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Dylan Web Images

Image description

An action shot shows Dylan playing wheelchair rugby. He wears a black singlet. Another athlete is in the background.

No more pity stories thanks! Merging sports and design to elevate disabled athletes

William Sangster
By William Sangster

Fresh out of Otago University, Dylan Lloyd is a graphic designer and athlete making a huge mark in his community - both on the wheelchair rugby court and in the design industry.

  • No more pity stories thanks! Merging sports and design to elevate disabled athletes
    William Sangster
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  • Dylan Lloyd blends his graphic design skills and athletic experience to represent disabled athletes on and off the court.

    The 20-year-old recent graduate from Dunedin says this passion is shaped by his experience as a disabled person.

    Like many of us who are sick of mainstream media negatively framing our communities, Lloyd is tired of news stories that frame disabled athletes' achievements as overcoming adversity rather than recognise their skill. 

  • “You don’t have to have a ‘pity story’ as a disabled athlete,” he says. “Every story, good or bad, deserves to be shared.”

  • Lloyd recently landed his first post-university job as a part-time graphic designer and content creator for the Halberg Foundation.

    A passion for design

    Lloyd immediately fell in love with graphic design in high school, where he started creating sports wallpapers and YouTube thumbnails. 

    He’s got a recognisably bold and trendy style inspired by multiple sporting teams.

    At Otago Polytechnic, he faced some tough moments in his first year. "I wanted to impress my peers, but I knew my hands wouldn’t always cooperate," a common experience for some of us in the CP gang.

  • By his third year, he had found his stride and laughed with classmates: “They came to expect that my hands might not be the greatest,” he jokes, “but the ideas would get across.”

    While many designers begin by sketching their ideas by hand, Lloyd uses drawing tablets to adapt to his hand function.

    "I’ve never been great at hand drawing or working with physical materials," he says. "So, I adapted."

  • The love of sport

    While graphic design is one of his passions, Lloyd also grew up with a deep love for sports, competing and always looking to be involved and having a physical outlet.

    He currently plays wheelchair rugby and is in the wider squad for the national team, the Wheel Blacks.

    His two passions first came together when he did design work for local sports teams. 

Image description: Dylan, wearing a black New Zealand jersey, plays wheelchair rugby on a court holding a ball. He is near an opponent in a bright yellow and green jersey, both engaged in the game

  • Dylan, wearing a black New Zealand jersey, plays wheelchair rugby on a court holding a ball. He is near an opponent in a bright yellow and green jersey, both engaged in the game

  • "Wheeling on grass isn’t always easy, but I make it work," he says. 

    Adapting how he holds his camera gear was another hurdle, but he’s found his own way by modifying his bag to attach to his wheelchair.

    "It may not be the most orthodox, but it works for me."

  • Looking ahead to the future

    Excited to start his new role at the Halberg Foundation, Lloyd hopes to bring his creativity, fresh ideas and contribute to a collaborative team environment.

    “Working for a company like Halberg means a lot to me because of how much the organisation has played a role in my life. So being able to be a part of that in a different way with awesome staff is very rewarding and something I am proud to be part of.”

    Lloyd still has dreams of travelling and working with sports teams like the Highlanders or Chelsea one day. "I’m driven to show that there are opportunities out there for people, despite a disability," he says.

Image description: Dylan smiling on a field in a royal blue graduation gown, holding his degree.

  • Dylan smiles on a green field in a royal blue graduation gown, proudly holding his degree.

  • He is also training to make the Wheel Blacks Paralympic squad for Los Angeles 2028. Above all, he wants to help disabled athletes build their online presence.

    Lloyd’s message to future generations of disabled sports content creators is clear: “There’s always a way to make things work. The judgment is often self-inflicted - most people don’t care, and the ones who do aren’t worth your time. Just go do what you want to do."

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