New Programmes for 2019

“I have wanted to go to New Zealand since first watching Lord of the Rings when I was 11, and I finally got the chance to go there on a working holiday visa in 2011. I met some people who were working at Weta and they invited me to a workshop. One thing led to another and I ended up helping out with various projects at Weta Workshop until December 2012. “A friend recommended  Yoobee to me and I enrolled in the Digital Media programme in July 2015. As a mainly self-taught artist, this course has taught me the digital tools I was lacking. I’ve learnt a lot about layout and typefaces, both of which came in handy while illustrating a children’s book for an author in Denmark. “I’m now nearing the end of my course and am very excited to have been given the opportunity to work at Weta Workshop. I’ll be doing anything from sculpting to painting to 3D models to costume design. Ultimately I’m hoping to be working with concept design and I know that the skills I’ve learnt at Yoobee and the experience I will gain working at Weta Workshop will be invaluable for achieving my goals." Iona's Story from Kim Harase on Vimeo.  

“Before starting at ACG Yoobee I was freelancing from home, whilst taking care of my two kids. My dream though has always been to get a job at Weta, become a sculptor and create a new film character. Lots of Kiwis told me in that case I’d better check out ACG Yoobee! I started halfway through last year with iCreate and I’m now studying animation. I graduate in five months’ time. “I’m enjoying these courses so much! The tutors don’t focus on spoon-feeding students information; they try to let you work things out for yourself. They have opened my eyes to some incredible artwork in a wide range of fields. The other students at ACG Yoobee are also very helpful and supportive – even if they are not in your class. As an international student from China, I have really appreciated the fact that everyone at Yoobee is so friendly and lovely. People are always at the ready to help and encourage me. “During my second year of studies I began working part-time for Time Ltd. I’m part of a team in Te Papa who are working on creating a new App. I’m a designer for this specific project, and am involved in graphic design (LOGO design, App page design), animation and multimedia design (such as video). ACG Yoobee prepared me well for this role – they introduced me to most of the programs I’m now using at work and taught me the basics. I also learned how to communicate with Kiwis, and how to quickly familiarize myself when I’m faced with a totally new program.” https://www.freelanced.com/anne063656

“I loved my time at Yoobee. I’ve never been very academic, so going to a school where the focus was on practical skills made learning so much fun. I really liked how we didn’t have any restrictions on our projects – we could go as big and crazy as we wanted! My favourite project was the mural I did for the reception area at the Wellington Campus. I felt I had taken so much from the school so it was really nice to have the opportunity to give something back. At around 7 metres wide by 2.5 metres high, it was definitely my biggest project to date! “The other thing I really loved about Yoobee was the people. The staff are so friendly and helpful and some of the students are insanely talented. Whenever I wasn’t in class I was poking my head into other classrooms, checking out what everyone was working on. “During my course I printed a lot of my projects through The Big Picture printing company and towards the end of my studies I worked for them as a contracted graphic designer. A week after graduating I received a phone call from Weta Workshop asking if I was interested in some work making weapons for a Chinese film that was in production. “I've been quite fortunate with work since finishing at Yoobee. I got a job at the Wellington Club working as an in-house designer. It was only part-time so I tried to do as much freelance work on the side as I could. I started off by doing small jobs for random clients and not-for-profit businesses. Eventually I got round to doing work for some really big companies such as Seafood NZ and..."