Born and grown up in the Bay, Lauren Gibbs moved up to Auckland to attended AUT University and wants to share her experiences and encourage others to achieve their goals.

Lauren, has just completed her final year of Spatial Design, and along the way, has collected a few awards during her time studying.

'For me, design and creativity have always been a fundamental part of what I love and what I do, not only for me as a designer now, but also as a young person,” says Lauren.

'From day dot I was surrounded by creativity with both my mana and my dad themselves enjoying painting and making.

'As a curious child, creativity simply stood as a way for me to explore the world around me.”

Lauren grew up locally, attending Papamoa Primary School, Te Puke Intermediate and Papamoa College. She says throughout her education, she always had the support of her teachers to remain artistic whenever and wherever possible.

'Yes, I was that kid that drew all around the border of my physics' exams and would decorate the teachers' whiteboard.

'Growing up in the Bay, of which at the time was a small close-knit community, I found myself simply taking up any and every opportunity that came my way as a chance to share my work with others.”

Lauren says her parents are strong advocates for the phrase ‘Just go for it' and Lauren has applied that to all aspects of her life and design, and has excelled at it.

'The move to Auckland has been a tough one, brought up in a beach town, then on a farm out in Paengaroa, I never thought that a young girl like me from good ol' Papamoa could achieve the things I have.

'Earlier in the year I received an international recognition in the Annual Dulux Colour Awards. This saw me and another AUT student travel across the ditch to view our very own work out on display in Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria.

'An overwhelming moment, where the girl for Papamoa found herself viewing her own work in another country!”

Earlier this year, Lauren also attended New Zealand's biggest Design Awards for the second time, held in Auckland.

'I was up against thesis projects and my second year project, Dettaglio Colore, the same project that won in the Dulux Colour Awards, received the top overall award of the Gold Pin. Another overwhelming achievement and I was so happy to have my dad there to share the moment with.

'In that moment of winning and my passion and hard work being recognised, I simply did not feel this award was just for myself. For me this award is much more than a token of my own personal ability and lover for what I do. I believe it is also proof that wherever you are from, however many times you didn't believe in yourself, we are all destined for greatness.”

Another award the Lauren has won this year was top creative Performance of the Year at the Blue Awards. She was the first ever recipient of this award in the history of AUT and she says for her it was a very humbling achievement.

Lauren also says every holiday she always makes the effort to return to her old high school, to catch up with her former teachers but to also, see what the latest art projects look like.

'I once was that girl sitting at her desk painting away, wondering what was next for me. Now the girl is out there doing what she loves, sharing that with others and giving it her all.

'What I hope to do now is to share this success with the rest of the young people back home. So I have a message for them:

'It can be scary not knowing what you might do next, gosh I know I was terrified! Whether you are soon to be leaving school or still have a few years to go I urge you to simply pursue the thing that you love! If you love what you are doing things will honestly begin to fall into place. I'm not saying it will be easy, of course, hard work is a must but none of that is ever wasted. It will take you places.

'To all you young eager creative, keep making. Test things, fail once, fail twice, reflect and try again. Take all local opportunities then go bigger. Do not forget that the world is a big and beautiful place just waiting for you all to conquer, so get out there, explore, stay curious and like my old man would say ‘just go for it' while also never forgetting where you came from. The beautiful Bay.”

Lauren's next adventure is now looking for a job. She says she is ready to design no longer for the grade at the end of the semester, nor for herself but for the benefit and experience of others.

'I am excited to learn from real life, develop as a designer, returning back to the Bay on day with my own practice.”