WSU student designer makes waves at Made in the West

Every year, Made in the West partners with Western Sydney University to give one lucky design student the chance to shape the visual identity of the festival - and in 2025 we welcome Nico Mendoza to the creative spotlight.

Nico’s poster design for Made in the West 2025 captures everything we love about Western Sydney filmmaking - creativity, transformation, and that unstoppable momentum that keeps the region’s stories surging forward.

This year’s theme 'Creative Evolution' celebrates growth in all its forms; from first-time filmmakers discovering their voice to bold alumni returning with new collaborators and next-level ambition. It’s about that electric moment when a spark becomes a surge, when a local story takes flight, and when the scene itself feels like it’s bursting with life.

We call it the Lilypad Effect.

Imagine a dreamlike pond - calm and steady beneath the surface, but teeming with creative energy above it. This is where ideas hatch, filmmakers leap, and careers take shape.

Each lily pad represents a milestone, a connection, or a turning point in a filmmaker’s journey. Together, they form an ecosystem of collaboration, talent and transformation - alive, unpredictable, and beautifully Western Sydney.

When we shared that concept with the design students at WSU’s Illustration for Popular Culture subject, we knew it would take a special kind of imagination to bring it to life. Enter Nichol Mendoza.

“I wanted to capture the themes of ‘emergence’ and ‘next-level ambition’," says Nico, "which is why the main subject is shown looking upward, rising from a lotus flower.”

"The poster highlights the emerging talent and creative energy of Western Sydney."

Nico’s artwork is a vivid mix of colour and texture. It’s a design that doesn’t just represent creativity. It feels creative.

"I’ve developed a personal style in my artwork," he says. "I usually create portraits with natural, muted tones."

"So when I found out that Made in the West wanted a design featuring frogs, lily pads, bright colours, and digital elements, I knew it would be a real challenge."

"Overall, the project became a great opportunity for me to step out of my comfort zone, learn new techniques, and expand my design skill set."

The connection between creative innovation and storytelling runs deep in Made in the West’s DNA.

Every year, the festival showcases short films from across Western Sydney - dramas, comedies, documentaries, music videos and everything in between - each one a reflection of the vibrant creative community that calls this region home.

And over the years, we’ve watched those stories grow. We’ve seen filmmakers who first entered with student films return as seasoned directors. We’ve seen collaborations form over drinks at the bar that led to full-scale productions. We’ve seen alumni come back as mentors, judges and even sponsors.

It’s a living, breathing network; an ecosystem of filmmakers, storytellers, designers and dreamers, and Nico’s design captures that energy perfectly.

As part of his Illustrations for Pop Culture unit at Western Sydney University, Nico was tasked with developing a concept that could evolve into a professional piece of visual communication.

For Made in the West, that meant working from initial sketches to final branding, translating the festival’s theme into a cohesive identity that would live across posters, digital screens, social media, and the big screen itself.

"Having my work featured in the Made in the West event is such an amazing feeling," Nico says, "and as an Advertising student, having my design used as an actual promotional material feels like the perfect opportunity."

It’s exactly the kind of hands-on, real-world opportunity that defines Made in the West’s partnership with Western Sydney University.

Each year, our collaboration with WSU opens doors for students to gain experience across creative industries - from photography and event production to social media, volunteering, and on-the-ground roles during the festival.

Some students join our crew as photographers, capturing the glitz and emotion of the red carpet. Others intern behind the scenes, learning the ropes of event management and marketing. Many go on to join the local industry, armed with connections made through Made in the West.

We’re proud to see so many WSU students taking those first creative leaps with us - and proud to have the university as a major sponsor and supporter of Western Sydney film talent.

Nico’s poster design is the latest chapter in that story - a symbol of how creative partnerships between universities and grassroots festivals can spark real transformation.

"I want to build a career that allows me to use my creativity beyond just visuals, one that combines strategic thinking with meaningful storytelling," Nico says.

"Like many creatives, I’m driven by the idea of producing work that not only stands out but also makes a real impact on people and society.”

That’s exactly what we hope for. Every year, Made in the West aims to not just showcase films, but to build a stronger creative ecosystem - one that nurtures new talent, fosters collaboration, and celebrates the diversity of stories coming out of the west.

And this year, that celebration is bigger than ever.

For the first time, Made in the West is expanding from a one-night-only event to a full summer-long festival - with an Opening Night Gala on Saturday 22 November, an Online Festival streaming worldwide, pop-up screenings across Western Sydney, and a Closing Night celebration in February.

You can find the full program lineup here!

Nico’s design will be everywhere - on posters around town, across our digital platforms, and lighting up the festival’s red carpet moments all summer long.

That’s creative evolution in action - the very heart of the Lilypad Effect.

From the first sketch to the final poster, Nico’s journey mirrors that of the filmmakers whose work he’s helping to promote - starting with a spark, taking a leap, and landing somewhere new, confident, and full of life. Follow Nico's work here or connect with him on LinkedIn here.

That’s what Made in the West is all about.

So next time you see our 2025 festival poster, take a closer look. Beneath the bright colours and flowing shapes, you’ll see a story of transformation - not just of one festival or one student, but of an entire creative community that keeps evolving, leaping, and leading the way for Western Sydney film.

You’ll see the Lilypad Effect in motion. And if you want to see it up close, you know where to be: join us for our Opening Night Gala event on Saturday 22 November as Made in the West kicks off another season of incredible Western Sydney storytelling. Grab your FREE tickets now!

Made in the West is proud to continue working alongside WSU students each year. We remember what it was like to be studying at university and eager to connect with people in the industry, and we're grateful for the opportunity to provide real-world experience in the creative industries.

Our huge thanks again to WSU School of Humanities & Communication Arts for supporting the festival as a Silver Screen sponsor. We've been delighted to strengthen our relationship with Western Sydney University and create meaningful opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in arts organisations like ours.

Over the past few years, we've had the pleasure of working with nearly 100 students across our various projects and internships – whether on set of Made in the West TV, designing our poster for the festival each year, working on our 10th anniversary augmented reality magazine, participating in our annual internship programs, or joining us as festival crew.

Our university internship program remains one of our favourite ways to work one-on-one with students, giving them direct experience in the creative industries while contributing to the growth of the Western Sydney film community.

If you're keen to work with us, feel free to contact us for upcoming opportunities!

In the meantime, keep an eye out around town and on your devices as Nico's electric design takes over Western Sydney - coming to cinema poster boxes, traffic light buzzers, branded merchandise, and arts and cultural centres near you soon.