The Otago Polytechnic student was a finalist in the student-digital category and was presented with the award at a ceremony in Auckland last night.
The award was a significant acknowledgement of his passion for culture and creativity, as seen throughout his distinctly Maori world, and Mythik Tane was seen by the judges as a fantastic showcase of indigenous art and storytelling, all executed through his VR game experience.
Mr Egan chose a purakau (ancient story), passed to him by family elders, and used it as the central narrative for his master of design project.
Using Unreal Engine, he created a virtual reality game experience for use on the Oculus platform, developing three levels and quests, where the player navigates a uniquely Maori world and is given tasks to complete.
The project aimed to share a glimpse into the exciting stories of the designer's ancestors through contemporary technologies, in ways that would engage and excite young people.
The supreme winners were presented with either a purple or gold pin for their superb achievements in their field, or the illustrious black pin to honour an enduring commitment to the design world.
This year there were more than 1380 entries, including a striking visual map of forgotten Maori history in Central Hawke’s Bay; a contribution to this year’s first Matariki celebrations; a chair that treaded lightly on the planet; and an urgent campaign that encouraged people to support local small businesses in the depths of lockdown.
The star-studded judging panel said the calibre of this year’s entries instilled confidence in them for the future of design in New Zealand.
"It’s always a real privilege to be exposed to some of the best indigenous creativity happening in the world, and it makes it even more special to be able to contribute to the advancement of it here in Aotearoa," judge and DINZ co-president Anzac Tasker said.
