT I hope to join this niche industry, and design elegant and sustainable boats.
“When I first started at AUT, I was enrolled in the maritime engineering degree to guide me on the path towards designing boats. However, after my first year I found myself looking for a more creative course to fully explore my passion, and the lovely AUT staff guided me towards industrial design.”
Changing degrees was a challenging jump, he admits, but he knows it was the right decision for him.
“Industrial design is a broad course, and delving into design briefs offers many directions – from a small handheld product to a large artefact, a great new system or even an app. It means that I can focus on designing the things I care about. With the support from my lecturers and classmates, I quickly caught up and I’m more than happy with my decision. And it’s always great to see the massive range of concepts that the class has developed for each brief.”
Supported to thrive
Vajk says he loves the freedom that comes with his studies.
“Rather than just preparing you for an exam with loads of theory, AUT prepares you for the world after university with its more hands-on approach and vast industry connections. Using the briefs that we design for each semester, I can explore my interests. For example, in one brief we needed to create a product incorporating underutilised New Zealand strong wool. I practised my love of the outdoors through the development of a bag for taking perishable food on tramps.
“But the best part of student life for me is the community that I’ve grown into. More than I’d like to admit, I find myself coming to uni for socialising instead of doing work. My industrial design class is an amazing, diverse and tight knit bunch!”
He is grateful for receiving an AUT Welcome to Auckland Scholarship to support him throughout his studies.
“This scholarship has supported me greatly with my studies and with the move to Auckland from Dunedin. Because it contributed to my first-year accommodation costs at Te Āhuru Mayoral Drive Student Accommodation and to my course fees, it lifted a lot of stress off my shoulders. This enabled me to focus more of my time on studying rather than worrying about money.”
Advice for other students
Now in the final year of his studies, Vajk has some great advice for other students interested in art and design.
“The freedom while studying is unmatched. You can explore your interests and creative mind with no consequences, while having access to world-class facilities at your fingertips.
“I’d definitely recommend studying at AUT – come to a university that gives you the freedom and support to find and express yourself!”
Applying for a scholarship is a great way to support your studies, he adds, and his advice is quite straightforward: stop procrastinating and just apply.
