Two students studying Technology and Applied Sciences in Sydney's Catholic schools have been congratulated on winning excellence in design projects by the Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca.

``The award winning projects demonstrate students' originality of design and sound development of management and production skills as well as collaboration,'' Mr Della Bosca said at the Minister's Young Designers Awards (MYDA) held at the Muse Gallery of the Sydney Institute of TAFE today.

The annual Minister's Young Designers Awards challenges Years 7 and 8 Design students to look at the world around them and design a successful solution to a particular problem area after investigating products, systems and environments.

Joshua Gonzalez from Clancy Catholic College, West Hoxton won the State Award for an innovative approach to water conservation.

The Year 8 student created his own film titled, 'Water', using research from the Australian of the Year, Tim Flannery, and film techniques inspired by the work of Alfred Hitchcock and Michael Moore.

"I am trying to make people think about water and influence their behaviour towards it," Joshua said. 

"Australia is facing new problems every day with the drought. If we can change the way people think about water through this project, then I have reached my goal in helping the conservation of this precious and natural resource needed for sustaining life."

Joshua's peers, Kaitlyn Maia, Matthew Caltabiano and Andrew Joulianou, also put their heads together and collaboratively produced the College's second short-listed film in the awards, called 'Water for Life!'

In this year's 14th annual challenge, the students had the option to create designs and develop solutions to satisfy the important need of saving water.

The awards, run by Board of Studies NSW and the Department of Education and Training for NSW, attracted 196 entries from 49 secondary schools.

Melinda Clark from Domremy College, Five Dock won the Taronga Zoo sponsored award for her innovative design of future jewellery.

The talented designer impressed the judges with her creative use of material, technique and use of colour, which was influenced by her love of New Zealand.

All the winning projects were on display in the Muse Gallery today for the presentation ceremony.

The exhibition displays the creativity and sensitivity in responding to the needs of the environment that are inherent in young people today.