Jade Baxter
In a full-circle moment, Toi Ohomai Bachelor of Creative Industries graduate, Jade Baxter, has returned to the Tauranga campus where she studied, this time as a graphic designer within the institute’s Brand and Engagement team. Jade completed her degree in 2023 and says coming back as a staff member feels special.
“It’s awesome to be back here… I get to contribute to the place that helped shape my career pathway,” Jade says.
Since graduating, Jade has gained industry experience through internships and project work at creative agencies in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, including completing a summer internship at Design Juice, a local advertising and graphic design agency. She also took on freelance and unpaid projects to help build her portfolio and expand her professional network.
“I was the lead illustrator behind the Mount Mainstreet campaign alongside WOODS Agency,” Jade says.
“You may have seen the bright bin wraps and window decals around Mount Maunganui. I’m really proud of that work, and I’m grateful for all the opportunities I secured not long after graduating. All the small projects I took on helped me grow my experience and meet new people, ultimately opening the door to more opportunities.”
Jade says she enjoys the variety of the design work she now completes as an in-house designer at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, from corporate collateral to student-focused marketing campaigns.
“I love seeing my work around campus and watching how students interact with it. It motivates me to keep trying new design concepts and get better. Being able to learn from a more senior graphic designer in the team, Andrew, has been awesome for my development too. He’s great at sharing his expertise and providing guidance.”
When asked what advice she’d give to aspiring creatives considering studying at Toi Ohomai, Jade simply says “go for it!”
“Learn as much as you can, soak it all up, and take every opportunity you can get… You have to realise how competitive and fast-moving the creative industry is and be prepared to be your biggest advocate. It’s important to put yourself out there, promote your work and seek out opportunities.”
Jade also believes creatives should view artificial intelligence (AI) as an assistant, rather than a competitor.
“AI is advancing so fast. So you have to use AI to improve the process, rather than seeing it as a threat. For me personally, my biggest career challenge so far has been learning how to navigate a highly competitive and rapidly changing industry. I’m really proud of where I’ve got to in my career already. I think it’s important to be a generalist, rather than a specialist, because what’s expected of people working in the creative industries is becoming broader. However, you do still need a specialist skill that will make you stand out. For me, that’s illustration.”
A former Otumoetai College student, Jade credits her secondary school teachers with playing a key role in her decision to pursue a creative industries career.
“At high school, my art and media teachers always pushed me to my limit,” she says.
“I realised early on that I was good at the creative subjects and wanted to make a career out of it. Growing up around creative people and spending time at The Incubator arts hub at Tauranga’s Historic Village was a contributing factor too. I knew at a practical level what it would be like to work in the creative industries locally.”
Jade left high school at the end of Year 12 to fast-track her career pathway, starting with a six-month Certificate in Art and Design (Level 4) at Toi Ohomai.
“My goal was to figure out what niche of the creative arts and design industry I wanted to go into. Pretty quickly, I decided it was graphic design,” she says.
After completing the certificate, Jade moved to Wellington to study at Massey University. But when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her plans, she returned to Tauranga and transferred her papers into the Bachelor of Creative Industries programme at Toi Ohomai.
Jade says it was an easy decision to make. The smaller class sizes and personalised support on offer at Toi Ohomai suited her learning style.
“My classes at Toi Ohomai were really tight-knit, and you get so much one-on-one time with tutors. There were lots of group projects and self-directed work that helped build my confidence.”
For her final third-year project, Jade reached out directly to an Auckland fashion brand, Clove Label, in the hopes of including real client work in her presentation.
“Putting myself out there paid off... and that project became a part of my portfolio. It was such a proud moment.”
If you’re considering a creative industries career in graphic design, visual arts or media, view the study options available at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology. Intakes for 2026 start in February and August.
For those interested in seeing Jade’s work, follow her creative account on Instagram: @__byjadedesign.