2026 Hot New Things: Bee Wilson, Victoria University of Wellington
Design Assembly profiles a selection of the top graduates from the best Art and Design Schools in Aotearoa New Zealand. We welcome these talented emerging professionals to our industry, learn about their passions, final projects, developing creative confidence and ambitions for the future.
Today we speak with Bee Wilson who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Design Innovation, majoring in Communication Design from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. Find out more about tertiary study options across Aotearoa New Zealand on our Design Schools page.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I’m Bee, a Communication Design student at Victoria University of Wellington. My passion is illustration, specifically drawing cool people in cool outfits. In my spare time, if I’m not drawing, I crochet, DIY clothes, and watch nerdy stuff like Star Wars. I grew up in Christchurch before moving to Wellington to study. I’m obsessed with physical media – DVDs, CDs, art books, zines!! If I can hold it in my hands I want it. I’m about to complete my final year of study, and am unsure what the future holds for me. But I’m excited to find out.
What was the focus of your graduating project?
My capstone project Pedestrians is a book of Illustrations and fashion-focused interviews of people on Cuba Street. The aim was to showcase the diverse ways Wellingtonians express themselves through fashion, and their opinions on the subject. Every part of the process was done by me – asides from the printing, which was done at the University’s Resource Centre on paper from Paper Source. I interviewed, photographed, and illustrated each person (the backgrounds are the original photographs), as well as formatting and hand binding the book.
What did you choose to study Bachelor of Design Innovation, majoring in Communication Design at Victoria University of Wellington?
When I decided to study design, I knew that Victoria had a design degree so I just looked into that and thought it sounded good. I didn’t even look at other schools like Massey. I would recommend not doing this and looking into all your options…
What did you enjoy most about the programme?
I loved every project where I could just draw whatever I wanted to. Once I figured out that I could warp the project briefs to fit what I wanted to do (draw), the projects became much more enjoyable. I guess that’s my main takeaway – do things you like for your assignments. It’s much easier to stay focused and enjoy the process when you’re basing it on things you like. And you can build the skills you’re most interested in. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go out of your comfort zone sometimes though.
What was your biggest challenge while studying?
I think that sometimes I hold myself to impossible standards and beat myself up when I don’t complete things to that standard. And that can sometimes result in me not wanting to start a project, or procrastinating on a project, when I know that it’s not in my skillset and that I won’t meet the standards I set for myself. In reality I know that doing ‘bad’ work is all part of the learning process. I think the main thing that got me through this was improving my mental health in other aspects and also letting myself do silly or bad work sometimes (outside of university projects). For me that usually manifests as little drawings in a sketchbook that no one else will see. Something about doing silly stuff for fun takes the pressure off doing more serious stuff.
Who (or what) inspired you to pick design as a career path?
Honestly I didn’t consider design as a career until I went to a careers counsellor soon before university applications started. Up until that point I had thought that I would go into medicine, even though I had always loved art and had taken design in high school. I guess my dad had picked up on the fact that I wasn’t sure, and sent me to the counsellor who was like ‘well what about these design and art classes you take.’ I had never thought of it as an option, and it just clicked, so that’s what I applied for.
Who is your favourite designer?
It’s so hard to choose just one, there are so many amazing artists I follow online. Right now I’m loving the artist @nigelgraz on Instagram, I love their style and the colours and lighting are always great. They often draw vampires which is a great way to keep me interested.
What is next for you?
One day I hope to make a living off illustration, although with the economy right now I’m not sure about the reality of that. For the near future my goal is to have a stable job that allows me the time and energy to keep doing my art and design on the side. I’ve improved my art skills a lot in the past year, and hope to continue that trajectory and keep learning.
Where can we see more of your work?
https://pedestrians.myportfolio.com/work
Instagram @bee_does_art
Behance – beewilson1
E-mail – beew2403@gmail.com
