Creative Careers guide by CreativeCareers

YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO CREATIVE CAREERS WITH A GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY CREATIVE DEGREE.

First published 2021 Project manager and production: Dominique Falla Production assistant: Kirsty Gordon Layout design: Paola Frangiosa, Liveworm Studio Typeface: Sofia Pro This guide is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. The information contained in this guide is to the best of the author’s and publisher’s knowledge true and correct. Every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy, but the author and publisher do not accept responsibility for any loss, injury or damage arising from such information.

Production of this guide was funded by a Griffith Grant for Learning and Teaching.

ELISABETH FINDLAY Message from the QCA Director

Since its foundation in 1881, the College has produced many notable alumni who have established impressive careers. This publication is a snapshot of QCA’s graduates. It tells their stories—of how they built careers in a diverse range of fields. It includes fascinating accounts of artists, designers and photographers, as well as gallery managers, teachers, registrars, creative directors, and the list goes on. The vignettes are a testament to the exciting opportunities that flow from a design and creative arts education.

In studies on the jobs of the future, creativity, originality, and initiative have been identified as key skills that employers will demand. We are at a moment when the future world of work is uncertain but exhilarating. It will be fascinating to see what careers will be added to the guide as it evolves— careers that we are only just beginning to imagine.

For our next generation of students, this guide provides a roadmap to how they can forge their own career pathways. It offers insightful and authentic advice from those who have graduated before them.

I want to thank all of our alumni for their generosity in contributing to this publication. Their frankness in answering questions—from the advice they would give themselves when starting their first year through to a typical day for them now—makes this guide an absorbing read (not something you can say about all guides!).

Through the individual stories of our alumni—the stories of real people who have passed through QCA—it points to the meaningful possibilities of creative careers.

I also want to extend my gratitude to Associate Professor Dominique Falla, who conceived of this book. It is her commitment and hard work that has made this very special publication a reality.

Professor Elisabeth Findlay

DOMINIQUE FALLA Message from the QCA Deputy Director of Learning and Teaching

Welcome to the Queensland College of Art Creative Careers Guide. My goal in creating this guide is to bring together real-world examples of creative careers to help you make the successful transition from education to employment and flourish as a creative professional. This guide is designed to expose and connect Griffith undergraduate students to the career pathways undertaken by successful Griffith graduates. The guide highlights the variety of career pathways available to those with a creative art and design degree. In addition, it delves into the unique facets of each industry by interviewing graduates who occupy those positions.

The guide supplies a range of honest insights into what life on the job is really like and allows students to map their study journey to an end goal. For this project, we interviewed a range of successful QCA alumni and aimed to capture the real-world experiences of each of these creative arts graduates. By putting a face and name to roles such as ‘jewellery designer’, ‘gallery curator’, ‘digital product designer’, ‘freelance illustrator’ and so on, the hope is this guide will serve as real-world inspiration and a roadmap for your creative career.

Associate Professor Dominique Falla

TIPS FOR YOUR CREATIVE CAREER How do you develop a career that draws on creativity, talent, skill and passion?

Where are you heading?

You’ve gotta eat!

This isn’t about your career destination, but your career direction. Think about where you might be heading. What do you love doing? Be open to learning and to new ideas. And once you’ve worked that out, get good at it! Train. Practice. Learn. Rehearse. Your raw talent and passion need shaping.

Yes, your head is filled with ideas but you have to eat, keep a roof over your head and pay the bills. Be prepared to work more than one job. This isn’t a 9–5 existence you’re signing up for. Creative careers often take a while to become self-sustaining. So find something that you’re happy to do to support yourself, while having enough time and mental space to invest in your art.

Inspiration You know you’re creative, but what to do—where to start? Whose work do you admire? Who inspires you?

Internships and volunteering

Read their blogs, follow them on social media. Get up close and learn from them. Be found at galleries, gigs, performances and festivals. And take every opportunity to talk to people who make a living from their creative talents.

This is about getting experience. It’s no or low-pay in return for opportunities to learn. Make the most of your internship. Be on time, work hard, be available and be flexible—ready to try new things. This is where you’re earning your reputation in the industry you’ve got your eyes on.

Information

Get some business skills—you’ll need them!

Find out more from industry associations such as the Design Institute of Australia. You’ll find links to professional associations on most of the occupation profiles on myfuture. And check out the myfuture videos and career stories from creatives who started where you are. What’s in demand? Look for areas in demand or growing. Identify the trends and then advance them. Put your own spin on it.

Chances are you’ll be self-employed. Learn the basics of business management so you can actually make some money from what you do. Be the one Teen fiction author John Larkin tells of his first day in a creative writing class at university. Thirty hopeful writers gathered, ready to do all it took to succeed as a writer. This is what they were told: ‘Only one of you will succeed because only one of you will not give up’. He decided that day to be that one.

Pamela Ledley—myfuture.edu.au

CHLOE TOZER ROLE

Owner | CEO

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Jewellery and Small Objects

Chloe has run CLO Jewellery and her retail shop CLO Studios for six years. Who do you currently work for? CLO Studios is a showroom located in Noosa Heads. We offer curated furniture, fine art and homewares: interior design and styling services. The showroom also showcases my jewellery label, CLO Jewellery. How did you arrive at your current position? After graduating from QCA, I opened my jewellery studio and retail shopfront in Noosa Heads. We have been in operation for nearly six years now. Have you done any further study? During high school, I studied a Certificate III in Business. Then, during my gap year, I did a summer painting course at the Edinburgh College of Art.

What does a typical day look like for you? Every day is so unique! I usually get to work at 7:30am to get organised before my team arrives. We have a team meeting to start the day to run through any priorities. I spend my day meeting clients, working on design projects, site visits, selecting materials, designing jewellery and furniture, and organising containers and products overseas. I also work with suppliers to order new stock, merchandising the showroom, collaborate with team members on projects, visit our warehouse, meet with prospect clients and set up new business opportunities, emails and more emails. Every day is unique, but I love that! What are the top three skills you regularly use? Problem-solving! Organisation and creativity. Our business wouldn’t be what it is today without its strong creative direction, which helps develop a strong brand. What are the best aspects of your current role? I love the creative aspect of what I do, having an idea and making it happen! What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I found internships to be really beneficial. It’s one thing to be creative, but it’s good to learn how to turn your creativity into a career path.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Social media and our online store! It’s been so exciting to see our online presence grow and it’s so rewarding to see the results. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Just make the most of it! Learn as much as you can, get to know the amazing staff as most are artists and work in the creative field. Did you do an internship of any sort? Yes, with a local jeweller. It was so valuable! I feel everyone should do internships. It gives people the opportunity to be hands-on and experience what the role or industry is actually like.

TRISTAN SCHULTZ ROLE

Founder | Co-Director Design Lead

STUDY Bachelor of Design, with a Major in 3D/Product Design; Master of Design Futures with Honours; PhD in Design

After my Master’s, I decided to take up a full-time position at QCA as the Convenor of the Visual Communication Design Major in the Design Futures Program at QCA, where I remained as an academic while I also completed my PhD. This also allowed me to travel the world, presenting papers at conferences and conducting design research.

Tristan runs Relative Creative, a design agency focused on sustainable and socially responsible design. His career pathway to this point is insightful and inspirational.

A few years ago, I transitioned back into the industry, re-establishing Relative Creative and transforming it into one of Australia’s leading strategic design agencies. Today, even though (not regarding COVID-19) I travel globally and nationally for various projects, I made a conscious decision to embed the practice at home, on the Gold Coast at Burleigh, to contribute to the transformation of the Gold Coast and have a beautiful family home base.

What are the top three skills you regularly use? Critical Thinking, Strategic and Systemic Thinking, Design and Creative Thinking. What are the best aspects of your current role? The best thing about my role is that I get to dedicate my mind to defining and solving wicked problems through design every day. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? During and after my undergraduate I was in the surf industry. I ended up as the Design Manager for Billabong accessories. So, I spent years designing backpacks and luggage, travelling the world, researching the range and visiting factories and suppliers. I returned to postgraduate study after this and began tutoring in Design at QCA.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? During my time as a designer for the surf industry, I would design and develop products, season after season, with no understanding of its forward connection; its footprint. As a result, I very quickly became bitter with my practice. I sensed the reality of what we were doing, consumerism in action, on a seasonal scale (300 pieces, three times a year) and without any ecological consideration. I knew something was wrong, yet I had no sense of what was an alternative way. As most twenty-somethings do, to ‘find myself’, I backpacked around the world. My eyes were wide open as I traversed cultures and spaces on all four corners of the globe. Yet, I still had not found that ‘utopian’ solution. At a young age, I was around 23; it was imperative to go, see, and be exposed face to face with what the mind suggests are problems in our world.

I returned to head up accessories design as Design Manager at Billabong. I was conscious I was looking down the barrel of a high-volume consumerist on-trend product model, yet I justified a difference; the position description talked about sustainability, eco-product, and technical advancement in its key performance indicators. I took the job. For two years, I spent many a late night at my office desk scouring over supplier capabilities and researching how to make our product more ‘eco’. Unfortunately, just as I was deep into implementing several solid eco-initiatives, the global financial crisis hit. Syncing with this, cotton became scarce due to climate changes worldwide (which increased the demand and price of polyester), and Billabong found itself in a fight for survival amongst unprecedented pressures. Within such an uptight, high-pressure environment embroiled in delivering sales figures as the only way to survive, my embedded inertia resurfaced. In the end, my mission was to design and develop high-quality functional products that paved the way for less needless ‘stuff’ in a saturated marketplace. Thus, I decided to return to postgraduate studies to pursue a Master of Design Futures. The experience of the Design Futures Master’s program shaped my ability to articulate how my disillusionment with a consumer-capital mode of designing is an outcome of the way I was taught and practised design as a product of Western modernity. I left behind a successful commercial design career to make myself anew. I married, I divorced. I found my life partner and the joy of a child. I left a big house and moved into a small one. I increasingly asked the question ‘why’ of design. I committed to attempt, at least, to make better worlds professionally via my practice—design. As bell hooks writes, I sought to render my life as a ‘living example of my politics’. I also sought to lead by example to my students. I was now teaching at QCA that this kind of design can be occupational. Today I am proud of how Relative Creative has provided just that. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? You can’t sustain others if you don’t sustain yourself first. So always work toward aligning what you get paid for with your deep moral and ethical values. That is when you have found your passion for work.

ALI CAMERON ROLE

Film Director | Photographer

STUDY Bachelor of Photography, Major in Photojournalism and Photographic Art Ali is a film director represented by Taxi Film Production while also operating as a freelance photographer and filmmaker. Who are your typical clients?

After finishing my degree at QCA, I moved to São Paulo, Brazil, where I joined a production collective called Galeria Experiência (a Brazilian friend I met in Brisbane recommended me to her brother, who was the founder). After a trial period of a few months, the rapid learning of Portuguese and a ton of hard work, I secured a full-time position and became a company member for the following two years.

For larger commercial jobs with Taxi, I’ve done work for financial institutions (Suncorp and CUA), agencies such as Clemenger BBDO, VLMYandR and Engine Group, educational institutions (UQ, TAFE, UWA), and recently a bushfire public awareness campaign for the South Australian Government and the CFS (Country Fire Service). My freelance film and photography work has involved a long relationship with Queensland Ballet photographing a broad diversity of content over the past seven years, as well as a ton of work for clients in the arts, including Circa, Australian Performing Arts Market, The Tivoli, QMF (Qld Music Festival) and Brisbane Festival. Another long-standing client is the Brisbane Lions and Hyundai’s collaborative charity ‘Hyundai Help for Kids.

It was whilst in Brazil that I diversified into filmmaking. Learning editing, sound and colour-grading software and dealing with the limitations of early DSLR filmmaking whilst learning a language was a baptism of fire, but one that completely changed the course of my career (and life!).

How did you arrive at your current position?

In general, running a freelance business involves the constant juggling of communications with clients about current or future projects (a lot of emails!). It also involves pitching; film pre and post-production; stills editing; accounting and folio updates; gear maintenance; research and development for personal projects; and attending workshops, film festivals, exhibitions and conferences to broaden networks, knowledge and inspiration.

Upon returning to Australia after my time in Brazil, I built a local portfolio and created pro bono films for a few local businesses that I admired. The highly condensed story is that one of those films caught the eye of an agency creative director and ultimately led me to the world of advertising and then becoming a signed director. Whilst I was learning the ropes of the creative advertising world, I was also building my freelance photography and film business locally and internationally. As a result, I took chances on new opportunities (one of which led to filming the Governor of Lagos and working with the same client in Turkey and New Zealand). 10

What pathway did you take to get to your current role?

What does a typical day look like for you? There isn’t a ‘typical day for me as it really depends upon the combination of projects that I have on my plate (We will also need to pretend that COVID-19 isn’t our current altered reality!). If I’m directing a television commercial (TVC), it usually takes priority over everything else as the pre to post timeframes are generally very tight.

What are the best aspects of your current role? The thing I love most is being on set and working with a team. I love finding ways to make people feel at ease so that their stories can be told most truthfully and naturally possible. The diversity of stories I’ve been able to tell had opened all the doors I dreamed of when I was young. It might sound cliché, but I’ve been backstage with world-class musicians, ballet dancers and acrobats, filmed in the midst of a bushfire and on a ferry in Istanbul, had client drinks on the Sunset Strip and in a pub the Murray Mallee. The adventures are unpredictable and limitless!

What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Enjoy yourself and the freedom to push your creative boundaries, but most of all, don’t underestimate the value of the relationships you create with people on campus. Branch out and make friends with people in years above and below you and in differing degrees. The community that I built makes up the core of a cherished friendship group and the source of many professional relationships.

Have you done any further study? Yes, I did a Certificate IV in business as part of the Government-run NEIS (New Enterprise Initiative Scheme) program. It provided me with the essential breathing room to re-establish my career in Brisbane after several years overseas. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Yes, for sure! I remember working on one of the pro bono films when I was back in Australia and spending nights and weekends on it to make sure every detail was perfect. It led to a tiny freelance job for a big ad agency (a very low budget web content shoot that involved an interview and a bit of B-roll footage to accompany a larger campaign). I remember thinking, ‘These people make stuff for TV, so whatever I make, it needs to look good enough for TV’. Going above and beyond on that little job led to a freelance relationship with the agency for the next several years and locally and internationally opportunities that I would never have imagined. What are the top three skills you regularly use? I’d say people skills and good communication are uires high levels of self-motivation, organisation, and discipline. There is often very little career structure other than what you build yourself (something I find liberating and terrifying in equal measures). What form does your folio take? I have a director’s profile on Taxi’s website, my personal website, and a Vimeo profile that contains all my public work. In addition, when pitching on jobs, I create curated online collections of my work that highlight the most relevant strengths for that job.

ALICIA HOLLIER ROLE

Gallery Manager | Project Officer

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Interdisciplinary Sculpture

Alicia’s role allows her to work with a vast range of artists and be a part of the assembly of exhibitions. Who do you currently work for? I currently work for CREATIVEMOVE and Onespace Gallery based in Brisbane’s West End. What does a typical day look like for you? I wouldn’t say two days ever look the same—that’s part of the reason I love what I do. On any given day, I can be across anything from exhibition development and planning, general marketing, coordinating artists’ involvement in exhibitions abroad/interstate, liaising with artists regarding commissions, client/collector relations or management of events, project proposals, and so on. How did you arrive at your current position? I was initially introduced to the Directors through a past lecturer at QCA. We later reconnected at the industry preview of my graduate exhibition just after Onespace Gallery opened to the public. I was later offered an internship with CREATIVEMOVE and Onespace Gallery. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I completed a Diploma in Events Management to further develop my leadership, communication and business management skills and experience in collaborating and developing events/projects with a large number of components.

What are the best aspects of your current role? I get to witness and be a part of the actualisation of exhibitions and artworks that appear in the public realm, all within one week! I also love that I get to work with such a vast array of artists and collaborators, each with different output but each sharing the same passion. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? The more I delve into the many kinds of visual art projects; the more passionate I become about the role of ‘middle man’ between artist and client. I have the opportunity and privilege to work alongside artists to elevate their work whilst also educating people about their stories, their processes and the importance of visual art in our world. I realised that completing a degree as a practising artist gives me a stronger insight into creative practice in both a mental/emotional and physical sense; it makes me a better collaborator. Did you do an internship of any sort? I did—I interned for about a year with CREATIVEMOVE and Onespace Gallery—it was a hugely valuable experience. It helped me understand the industry I had just entered before I properly dove in. I learnt more than I ever expected to—it is experiences like this lay the foundation for the rest of our careers; you always learn more by doing. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Don’t worry about where you’ll be at the end of the degree; the right path will find you—and don’t listen to anyone who tells you there’s no work in the arts.

KIERAN MALANAPHY ROLE

Digital Project Coordinator

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design Kieran spends his days working with designers to identify problems and find creative ways to improve digital concepts. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I have worked both overseas and in Australia. I have also been fortunate to work in various digital and design-based roles in entirely different industries, including beauty and wellness, tech startups, education and the arts. To get to my current role as a digital project coordinator, I have worked as a text editor, graphic designer, digital designer, content coordinator and web manager. This journey was a mixture of opportunity and hard work, but each role required an understanding of design foundations. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? It was probably moving to Sweden with my partner soon after graduation. I was initially exploring the idea of being a freelance designer but starting in a new country meant I didn’t feel too confident in having the network initially to try to get clients. After taking an initial two-month temporary job as a text-editor, it was then through this opportunity that the company was internally looking for an Englishspeaking person to work in the UK team as a designer of sales materials. This became a permanent position, and subsequent opportunities came from there.

What are the top three skills you regularly use? Project management, digital design, and web administration. Have you done any further study? Fundamentals of Digital Marketing—a 40 hour, 26-module certified course on Google Digital Garage. Did you do an internship of any sort? During my studies, I did a three-week internship at a design agency as a junior graphic designer. It was a great experience to see the day to day workings of a studio, from the highs of getting a new client to the long hours to reach a deadline. It was also great to collaborate with professionals on ideas and design concepts. I would definitely recommend it! What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? I would say to ‘past me’ to push my creativity as much as possible. When you’re working for clients or companies as a designer, you can sometimes be quite limited to their style guide or requirements, and you miss being able to experiment with crazy ideas! Also, try to find inspiration in what’s around you day-today. Look at movie posters, branding, logos—it might inspire a creative solution you’re struggling with. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I look to people who are a combination of risk-takers, enthusiasts, hard-workers and decision-makers. Those traits are needed along the digital project journey in varying quantities, so it’s always good to see people described showing those qualities when it’s tough-going.

AURELIE MARON ROLE

Graphic Designer Lettering Artist

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design Aurelie runs a successful graphic design studio on the Gold Coast. She is also an incredible lettering artist who has spoken at type conferences around Australia and has a series of online lettering courses. How did you arrive at your current position? I worked at a couple of design agencies for two years after finishing my graphic design degree at Griffith University. But I soon decided to take the leap and go freelance! I have been doing it since 2014 now and I haven’t looked back. Who are your typical clients? I have clients from all around the world who find me via my social media platforms (mostly Instagram, Tik Tok or Pinterest). They reach out to me for logos or custom lettering primarily.

Aside from the obvious design and business skills, the most important skill in my field I believe is creativity. Any designer can create a design based on the work of others, but only the best creatives can come up with unique ideas for their projects. I try as much as possible to improve my creative thinking capabilities and I always challenge myself to try out new styles. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? My career pathway has not been linear. I studied graphic design at university thinking I would work for a big design agency. But at my first job, I realised I wanted to work for myself. I also knew I really enjoyed working on typography related projects (which I had discovered at university). Therefore, I decided to start my own business, but then ended up working on projects I was not identifying with. It’s only just recently that I’ve decided to focus on typography and hand lettering exclusively.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path?

I have a home studio. So, a typical day for me would be stepping into the studio, answering emails, and then working on my design jobs. Then, at the end of the day, I like to work on personal projects.

I noticed a massive change in my career path after COVID happened, because it put all my client jobs on hold. I was making no money and that meant I had to completely re-invent myself.

What are the best aspects of your current role? I have worked hard to be able to generate multiple income streams, which means that I don’t need to say yes to every design job that comes my way. By selling online courses and digital products, I can have a more flexible timetable and select the projects that I find valuable and fun.

What are the top three skills you regularly use?

I took this as an opportunity to grow and I started working on more personal lettering projects, I posted a lot more online, and I also started selling my very first online course. This was a very stressful and pivotal moment in my career, but I wouldn’t have it any other way now!

Did you do an internship of any sort? I did my first internship at Liveworm, QCA. It was such an excellent way to gain real work experience. What form does your folio take? My portfolio is entirely digital. My website is where I have all my work, online courses, and digital products. I also use various social media platforms to share daily content such as Instagram, Tik Tok, Pinterest and my YouTube channel. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting first year at QCA? My biggest mistake by far was relying on one source of income. If you run your own business, you need to have back-up plans. You could lose your number one best client in a day without any notice. If I could go back in time and give myself some advice, it would be to start diversifying my income right away.

SKYE SMITH ROLE

Founder | Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Communication with Honours; Master of Digital Design; PhD After years working in design studios, Skye made the leap to combine her passion for design and yoga to create her business, Yoga On Cards. Who do you currently work for? I am self-employed at Yoga On Cards and also a lecturer and tutor at Griffith University in Visual Communication Design. How did you arrive at your current position? After working as a graphic designer for several years, I decided to explore other interests and became a certified yoga teacher. While completing my yoga training, I realised there were not many resources that explained the metaphysical and physical aspects of yoga. I decided to partner up with the founder of My Health Yoga to produce a set of yoga cards that assist yogi’s to learn the fundamental aspects of beginner yoga. What does a typical day look like for you? I earn passive income with my yoga cards, so I can be very flexible in my daily routine depending on how many orders need to be posted. However, I spend most of my time working on new projects and promoting the business using social media. The fluidity of my business also allows me to teach at university, which is another passion of mine.

Have you done any further study? Yes, I’ve done a Diploma of Information Technology, Certificate IV in Fitness, Yoga Teacher Training 1 and 2, and Brain-based Coaching with the NeuroLeadership Institute. I am currently undertaking Doctoral research into the viability of systemic design as a catalyst for reducing household plastic waste. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Graphic Design (develop the cards and advertising), Web and Social Media (manage the online presence), and Communication (talking to customers and potential wholesalers). What are the best aspects of your current role? I love bringing my ideas to life and seeing them help other people! What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Although I think following your unique passions is very important, I have been lucky enough to combine my passions into products that help others. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I think that trial and error has been pivotal in my career. For example, when I finished university, I thought I would be happy working in a studio for most of my career, but I quickly realised this was not the case. Although I spent many years trialling different career options, I feel that if I hadn’t spent that time experimenting, I would not have realised my true passion.

Did you do an internship of any sort? Yes, I did two internships in my final year at university. Both internships were invaluable and taught me many skills (especially in terms of time management). From my experience, the easiest way to get a job is through connections, and internships are the ideal way to get your foot in the door. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Get enough sleep. Have fun with your assignments. Practice, practice, practice! Don’t sweat the small stuff.

BIANCA MAVRICK ROLE

Jewellery Designer | Director

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Jewellery and Small Objects Bianca runs her own business where creates beautiful, handcrafted jewellery, which she sells online and through stores in Australia and worldwide. Who are your typical clients? I run an e-commerce store and wholesale my jewellery to gallery stores, boutiques, and department stores in Australia and the US, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taipei, and the UK. How did you arrive at your current position? After finishing my degree at QCA, I continued my art practice and began working on my business. What does a typical day look like for you? My typical day involves waking up, going for coffee and a walk, coming back to do some admin and emails, packing orders for the postman and then sitting down to work on new designs or other marketing and graphic design tasks I have to do! What are the top three skills you regularly use? Ideate, innovate and strategise in all facets of my business, from designing jewellery to working on the business side of things.

What are the best aspects of your current role? I enjoy the days when I get to design new work or when I get to do the art direction or styling for our collection photography! What pathway did you take to get to your current role? All things e-commerce business, social media marketing, and wholesaling products—these are things I’ve learned through practise along the way, and I have sorted out mentors, read books, or done digital short courses! Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? For me, receiving a large wholesale order from a US retailer forced me to go full-time with my label and scale up my business really quickly. From there, I started to formalise my practice into a business, and the wholesale side of the business continued to grow! Did you do an internship of any sort? Yes, I did a very informal internship with Australian Jeweller Lucy Folk based in Melbourne, who was a huge role model and a great mentor to me. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? My best piece of advice would be to put in the hours, honing your craft and skills and develop your practice so that you have a great foundation to work from once you graduate.

ANDREA MOYNIHAN ROLE

Graphic Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design

Andrea is a graphic designer who has worked for major brands such as City Beach Australia, and Lorna Jane. She currently works for Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane. What does a typical day look like for you? I create branding for cafes/bars/restaurants—logos, websites (Squarespace) menus, flyers, posters, advertising campaigns digital and print. Wayfinding, wedding brochures, social tiles/instastories, postcards, business cards, ordering printing, invoicing, collecting printing, a few marketing meetings, WIP sessions for production and coffee. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Illustrations—using procreate on an iPad Photoshop—for retouching images/changing colours InDesign—layouts (magazine, brochure, posters, menus) What are the best aspects of your current role? I love to create illustrations—and working across multiple brands I am able to work in a large range of illustration styles depending on the brand which pushes me artistically do step out of my normal style. I also get to work on large advertising campaigns to promote events like NYE, Valentine’s day and Riverfire for all the venues, so coming up will digital campaigns and making them come to life is a lot of fun!

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I worked for free while I was at university to gain experience, I then applied for a part-time job through the university website for a graphic design role and got that. So before I even finished university, I had experience working for two different companies working on graphic design. I then got a job at City Beach Australia as a designer through a uni student (all about those connections you make—you never know who will come in handy one day). I then applied for a job at Lorna Jane as a graphic designer through Seek (I thought it was way out of my league—but I got the job). This was an amazing experience and a great opportunity and name to have on my resume. I then moved on to work for Howard Smith Wharves— which my old manager at Lorna Jane told me to apply for on “The Loop”. I got this job too!! Very out of my depth, it has been a big learning curve, but you definitely have to fake it ‘til you make it. Just Google things and practice at home if you don’t know something. Have you done any further study? I completed my Honours at QCA. I chose to do motion graphics to further my skills. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Wanting to gain experience in every single industry so I can build up my skills in every area, so I can eventually work for myself one day. I have worked in a “in-house” design studio, in retail-fashion industry and now the hospitality. So I would say changing industries are quite pivotal as they are all so different. My next step will be a marketing/design agency. It is good to change jobs once you feel you have learnt everything you can possibly learn there.

If you are no longer progressing in your role or there is no room for improvement, it is a good time to move on and upskill. Meet more connections, gain different portfolio experience, do more professional development and learn where you can, always keep improving and up-skilling. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Do more of my own projects on the side. Start practicing by drawing, creating menus, designing logos, making up posters. Just to gain experience and portfolio work. I would also say to practice more of the skills in Adobe Illustrator and InDesign—become a perfectionist when it comes to those programs. Look through magazines, books, Behance—anywhere for the latest and upcoming trends. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? Lots of designers on Instagram motivate me to do better work, push my boundaries of what I have done and try new things. Tia Queen—Shillington Teacher and business owner of Gangplank design studio. She is super professional and stylish, works alongside her partner and they run their design business and produce great work. Also, Tess from SmackBang Designs is motivated, career driven, owns a few businesses and the amazing design studio that produces incredible minimalistic and modern work—love listening to her on podcasts.

ANDY LOWRIE ROLE

Teaching Fellow

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art with Honours; Master of Fine Art

Andy recently started a new role with the Baltimore Jewelry Center, giving him the opportunity to teach and work on his studio practice. Andy makes sculptural and wearable objects that explore materials through process. How did you arrive at your current position? The Teaching Fellowship at the Baltimore Jewelry Center was a position I applied for before finishing my MFA mid-2020. I saw it advertised on social media and applied because I met the requirements and had developed a professional connection to the Center during my graduate studies. I went through a competitive interview process and was offered the position after I graduated. I was interested in it because it offers me a chance to work with a community organisation, build my teaching skills and continue my studio practice in a shared studio space. What does a typical day look like for you? There really isn’t a typical day for me. As a Teaching Fellow I prepare and deliver two classes a week and work in the studio on my own projects. The work I do for Ethical Metalsmiths is writing content for their blog and occasionally assisting their education committee. I often also pick up other odd jobs to help pay rent. Generally speaking, the work with the closest deadline has priority, that way I can try to focus my attention on one thing in a day. But sometimes the schedule gets tight and I have to plan my day so that every job gets some of my time. 22

What are the best aspects of your current role? I love every minute of the week I get to spend in the studio. I have to work very hard to carve out that time for myself but it’s worth it. I enjoy preparing lectures for classes on the history of art jewellery, and being in a job where I can talk with students about a craft I practice. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? After I finished my BFA at QCA I set up a shared jewellery studio in Yeronga with three other QCA alumni (Clare Poppi, Katie Stormonth and Shanna Muston) and volunteered for the Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group of Queensland. It took me a few years after graduating to decide what kind of work I wanted to be doing as an artist and these two groups helped me through that process. Exhibiting my work in group shows several times a year has been a consistent priority since 2015. In 2016, I interned for an Estonian artist in Tallinn and then moved to the United States. Towards the end of 2017 I felt like my work was ready to take to graduate school. I had a portfolio of work and an Artists’ CV that I thought had a chance of getting me into a good school in the US. I did my research, applied to several schools and accepted an offer from Virginia Commonwealth University in their two year MFA program. I learnt a lot about the type of artist I am through the work I did at VCU, which was not what I expected of the experience but was a wonderful outcome. The roles I’m in now are the result of projects I worked on as a graduate student.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Moving to the United States was a pivotal moment for me, not because it changed what I was doing but because it changed where I was doing it. That means working with new people and organisations in a creative field that is similar but different. I could never have planned for or anticipated what I am doing now before the move. That being said, the work I did and connections I made at QCA continue to be what my career is anchored in to this day, in very real ways, so I have never felt as thought my direction has changed. I think I’m just playing on a bigger field. Have you done any further study? I completed a Diploma of Graphic Design in 2014 and a Master of Fine Arts in 2020. I completed my MFA at Virginia Commonwealth University in their Department of Craft/Material Studies. Fun fact: I met my VCU Professor at QCA in 2010 while I was an undergraduate student. I’ve also been a student in many metalsmithing workshops and short classes to hone my craft and learn from masters. Some have been organised through institutions like QCA and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and others through smaller, private studios. What form does your folio take? A folio is a nebulous concept these days because it often needs to be tailored to a specific audience which could be a jury, a review panel, an interested buyer or curious, online viewer. I put a lot of work into my digital materials and have my work professionally photographed as often as I can afford to. People probably see my work digitally before they experience it in real life, so clear, high-resolution images are important to me. I have a website exclusively for my studio work that I can easily update myself as my practice evolves. I also keep a digital archive of exhibition, grant and job applications. For opportunities that require materials to be uploaded or emailed, I like having these to cut, copy and edit. Text is also a big part of my folio as a CV, bio and statements about different facets of my work are frequently required.

Did you do an internship of any sort? The Estonian artist I interned for is a jewellery artist named Tanel Veenre. I worked for him as a production assistant in his Tallinn studio full-time for two months in 2016. It remains one of the best learning experiences I’ve ever had. I learnt new hand skills and I was able to watch an artist run a successful studio and business. In two months he gave me something to aspire to and showed me how it could be done. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Trust your own creative instincts. Make to satisfy yourself before anyone else. If a project fails it will teach you so many great things.

ARDIAN NUKA ROLE

Visual and Interaction Design Manager

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Communication Design Ardian is the visual and interaction design lead for Deloitte Digital Brisbane. He works with some of Australia’s largest companies and organisations to design and develop creative solutions for games, apps, and other interactive experiences. Who do you currently work for? Deloitte Digital. We’re a full service creative digital consultancy providing strategic, design, development and advertising solution for companies across Australia and Asia Pacific. How did you arrive at your current position? I joined the team as a senior consultant having heard about the position through a friend. What does a typical day look like for you? A typical day for me usually involves working closely with my team and our clients to explore, design, and validate digital solutions. These solutions might take form as a website, game, or app, all the way through to immersive interactive experiences incorporating sensory, AR, and VR technologies. What are the best aspects of your current role? The best thing about my role is the people. I get to work with some of the brightest designers, strategists, artists, and developers in Australia as well as some of the most impactful brands.

What are the top three skills you regularly use? My top skill would be communication as it’s woven into every facet of my day. I would say a close second is empathy as I need to very much relate with people I design for and with. Finally, creativity; nurturing this skill in practice and process is the driver in producing genuinely impactful work. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? During and after my time at QCA I worked for some great local agencies where I was able to organically develop my creative, presentation, and technical skills. Outside of this I do a lot of self-paced study and try to get out and connect with other designers.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I’ve been lucky enough to slip quite naturally into an area I’m passionate about so haven’t really experienced or sought dramatic shifts in my career. Having said that, there have definitely been those ah-ha moments which have changed the way that I approach my work. Probably the biggest of these was my shift from an individualist attitude in design to one embracing participation, co-design, the cross-pollination of ideas. Did you do an internship of any sort? I worked while I was studying, both at QCA’s Liveworm, and with a digital agency. It allowed me to practice a lot of what I was learning as well as develop my soft skills. I would definitely recommend an internship; any kind of work experience. I’d also suggest checking out the Deloitte Digital Vacationer program.

ASHLIN MILNE ROLE

Owner | Lead Photographer Videographer

STUDY Bachelor Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design

What are the top three skills you regularly use?

Ashlin is the owner of Blueberry Skies, specialising in weddings and engagements photography as well as portraits for families, couples, newborns, and pets.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role?

How did you arrive at your current position?

Before starting at QCA I did a business traineeship with AFL SportsReady. After graduation I worked full-time as a group ski travel agent and also helped run the department. I gained many valuable and transferable business skills from this role that gave me the ability and confidence to run my own business.

After graduating, I started working full-time. While working I slowly put together my business, website, packages and so forth. In my spare time I offered photo shoots to family and friends free of charge to build my portfolio.

These business skills, combined with the design and photography ones I gained through QCA have all contributed to my current role.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I left my job as a travel agent to become a teacher, after enrolling in this degree I decided teaching was not what I wanted. I wanted to run my own business and be a photographer.

My days in the office are filled with editing photos and videos. I follow up enquirers and reply to client emails where needed. Produce invoices and process bank payments. I keep my website up to date and design booking forms and package information when needed. When out of the office I spend the day taking photos at weddings or couple, family and business photoshoots. What are the best aspects of your current role? Running my own business offers a flexible lifestyle. Being able to work from wherever I want and choosing my own hours. I get to be creative everyday whether its in my photo-shoots or designing new package brochures. Seeing the delight on a clients face when they get their photos back brings a lot of joy to me.

Photography and videography, digital design (Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator), business communication (emails, invoicing).

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path?

What form does your folio take? Examples of my work can be found on my business website, Facebook page, Instagram page. I also have a number of printed albums that clients can view at meetings. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Think about combining your degree with a Bachelor of Business I feel this would have been a great contribution to my degree. Start networking as much as you can, and get to know people in the industry.

BRIDGETTE SHEPHERD ROLE

Visual Arts Teacher

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Jewellery and Small Objects Bridgette works as a secondary visual art teacher at Alexandra Hills State High School while also maintaining her contemporary jewellery practice. How did you arrive at your current position? I completed a placement at the school as part of my university studies and was offered a role in a teacher aide capacity before being employed on short term contact the following year. Later, this progressed to a permanent position. Have you done any further study? Following my Bachelor of Fine Art, I completed a Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary). My specialty subject areas were determined from my studies in Fine Art as well as previous units studied in an incompleted Bachelor of Architecture. What does a typical day look like for you? Each busy day of teaching is filled with the development and preparation of differentiated learning experiences relating to theoretical concepts and practical techniques for Visual Art and Media. Together with teaching, each day includes daily record keeping and communication with students, colleagues, administration, external professional services, parents and carers. What are the best aspects of your current role? With regards to teaching, I enjoy the fact that through the principles and processes of making thoughtprovoking art and innovative design my students will become creative, confident and curious individuals.

I wish for my students to think, make and grow in connection with the world around them. They are encouraged to recognize that learning is a lifelong process: learning, unlearning and relearning. The moments of success or resilience when students experiment, fail, overcome and resolve artworks are the most rewarding. Similarly, my personal artistic practice follows these same stages. The resolution of an artwork from ideation to the final piece makes all struggles or setbacks worthwhile. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Initially, I began my tertiary studies in Architecture before changing to Education whilst completing night courses in silversmithing at the Brisbane Institute of Art. I was advised by my teacher, an Honours student from QCA, that if I wished to continue to pursue jewellery I should consider art college. I decided my passion was strong and left my scholarship position with the University of Queensland to study at QCA, majoring in Jewellery and Small Objects. After completing my Bachelor of Fine Art, I began my Graduate Diploma in Education as a fulltime student. I realised early on that the demands of the timeframes and my expectations for quality were not aligned, so I reduced my study load to part-time. In order to further my career as a creative practitioner, I used the period when I would have originally completed practical teaching placements to pursue opportunities in the contemporary jewellery field. Notably, I was successful in attaining an internship with internationally renowned contemporary jewellery gallery and online forum, Klimt02, in Barcelona, Spain. Upon my return to Australia, I completed my Graduate Diploma and found full-time employment as a high school teacher the following year.

Did you do an internship of any sort? I completed an internship with Klimt02, Barcelona, Spain. The Klimt02 internship was conducted in the manner that differed greatly to my expectations. Imparting knowledge is not the foundation of this internship as the expectation is placed on interns to be creative, intuitive and self-directed. Nonetheless, an experience is only as rewarding as the effort you put into it. In order to make my experience as worthwhile as possible, I elected to commit to a significant number of additional hours on the internship (at least double) and immersed myself in the international art jewellery community. As a result, I gained valuable knowledge relating to the interactions and relationships of this creative industry, fostered international professional networks and connected with European audiences of contemporary jewellery. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? After several years of focusing on (or being absorbed by) my teaching practice, I found the energy and renewed passion for my own artist practice in contemporary jewellery. In order to best manage my commitments, I responded to exhibition open calls. I used successful applications as deadlines and targets so as not to lose focus when a hard week of teaching threatened to keep me from my few weekend hours of creating. Most notably, my participation in the Glossy exhibition, part of the New York Jewelry Week 2019, set off a new chain of networking opportunities both locally and internationally. From this series of work, I developed a collection of small individual pieces and promoted it at curated pop-up shops and contemporary design spaces. As I extended the technical processes of these works, I then revisited concepts of previous exhibition pieces. With these designs, I applied to Artisan’s biennial exhibition, Unleashed 2020: Emerging Craft and Design. I was successfully selected along with five other emerging Queensland artists to showcase our works that extended beyond the worn and utilitarian to a more complex and challenging conceptual realm. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? I would say becoming a practicing artist is an everevolving process. I encourage artists and practitioners to find value in all learning experiences and embrace how this can inform your work even when initially it may not be clear.

BROOKE WHITE ROLE

UI/UX Product Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design

Brooke has worked within design agencies before landing her current role at Swyftx, a cryptocurrency startup company. What does a typical day look like for you? Being a UI/UX designer I get to work on our product from end-to-end, and one day can be completely different from the next. I might be doing user research and creating personas, defining user flowcharts, creating lo-fi wireframes and prototypes and then conducting user interviews. The next day I could be in brand and UX strategy meetings, working on our design system and collaborating with marketing and engineering teams. What are the best aspects of your current role? Cryptocurrency is still new in Australia and there are many challenges to solve when it comes to educating the general public and our users on what it is and how it works. Being able to work at a startup company that wants to challenge the status quo and provide an unrivalled user experience, where it’s fast-paced and the teams are constantly experimenting and trying new things, is extremely fun and rewarding. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? After graduation, I landed a job at R6 Digital as a Junior Designer. Over the years I was able to make my way up to Design Team Lead, managing a group of three junior creatives and working on a variety of designs from brand, web and digital products. After 4.5 years I moved onto another agency to get more hands-on in the product design space. Shortly after, a friend reached out to me with a UI/UX role at Swyftx. 30

Have you done any further study? Yes! I’ve attended various in-person and virtual workshops to stay up to date on trends and specialist areas such as interface design, typography, brand and website courses—but nothing with an official certification. I also spend several hours a week reading design books, blog posts and watching online tutorials and interviews to expand my knowledge. Did you do an internship of any sort? I did an internship at Liveworm during my final year of studies at QCA which was a great experience. Learning the basics of studio environments like roles, systems and processes helped set my expectations when going into the industry. There are a whole bunch of small things that can often be overlooked and having the experience firsthand made it so much easier going into my first few roles. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Definitely! I was working at R6 Digital in 2016 at the time of extreme company growth, and I had to find a solution that would allow the team to produce the same results faster. I had read an article about Adobe launching a new tool called Adobe XD, and decided to give it a go. It was like a light bulb moment where I discovered a whole new world about UI/UX design, and I completely shifted all my time and energy towards learning as much as I could. Looking back, that is probably what set me on my path towards UI/ UX design and my desire to share and teach others what I had learnt. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year of QCA? Don’t be afraid to try different tools, start early on your assignments, and above all, make good friends and always offer a helping hand. In this industry, a lot of opportunities arise just by having friends in the right places.

CHRIS MILLER ROLE

Founder | Director

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media; Master of Arts; Major in 3D Design and 3D Printing

Chris is a driven business owner and director of Studio Flek, which produces stunning furniture and lighting with a focus on natural materials. Who are your typical clients? The clients are varied from end user consumers buying furniture or lighting for their own homes, Architects and Interior designers specifying our work for high end commercial boutique projects, and finally we have worked with the local Gold Coast Council on an installation project. How did you arrive at your current position? Running my own design business has been an ambition of mine for a long time. I feel as though I have always been working towards this and continue to do so. What does a typical day look like for you? Currently I work between the office and the workshop. I try to spend my mornings focusing on technical challenges in CAD or developing concepts and then the afternoons are spent fabricating projects I have on the go filling out orders.

What are the top three skills you regularly use? Communication, problem-solving i.e., configuring how something is going to be made or trialing untested fabrication methods and finally I do a lot of sketching. What are the best aspects of your current role? I really enjoy a balance between working with my hands in the workshop and the finer detailed work I do in CAD. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I moved to London straight after graduating from university as I felt I needed to prove to myself I was capable of hanging with the best of them. I was fortunate enough to get a great role where I learnt a lot on the fly. I worked hard to get into a position in which I had a lot of responsibility. I learnt hard and fast about the industry and came out the other side prepared to run my own business. From there it has been a case of growing our range of furniture, submitting for competitions in the furniture, installation and architectural landscape and learning a whole lot more about running a business, from marketing to finances. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? The end goal hasn’t really changed, but the path in which I am taking to get there constantly changes. Moving to London, moving back to the Gold Coast, running out of contract work and losing jobs. These are some of the things that have definitely impacted the path thus far.

Have you done any further study? I have done several courses in business management and marketing and I am also currently starting a Masters of Architecture part-time. Did you do an internship of any sort? I did one while at university, but it wasn’t right for me. Moving to London, the job I attained was an internship which turned into a full-time role. To me an internship industry is a massive advantage to have on your CV and in fact can lead to a job as it did me. I can’t express how important I feel internships in the industry are. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Don’t be afraid to speak with people in the industry or your tutors/lecturers. Be honest with yourself about what you want and just go for it.

CHRISTOPHER VENNING ROLE

Design Director

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design

Did you do an internship of any sort? Liveworm. Yes it was fun and a trial experience of a designers life.

Christopher took the leap of faith to open his own design company, Mayya, back in 2017 and hasn’t looked back since. Who are your typical clients? Property Developers, Real Estates, Finance, Startups, LGBT Organisations. What does a typical day look like for you? A typical day starts out with ensuring all emails have been responded to and all clients/customers have been answered. From there I add to and alter the project schedule/ meetings to make sure the management is accurate and up to date. From there I will assign projects to my work college and to myself depending on the projects during that time. The rest of the day then consists of multi tasking from client communication, errands, thinking and designing. The closing hour is left by making sure all projects ahead of time and things are operating smoothly. What are the best aspects of your current role? The gift of being able to working with clients who value clean, good design. The direct discussions with existing clients and potential clients. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Taking the leap of faith to work for myself.

What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Focus on your physical health, which in turn helps your mental health, which produces more focused and accurate work.

COURTNEY BORG ROLE

Fashion Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design

Courtney is a fashion designer with her own Australian made lingerie label Fluxe Designs. How did you arrive at your current position? I have always loved studying fashion history and after I finished my degree I went on to study fashion design. A component of my course was lingerie design which I loved and from that moment I knew I wanted to create an ethically handmade brand that makes the wearer feel confident in their underwear. A year after I graduated in 2017 I started my Australian made lingerie brand Fluxe Designs. Have you done any further study? After my degree, I completed an Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design and a Certificate III in Business.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? While I was in my last year at Griffith I studied a fashion and art course and I realised that I needed to pursue my passion in the fashion industry. Also meeting one of my fashion heroes three years ago Jimmy Choo cemented my choice even more that your dreams can turn into a reality. What form does your folio take? Digital PDF, printed portfolio and a website. Did you do an internship of any sort? Liveworm internship in my last year was beneficial as the experience gave me my next opportunity as a graphic designer. Any experience is good experience you never know who you might meet. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Your plans will take detours but I promise it will be fun.

What does a typical day look like for you? In the mornings it starts with coffee, replying to emails, posting on social media. My favourite part of my day is designing my new collections, pattern making and creating samples by hand. A big part of my day is sewing my latest orders and the afternoons are for wrapping orders and running to the post office. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Innovation, adaptability, passion. What are the best aspects of your current role? Creating products that empower the wearer by making them feel confident in their skin.

DANIEL TEMPLEMAN ROLE

Head of Content | Artist

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art; Doctorate in Visual Art

Daniel balances his work as the head of content at the Museum of Brisbane with his visual art practice.

When I was in undergraduate I volunteered at the Institute of Modern Art (Brisbane) and from there I was continually employed to hang exhibits and handle artworks.

Who are your typical clients?

I also worked as an artist during these early years. Approximately 15 years ago I begun working full-time on my art practice.

Clients as an artist—architects, developers, art consultants, curators.

What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA?

What does a typical day look like for you?

Find that one idea that energises you and allow it to lead you on your creative path. Don’t concern yourself with any lack of recognition, it will come when the work warrants it.

Managing the work of the museum’s curatorial, collections and exhibitions teams. Forward planning and reviewing the museum’s offering for strategic alignment. What are the top three skills you regularly use? As an artist, I specialise in public art and sculpture. Within the museum I work to vision projects and refine ideas towards best practice outcomes. What are the best aspects of your current role? Working with other creatives and help them realise their ideas. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? In 2004 I fortunate enough to be commissioned to create “Confluence” at the Brisbane Magistrates Court. The success of that project has lead to a strong career of public projects across the globe.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role?

TIMOTHY RANKIN ROLE

Educational Media Producer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Design

Timothy works for The University of Queensland as an educational media producer creating video content for a wide range of online courses. What does a typical day look like for you? Filming and editing educational material including lectures, interviews and practical demonstrations either on location or in one of our dedicated production studios. I do this for both on-campus courses and MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses).

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Soon after graduating in 2005, I was approached to undertake teaching at QCA and instantly fell in love with it. I continued this for two years in combination with my freelance work. In 2013 a documentary series I co-created was broadcast nationwide across Australia which was a huge achievement for a small independent production. This put me on a path to transitioning to video production full-time. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Although you will major in a particular field, branch out and learn other design disciplines. You never know when knowledge of another area will come in handy.

What are the top three skills you regularly use? Filming skills, video editing skills, problem-solving skills. What are the best aspects of your current role? Being able to combine my passion for higher education and video production. I also learn so much from my colleagues and the courses I help create. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I worked as a freelance graphic designer and videographer as well as a casual lecturer and tutor between graduating and my current role.

DANIEL CABRERA ROLE

Performing Artist

STUDY Bachelor of Photography with Honours, Major in Arts Practice Daniel is a creative powerhouse under the name Dani Cabs. He is an artist, performer, actor, emcee, photographer, comedian and digital content creator. Who are your typical clients? Jobs or clients range from self-produced performances and shows that are ticketed at nonfunded festivals like Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringe, commissions at funded festivals like Brisbane Festival, Falls Festival, all the way through to corporate clients looking for MC’s and entertainment for their corporate events. I also have an acting agent that I get the odd acting role through. How did you arrive at your current position? Hustling. I have never been one to enjoy having to work for someone else, and careers are always chopping and changing, therefore I ensure that I am always on my toes seeking out opportunities that interest me. Another way of saying it is I keep many fingers in many pies. Being able to “hustle” I believe is a very valuable skill. It’s simply the ability to think creatively about your day to day, problem-solving along the way. I feel I have built a reputation as being someone that can deliver on wide range of requirements so people seek me out to problem-solve a creative issue they might have.

What does a typical day look like for you? There are no typical days. If I’m not currently performing my day would start with some form of exercise (surf, yoga, meditation), and then a slow morning that consists of a couple of breakfasts while checking my emails and doing the odd admin I have to do. Booking new jobs, writing some media releases, updating content, applying for grants, and so on. If I have a performance coming up I’ll have some production and prep to do for that. It can range from making props, rehearsing lines, and writing scripts. If I’m in performance mode I usually start the day with some yoga and meditation, I might then have to tinker on some show stuff, fix some lines, re-jig a section, or make a new playlist depending on the show. I then perform usually in the afternoon or evening and repeat the following day. But all days are different. What are the best aspects of your current role? I love that no two days are the same, that I get to enjoy my life outside of work as well as within work. The overall best thing is the connection I have with people when I’m performing or taking their portrait. Some days it’s not as smooth as others but as a whole it’s such a rewarding experience being able to take people on emotional journeys (usually riddled with laughter). What form does your folio take? I have a website and a couple of Instagram accounts that showcase the variety of artwork I create. I also have a Facebook page for promoting performances and shows that I am in, although I feel I am slowly phasing this out.

Have you done any further study? Over the years I’ve done some small workshops around acting, clowning, physical and interactive theatre. Some of those private workshops with a range of artists that are specialists in what they do. Examples of this are:—two-week clowning masterclass with Dr Brown (L.A.)—one-week Action Theatre workshop—Danielle Cresp (Melbourne). More formal studies included an eight-week Actors Masterclass course with La Boite Theatre in Brisbane. Informally I’ve taken myself to a number of selffunded arts festivals and showcased my work over the years which has developed my skills more so than any short course. For example it’s said that performing your own show for the full month at Edinburgh Fringe Festival is like going doing a Masters on top of your degree. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? My Honours studies after my degree helped me get to where I am at now. It showed me the passion I have for performance and not just image making. A lot of what I am doing now stemmed from that reflection into my own practice. Within a month of having released my final body of work for Honours (a series of nine short videos, self portrait of different characters I play in everyday life) I had offers to be on stage at two different festivals (You Are Here—Canberra and Woodford Folk Festival). I haven’t looked back ever since. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? As mentioned above, my honours degree allowed me to see outside of just image making and move into performance as well. Beyond that I feel that with every new show I write, every time I step on a stage and have 20 or 1600 people staring at me it’s a pivotal moment. Those moments are real resets to my psychology, in a positive way. I learn so much about myself, other people and connection in those moments that they can’t help but shape what moves I make the next day and so on. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Do what makes you happy, do what you want to do, but do it compassionately. Only then will your work be able to communicate to other people as much as it does to yourself.

ELIZA BERTWISTLE ROLE

Mural Painter | Signwriter

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Painting Eliza is a talented muralist and signwriter working for Apparition Media while also maintaining her own practice. What does a typical day look like for you? I have a casual position with Apparition Media as most of their work is in Sydney and Melbourne. If I’m working with them it’s often a 10-hour day hand painting large outdoor advertisements in the Brisbane CBD or Fortitude Valley. If not, I do my own art practice at home during the day and I work at a local leagues club at night. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Learning to treat mural painting more like labour— approaching the mural with an intuitive attitude, rather than overanalysing and perfecting as I would on my canvas works. The practicalities of mural painting—understanding the most effective ways to execute a mural with regards to speed, safety, painting methods and preparation methods. About the Industry—networking with other artists, learning important strategies for dealing with clients who often approach us on the streets, such as pricing methods, and understanding how to keep in touch with them.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I graduated from QCA in November 2018 and started working with this company in April 2019, so there wasn’t really much of an ‘in-between’. I had gained some knowledge about mural painting after taking part in a group mural with Simon Degroot’s Street Art course at QCA. I then did my own solo mural in a restaurant in the CBD just before graduating, and then had a trial with Apparition Media in April, and I’ve worked with them ever since!

What are the best aspects of your current role? Learning about the mural industry, meeting and working with other artists. Spontaneously flying to other Australian cities to paint murals, learning techniques and methods about mural painting that could influence my own mural practice. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Working with Apparition Media has definitely skewed my interests in terms of where I’d like to be in the future. I’ve gained confidence in mural painting, and could see myself focusing more on that in the future rather than studio/canvas works. It has made me more in potentially living solely off my art practice, especially after meeting and working with graffiti artists such as Sofles. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Take every opportunity you can and don’t be afraid to try new things, don’t always stick to what you’re what you’re good at.

NATALIE MCCOMAS ROLE

Freelance Photographer

STUDY Bachelor in Photography with Honours, Major in photojournalism and Social Documentary Photography

What are the top three skills you regularly use? Photo post production, photographing, and administration. How did you arrive at your current position?

Natalie is a self-employed photographer who works in editorial, commercial, and documentary areas.

I worked various casual photography jobs after leaving university but was always taking on freelance jobs on the side. It got to the point where I was getting too busy doing both, so I decided to go out on my own to see what happens.

Who who are your typical clients?

That was twelve years ago now and I’m very proud to still be working for myself full-time.

They range from local small businesses to national and international clients and publications such as: Monocle, Condé Nast, Airbnb, Hardie Grant, Adobe, VSCO, Frankie, Virgin Australia, Girl Gaze, Getty Images, Etsy, Woolworths, News Corp. What does a typical day look like for you? Each day and each week can be quite different as I swing between the yin and yang parts of my job; editing photos, prepping for future shoots and attending to various administration tasks on the computer at home or being out on location shooting for a client. What are the best things you get to do every day? I love meeting and working with new people when I’m out on a shoot and I also love travelling to new locations where possible.

Did you do an internship of any sort? For my high marks in my Bachelor program, I was awarded a Queensland Arts Council scholarship— which involved being their paid freelance photographer for one year. The experience I gained from this was definitely invaluable. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Enjoy creating, exploring and learning!

GEORGIA WALLACE ROLE

Photographer

STUDY Bachelor of Photography, Major in Creative Advertising Photography Georgia splits her week working as both an in-house photographer for an online fashion store and doing freelance work for music artists, vintage stores, hair salons and fashion labels. How did you arrive at your current position? My freelance work mostly comes from making connections via Instagram, collaborating with other creatives and word of mouth. In regard to my e-commerce job, that was through a job site whilst I was still studying. What does a typical day look like for you? A typical freelance day would start with a bit of a sleep in (dreams do come true) then checking in on my emails and messages and jotting down a few ‘to dos’. Then I will either be shooting, planning or editing. Planning would include things like sourcing models, styling, scouting locations, and talking through ideas with clients. I like to have a fairly unstructured day with a break to walk the dog and enjoy the sun then get back into some more work in the afternoon/evening. On an e-commerce day I head into the studio at 8.30am and shoot/edit until 4 or 5pm. What are the best aspects of your current role? I love the excitement of the unknown and the lack of the 9-5 grind. It is also a massive buzz when you are working on a challenging shoot, but everything comes together perfectly, and the client loves the images.

What are the top three skills you regularly use? Communication is important whether it is directing a model, making sure the team on shoot understand the end goal or talking through ideas with a client. Then in a practical sense skills in Lightroom, Photoshop and knowledge of light are big ones.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Up-skilling for me is regularly working on unpaid/ collaborative editorial shoots. These shoots are when I get to push myself creatively, make connections with others in the industry and create images that keep my portfolio spicy and interesting. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Don’t stress but stay focused! Shoot lots and don’t be afraid to reach out to models, make-up artists and designers on social media.

LAURA STRANGE ROLE

Senior Designer Multimedia Coordinator

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Visual Communication Laura is a passionate visual designer who works for two local Gold Coast companies, Gold Coast Health and Art-Work Agency. How did you arrive at your current position? My creative journey really kicked off while working as a broadcast designer for Channel 7 and studying at QCA. Following graduation, I landed a junior role with Brisbane brand strategy firm Lloyd Grey Design (LGD). After close to three years with LGD fine-tuning my branding skills, I took a role at digital agency Klyp. This allowed me to extend my brand strategy skills into the digital space.

My role with AW see me undertake a blend of creative work ranging from graphic design and branding, through to public art, as well as project and account management and quoting/admin. I also work closely with our designers and creative director to input on active projects and ensure the client’s requirements are successfully being translated from brief to outcome. Being a small business, our team all wear many hats. What are the best things about your current roles?

Almost six years ago I made the move to the Gold Coast full-time, which was the perfect time for me to commence an in-house role with Gold Coast Health.

Flexibility—I’m very lucky to have had the opportunity to work in a job-share and such a flexible way to support the growing needs of Art-Work.

I have worked with Art-Work Agency (AW) for around eight years, firstly as a freelancer and now as a more permanent member of the team since transitioning to part-time hours at Gold Coast Health to allow me the flexibility to support AW.

Knowledge—I’m constantly gaining new insight into different industries. Working as a designer, we continually have to learn about our client’s businesses and nuances specific to their industries. An average week could involve rolling out wayfinding signage to help consumers better access healthcare, then photographing a live theatre performance and finishing up with drafting up an EDM for a client. The variety is really exciting and it’s great gaining insight into how so many different industries operate.

What does a typical day look like for you? At Gold Coast Health I work in a job-share position. This means my Monday mornings start with a quick check in of handovers and emails, getting up to speed with anything my job share partner has handed over. The projects I work on include everything from creating organisational wide templates and tools (used by more than 9000 staff), through to larger campaigns to assist with change management or

amplifying important health messages. In 2020 and 2021, a large focus has been on rollout of COVID-19 communications, ensuring our staff and community have the latest information to make informed healthcare decisions. The health environment is everchanging, which calls for being flexible and having excellent prioritisation skills.

Team—a positive work culture is really important to me and at Art-Work we are so fortunate to have cultivated a really great culture and in turn an amazing team of talented, driven and honest coworkers.

Did you do an internship of any sort? I did a few different work experience / student placements in the third year of Uni. Firstly at Liveworm studio and secondly at a marketing agency called TwoCents Group. Both were fantastic experiences. When I started applying for jobs, I recieved feedback that my hands-on experience really made me stand out over some other applications. While studying, I was also working in-house as a broadcast designer for Channel 7. This really gave me a taste of the creative world and what is it like to work within a design team. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Stress less, enjoy more. Remember that nothing is forever and ‘this too shall pass’. Believe that you can do anything, but understand that you can’t do everything.

Have you done any further study? I feel like I’m continually in a never-ending apprenticeship! Outside of on-the-job learning, I’ve completed a short course in SLR photography and a short course in letterpress. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Working in an in-house role and also helping to run a business demands a very flexible skillset. Outside of design, I’ve had experience in account and project management, production, photography and videography including editing, web development and more. I believe that taking on all these different pathways over the years has been critical to my current positions. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Having the courage to reduce hours at a very secure job to jump into helping grow AW more has been pretty significant. It was a big decision to make, but I haven’t looked back since.

NORA FIKSE ROLE

GIF Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design

Nora turned her passion for GIFs (animated images) into her dream job, she now creates GIFs for clients such as MTV and Kylie Cosmetics. Who do you currently work for? I work as a freelance designer. I do most things within graphic design, but in the past year I have been creating a lot of GIFs for clients like MTV, Kylie Cosmetics, Revolve and GIPHY. How did you arrive at your current position? I started creating GIFs when Instagram and Snapchat launched the GIF function. I had so much fun doing that. I got to do some projects for GIPHY and sometime later I started to get contacted by brands asking me to create GIFs for them. What are the top three skills you regularly use? I do a lot of drawing and animation. I guess my top three skills in my role would be digital drawing, frame by frame animation and Photoshop. What are the best aspects of your current role? The best thing has to be that I get to work with my passion. Being creative, drawing and creating gifs is what I normally would spend my days doing anyway, so I feel very lucky to have that as my job as well.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I feel like I got the whole concept of what graphic design really was when I was done at QCA. It took me a while to really understand why it’s important to have a good strategy and concept (and not just a pretty design). I have done a lot of self-study as well. YouTube is my favourite place on earth, I have learned so much from it. But I also think most of what I do I have learned by just playing around in different programs and with design techniques. (that’s how I learned Photoshop at the age of eight, when I accidentally switched the language to French).

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Absolutely. My career completely changed after I started creating GIFs. I still do graphic design like branding and so on., but most of my client work now are creating animated stickers. And I really love it! What form does your folio take? I have my portfolio in many places. I have a website with all of my work, Behance, a showreel I made with frame by frame animation and GIPHY. Instagram is also a big place to showcase design, engage with other creatives and to get clients. Did you do an internship of any sort? I had an internship at Liveworm at Griffith and I really liked it. That was my first experience working on projects for real clients. I do feel like I learned a lot, I also liked working with other creatives and being able to brainstorm on concepts together.

MICHELLE VINE ROLE

Installation and Photo-media Artist

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Sculpture and Art Theory; Honours Michelle is an installation artist and lifelong learner. Who do you currently work for? I’m self-employed as a practising artist. My main revenue streams are from exhibition and program fees from galleries and museums, commissions of new work, government and private grants, conducting workshops and presentations, as well as consultancy fees. As an artist it’s important to understand where your work fits in the arts landscape; really get to know what the art industry is about and how it operates. This allows you to be strategic and focused on building an audience, and professional networks, for your creative outcomes. How did you arrive at your current position? I have an extensive business background prior to making the career change to pursuing a career as an artist. So, this was quite the change! Art was something I always longed to do. I started with a simple drawing class one afternoon a week but was soon looking for more. I completed two years at TAFE in Visual Arts before starting my undergraduate studies in Fine Art at QCA. It was always my intention to be an exhibiting artist.

I made sure to learn from the fantastic teachers and mentors I had at QCA not just HOW to make art, and of course the WHY, but also WHAT did they do to build their careers; how did they go about finding and creating opportunities? I was always curious and questioning of how arts careers are built, as this is not necessarily general knowledge, as opposed to other careers like becoming a dentist. As an artist you are your own small business. My business background has certainly helped me with that side of my career as I juggle a multi-portfolio freelance career. What form does your folio take? I have a website that showcases my finished works, exhibitions and projects that I regularly revise to stay current. Instagram and Facebook are also essential ways to actively network and connect with other artists and curators in your area and beyond. They facilitate the sharing of what is happening right now in your practice, including works in progress, your inspirations, if you are on a residency and more. What did you study at QCA? I graduated from my Bachelor of Fine Art in 2016 with a double major in Sculpture and Art Theory. After a gap year I returned in 2018 to start my Honours research, graduating in 2019 with a Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours, First Class) and the University Medal. I also completed a semester on exchange at the Kunsthochschule Kassel Germany which was a great experience and allowed me to visit many art museums in Europe whilst based there. This was very formative to both my practice, my commitment to it and to understanding careers in the arts.

What does a typical day look like for you? Currently I work in my studio six days a week: two days making art in the studio, one day working on my practice and three days studying. A typical day starts with coffee in bed at 7am. I read, research, answer emails and do social media until 10am. Then I get up, have breakfast and go to the studio to work. I try to wrap things up by 6pm, have dinner and spend the evenings reading before going to bed at 10pm. I find having a pretty strict schedule keeps my energy up. It’s hard to be creative when you are tired or unwell. No day is typical because it depends if you are in the middle of an intense period of making leading up to an exhibition or completing an art residency for example. I do try to stick to an ‘ideal week’ plan that balances time for working in my practice (ideation/ experimenting/designing/making/sourcing materials/ research) with working on my practice (finding and evaluating opportunities/drafting proposals/ documenting work/networking/social media). This last part of running an art practice is often overlooked. I spend between 30-50% of my time of these activities, adjusting as necessary to suit my upcoming workload. A lot depends on how successful I have been with my proposal writing. Often public galleries work two years out in advance for their planning, so you have to be organised if you want a steady stream of work coming in. Not much happens at the last minute. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Careers as exhibiting artists are build piece by piece, brick by brick. It’s important to start exhibiting while you are at university. Artists are not like dentists— you don’t need to wait for the piece of paper at graduation to become one. I really listened to my QCA lecturers when they gave advice and implemented it straight way. Be active in the arts community where you are based.

Visit galleries and attend openings so that you can identify where your work will fit when you are ready to start exhibiting. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Give yourself the freedom to play as much as possible. Keep an open mind because art school is your time to be as free and experimental as possible whilst you try and figure out who you are as an artist. Be like a sponge and soak up all the learnings, interactions and conversations about art and what it means to have a professional art practice. Ask questions and find mentors. Get amongst it! Go to gallery openings, introduce yourself to strangers and be seen on the scene. Don’t wait until you graduate to apply for opportunities. You might not feel ready to show your work, and be drowning in self-doubts, but do it anyway! You will never regret it and will learn so much about yourself and your art in the process. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? My biggest inspirations as career role models have been my lecturers at QCA. I was able to learn firsthand from them how they build their practices and careers in the arts. Also, I am inspired by so many QCA alumni that I know, whom I have watched from my time as a firstyear student, that have gone on to building really successful careers, like D Harding. This has helped build my confidence and belief in my own career path as an artist because I did not know any successful artists when growing up.

RACHAEL SARRA ROLE

Artist | Design Director

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Visual Communication

Rachael is multi-disciplinary artist from Goreng Goreng Country who uses her art to educate and share Aboriginal culture and it’s evolution through her business Sar.ra, which sells her designs on prints, cards, pins and more. Who are your typical clients? Tourism Australia, Hardie Grant Egmont, Brisbane City Council, Kmart Australia, Pyjama Foundation, Lush Australia. What does a typical day look like for you? Day to day tasks vary. No two days are the same. There’s business admin, business development, emails, creative development/concepts and social media interactions. What are the best aspects of your current role? Being your own boss allows you to create your pathway supported by your own values. You are able to connect to each client in a really human and authentic way which is then reflected in the work you create.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I have worked in a number of agencies in Brisbane which allowed me to really understand the industry as well as other non-creative roles like Business Development and Project Management. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Working in an agency environment showed both some of the best and not so great aspects of the industry. This created a fire in my belly to create a role that aligned to my values and took advantage of my skill set. Have you done any further study? Informal—Business courses.

What are the top three skills you regularly use? Social media engagement, digital design, clear, honest and authentic communication. What form does your folio take? Instagram primarily, website and PDF. Did you do an internship of any sort? At Liveworm as part of my university degree. Other than that, I learnt on the job. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Hang in there and don’t think you know everything just because you have a degree. There’s a lot to learn in a practical/holistic sense. Try to figure out who you are and what you stand for before you assume that you know what you want to do.

CHRISTOPHER MCKENZIE ROLE

Director | Co-Founder

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media

What does a typical day look like for you? A typical day is broken down like the following:

Christopher is the director and co-founder of Unlmtd Agency, a multidisciplinary agency incorporating product design, art, and interior design.

5:30–6:30—reading my bible and praying.

Who are your typical clients?

9:00–11:00—this is normally left blank for client meetings, and to finish up projects that I haven’t completed.

Our typical clients are hotels, large interior design firms, residential and commercial developers. How did you arrive at your current position? I have always been lucky enough to be headhunted. With a decade in the industry I have now worked for three large companies. If I wasn’t headhunted I was generally introduced to someone from my network. A network which was built from years of attending events, seminars, conferences and meet-ups and it’s through those opportunities I developed collaborations that turned into natural recommendations. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Graphic design, sales, and curation.

6:30–7:00—coffee and quickly check emails. Look for anything that need ASAP actions. 7:00–9:00—open diary and plan. Prioritise emails, open lead spreadsheet in Excel and check follow-ups.

12:00–3:00—work on current projects. If there are no projects currently in the pipeline then I spend this time cold-calling designers and searching the internet for projects which could use my services. I need to make about 35-40 phone calls which will normally get me 5-7 appointments and that usually turns into about two clients. 3:00–3:30—eat. 3:30–6:00—design for clients if no work on, then I design prints for the large retailer who I wholesale art prints for. 6:00–6:30—afternoon walk with my partner to check if she has anything for me to do, as she runs her own business. 6:30–8:30—DIA work, research on laptop while we watch some trash TV and eat. 8:30–9:00—invoices, final email check and reply if needed because we have clients outside Australia we can be replying to email as late as 10pm. 9:00 onward—general time to look on Instagram, Pinterest and time to read our magazine subscriptions or watch a TV program.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? My up-skilling comes from asking the annoying questions to understand the why and how to a process from sales to techniques. Every time I want to learn something like a new print technique I just ask can you tell me how this made? I might call 10–15 printers until someone will let me test one or they are will to show me how. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Yes, I was going to be fine artist and hang my work in gallery but I soon learned there isn’t a lot of money in that sector. When I realised that the commercial sector, eg hotel developments and houses need artworks in large volumes I changed directions and worked out ways to follow that. I painted artworks for a number of international and national hotels What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? I decided to study part-time so I would soak more stuff up like a sponge. There is no point rushing a process if there is nothing learned.

MOMOKO CUNNEEN ROLE

Senior Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Media, Major in Graphic Design and Digital Design

Momoko has been working for the Guinness World Records in Japan as a senior designer for the last ten years. What does a typical day look like for you? Coming into work around 10:30, working on multiple projects for Guinness World Records (GWR) such as the Japanese edition of the book, banners for the website, designing business cards and brochures, or printed merchandise for events, and the list goes on for a wide variety of designs. I usually leave the office around 7pm with one-hour lunch break in between. What are the best aspects of your current role? Being able to work on a wide variety of projects and designs for different occasions is challenging but interesting. It never gets old because I will have so many different things going on. Also, another good thing is that I can experience the world of record-breaking and the worlds finest in many areas and meet extraordinary people and record holders. How did you arrive at your current position? When I applied to a creative design agency in Japan, they were sharing an office with Guinness World Records who were looking for an assistant at the time so I was working part-time for both companies for a year, then was asked to come full-time to GWR after that and have been working here full-time for ten years.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I worked at a editorial design company for half a year as a junior designer, then one year at the creative design agency as a designer, then straight into GWR as a graphic designer and am now a senior designer at the Japan office. Did you do an internship of any sort? At the end of my time at QCA, I worked at d’signart creations with Dominique Falla for a few months but I loved it there and I learned so much from her. I look up to her and she is definitely one of the reasons why I love doing design work. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Use your time wisely. Now that I’m working I don’t have as much time as I did while I was at QCA, so I wish I could go back and tell myself to fill everyday with more purpose and do more things that you are passionate about.

PHILLIP RUDNEV ROLE

Graphic Designer Photography Specialist

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design

Phillip works for BLK Sport in a diverse role as a designer and photographer. What does a typical day look like for you? My job is incredibly dynamic and can range from drawing graphic tee designs through to shooting professional athletes for content. One day I will be on a skateboard with a gimbal and video camera and the next day I will be in the office creating a print flyer. Additionally I analyse BLK Sports social media marketing traction in order to make needed adjustments to budgets and targeting specifics. What are the best aspects of your current role? Our marketing team is completely self managed meaning we have a lot of creative freedom. In some sense we set the pace for how much content we generate. The dynamics of the job keeps it interesting.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Absolutely. After developing my skills as a designer I started to deal more with the data side of marketing. Seeing the numbers and statistics of adverts that work verses those that don’t really intrigued me. In regards to photography I did an internship that got me a and1000 paycheck which I used to buy my first camera. Ever since then my love for photography has been growing. Have you done any further study? Course in Social Media Marketing through Thryv Digital. Did you do an internship of any sort? I did a few internships that were super helpful. They helped me to get a better understanding of what the industry looks like from the inside out. I did a Liveworm one that was a lot of fun and really helped me ask some harder questions about myself as an artist. I did another internship at a web agency as an inhouse designer which helped me see the industry more clearly.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I did an internship very early on with what is now known as Qubasoft as a Flash animator and Graphic Artist. I later studied a Diploma in Graphic Design at Martin College in Brisbane, which allowed me to go into a Bachelor of Media at Griffith University. It’s important to note that the whole time through studies I tried to freelance as much as I could. Anything from Web Development through Wordpress and logo creation in Adobe Illustrator. I tried to learn as much as I could along the way.

JAMES NOVAK ROLE

Senior Research Fellow

STUDY Bachelor of Design (Product) with Honours, Major in Furniture Design; PhD in 3D Design James is a biomedical designer and leads a team of clinicians, engineers, designers and academics in the Herston Biofabrication Institute, based directly within the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. What does a typical day look like for you? For a designer, there are many things about my job that are far from typical, and I love that each day is completely different and involves juggling many things at once. For example, some of my days are spent in theatre attending surgery. It is important for me to understand exactly how procedures are currently conducted, and then work with our clinicians to design new medical devices to improve them, or develop hyper-realistic simulation tools to help junior clinicians better train. I also spend a lot of time collaborating with all the different people in my team, which means that sometimes I get to design and 3D print new medical devices, while other times I am busy ordering new equipment or materials to test, or writing up our research projects for publication in international journals. I also work a lot with manufacturers and startup companies to help develop products, and am often having early morning or late evening meetings with partners around the world.

What are the best aspects of your current role? The most rewarding part of my job is knowing that everything we design and research will ultimately improve the healthcare of people here in Queensland, as well as around the world. Some of the day-today work we do includes the 3D printing of patientspecific anatomical models which surgeons use to plan complex surgeries, which can reduce the amount of time someone spends in theatre, and the cost to our healthcare system, while improving the long-term outcomes for the patient. Longer-term, the research we do will completely revolutionise healthcare as we look towards implementing biofabrication, creating implants that better suit the human body and are personalised to the needs of each person. One of the advantages of working in this type of facility is that we have access to cutting-edge 3D printers, materials and software, as well as virtual and augmented reality devices and medical equipment. This is exciting and meaningful work, and definitely not what I imagined when I was a design student!

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? For me there was one moment that really changed my entire career path. After my undergraduate degree at QCA I spent several years working industry as a Product Designer. One day, I think right at the beginning of 2014, the head of the Product Design degree at QCA (my former lecturer) contacted me and asked if I’d be interested in helping with some teaching part-time. I met her at QCA to find out more and WOW—suddenly there was a lab with several 3D printers sitting on the table for students to use! When I was originally at QCA 3D printing was still quite an early technology, there was only one 3D printer in the entire university hidden away at a different campus for engineers to use. But seeing this new 3D print lab just for designers really captured my imagination. I had been using 3D printing to prototype models industry and playing around with a cheap desktop machine, but suddenly it felt like the technology was here, design and manufacturing was about to change. I’m still not entirely sure why, but that day I handed in my resignation, enrolled in an Honours program at QCA, and told the head of Product Design that I’d like to teach full-time, not part-time. It was crazy, it was exciting, and it was the start of my journey into 3D printing geek-dom. Have you done any further study? I seem to be endlessly studying! Since completing my PhD I have completed two intensive short courses at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston (Additive Manufacturing, Computational Design for Manufacturing), a short course at Lund University in Sweden (Metal and Polymer Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing), as well as training courses to become a PhD supervisor. Prior to my study at QCA I had already completed a degree in Architecture from another university.

Did you do an internship of any sort? During my undergraduate degree at QCA I started an internship towards the end of my second year with a product design consultancy in Brisbane. By the time third year started, this had turned into a part-time position, and as I graduated, a full-time position. Internships are invaluable and you should do as many as you can. It’s like trying on a pair of clothes before you buy them: Do they fit? Do you like how they feel? Do they complement you, or clash? The more you try on, the clearer picture you will have of what you want to do, what skills you bring to the table, and what skills you need to work on before you graduate. Now that the shoe’s on the other foot and I’m responsible for educating students, I do everything I can to help open doors for them with industry as I know how important the learning experience is. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? This is a difficult question, I’m not great at following advice and tend to like proving people wrong who give advice! So I think I’d just say “don’t follow advice, follow your gut, have fun.” If you’re not having fun as a designer, you’re doing it all wrong.

PAULA HARDIE ROLE

PhD Candidate | Visual Communication Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Design Futures with Honours, Major in Visual Communication Design

Paula is a PhD candidate at QCA and a strategic and visual communication designer at Relative Creative.

What are the best aspects of your current role?

Who do you currently work for?

Aligning my academic ambitions with industry work has been something I’ve deliberately worked towards. I feel privileged and proud to have reached the point where the two mutually inform each other.

I work for Relative Creative, a strategic and futures-focused interdisciplinary design practice. I’m also completing a PhD on the topic of public service design at QCA. How did you arrive at your current position? The majority of my jobs have come through recommendations from staff and friends at QCA, and not-for-profit sector in Brisbane. What does a typical day look like for you? I work part-time for Relative Creative in Burleigh Heads, so will commute from Brisbane to the studio some days. The other half of the week I study from home. I really enjoy a varied work week, where I can split my energy across my own big research project and projects at the studio.

My research and design practice focuses on mobilising sustainable futures—an increasingly crucial orientation for design in the climate crisis.

Have you done any further study? I studied a Masters of Design Research for two years then upgraded my program to a Doctor of Philosophy. Before enrolling in university I studied a Diploma of Music Industry Business at TAFE. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Alongside my bachelor degree, internships and casual design jobs have been beneficial in getting to know the Brisbane creative community. Postgraduate study, lecturing and tutoring in design at QCA, and short contract positions with organisations that align with my politics also took me to my current role today.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I really enjoyed the ownership I had over my project in my honours year. This allowed me to gain experience in curating design conversations and events through a project called Colloquia Sundays. I was able to design events with local communities on topical social, political and environmental issues. I’ve also begun to participate in international design conferences by attending and presenting papers through my candidature and position at Relative Creative. Did you do an internship of any sort? I sought out internships from studios that I admired throughout my undergraduate degree; one being at Gilimbaa, a creative agency focusing on Indigenous communications. I worked on a campaign for Queensland Poetry Festival in a group internship. It was hugely valuable—I later got a job as a graphic designer and built some solid friendships with artists and designers in Brisbane. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Be open-minded when learning about unexpected contexts for design; it is interconnected with everything. Invest time into building relationships with your lecturers, tutors and peers. Continuously reflect on your politics, worldview, and positions of power. Keep up with the news and local/ global affairs. Orient your skill development towards the future-proofing work that needs to be done as the world transitions to sustainable futures (in whatever capacity you are capable of).

REBECCA BELL ROLE

Marketing Coordinator

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design; Bachelor of Business, Major in Marketing Rebecca is a marketing coordinator for Skyline Displays Australia. What does a typical day look like for you? My typical day never looks the same. My role is responsible for the promotion, planning and coordination of seminars, Market research, and Database management, creation of sales and marketing collateral (inc. Brochures, displays and monthly newsletter) as well as administrative tasks such as processing leads, sales and marketing reports. I’m also responsible for the maintenance of the company website and the creation of engaging content for our blog and social media. What are the top three skills you regularly use? 1. Design Skills—I use this skill every day for our social media and blog. Additionally used for company collateral, display stands and email campaigns. 2. Planning—Having a plan of action creates organisation and transparency within a team. 3. Public Speaking—While I wasn’t overly a fan of speaking in front of the class at Uni, this skill has made it easy to speak up in company meetings and networking events. What are the best aspects of your current role? I get the best of both worlds. When I first went into marketing I was scared that I would have to conform into a little box but I now have a role where I have the freedom to be creative. My talents in design and marketing work together.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I originally only started with my Digital Media (Graphic Design) Degree, and then partway through year 1, I applied to join the double degree and add Business (Marketing). I did this as I wanted an ‘edge’ when applying for jobs! Best decision I’ve made. Did you do an internship of any sort? I completed two internships, one was while I was still a student in my last year and for only Graphic Design, and the second was when I returned home from my GAP year and was for Marketing. 1. Liveworm, GC—Graphic Design—100 Hours. 2. Desketing—Design and Marketing internship—200 hours (two-days a week, unpaid). I found them both valuable for different reasons. It showed me what working in the industry was actually like, not just the glamour version inside my head. It also provided me with insider training that helped me kick start my career. Without that training, I would not have been exposed to the experience I needed to start in Marketing. What form does your folio take? I have a website, but also a hard book showcasing my graphic design skills. Additionally I created a folder with examples of my marketing work (social media, content writing, EDM’s) that I could leave at a job interview. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? 1. You are good enough. Don’t be afraid to go after what you want. 2. Do internships while you’re studying. 3. Network with everyone!

JAY WOODS ROLE

Associate Creative Director

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Media, Major in Graphic Design and Photography

Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I look to creative directors and agencies who challenge the status quo, always!

Jay is freelance creative director working directly with brands and agencies in Australia. Who are your typical clients? They’re amazing people creating incredible brands in the youth culture space. Think Stab Magazine, Monster Children Creative, Deus Ex Machina, Levi’s, and Hurley as examples. How did you arrive at your current position? With my head down and my bum up! I’ve always made sure my interests intersect with my work. Aligning with people and brands who create products or services that resonate with me—surf, skate, art and fashion. I’ve been able to work both nationally and internationally over the course of my career, recently arriving back in Australia and pursuing work as freelance creative director. What does a typical day look like for you? My time is (mostly) spent responding to and writing creative briefs. I concept, develop and pitch ideas to brands for their digital or physical spaces. My work covers large scale campaign creation to execution and delivery. From web content to branded activations. Designing and building campaigns that bridge the gap between the digital world and the physical environment.

What are the best aspects of your current role? It’s the people. Working alongside a talented pool of photographers, producers and designers to create beautiful work for some brands I’m quite fond of. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I started my career at The Billabong Group as a junior product designer. By actively seeking new roles and opportunities in other departments, I was able to explore what captured my interest and run with it. My time at Billabong afforded me a network of peoples who have been instrumental in my career progression. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Absolutely! Working at Stab Magazine shifted my focus from a brand environment to an agency space. Today, I work across multiple brands and advertising campaigns simultaneously. For me, the mix of projects and exposure to different brands keeps the work interesting and pushes my creativity. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Focus all of your university work around your personal interests, the sh*t you love and stuff you do on the weekends. When your interests collide with your career, you’ll love your job, fact. Find a mentor, someone who has your ultimate job and make them your friend, contacts are everything!

JILLIAN LEE ROLE

Interior Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in 3D Design; Master of Art, Major in Visual Arts

What are the best aspects of your current role?

Jillian has been running her own retail and commercial interior design business while studying for her Masters of Secondary Teaching.

Have you done any further study?

Who are your typical clients? Commercial and retail businesses. How did you arrive at your current position? Generally my work comes through recommendations. What does a typical day look like for you? A typical day starts with coffee and emails, any client meetings are scheduled for mornings if possible. Computer design work and sourcing in the afternoons. What are the top three skills you regularly use?

Certificate in Microbusiness. Masters of Secondary Teaching. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I have always loved all things design. Tutoring at QCA sparked a new love of teaching. I’m now completing a Masters of Secondary Education so I can work with both my loves. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I don’t look to any one person for inspiration, I follow design industry blogs and try to get to as many industry events as possible.

Interpersonal skills—active listening, communication and empathy.

What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA?

Research—staying up to date on the latest products and systems helps to quickly assess the feasibility of ideas. In commercial design, each job may involve a different industry so quickly bringing your knowledge up to speed on the client’s needs is important.

Stop stressing and enjoy the ride, you got this.

Technical skills—CAD-based software, presentation and specification software.

There are so many great things about my work, I don’t consider it a job. Meeting new and interesting people, learning about new industries. The satisfaction of designing functional spaces people love engaging with.

JESSICA CRUICKSHANK ROLE

Illustrator

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Visual Communication

Did you do an internship of any sort? I did an internship at a digital agency while studying design at QCA.

Jessica is a freelance illustrator working with clients in publishing and advertising industries creating book covers and editorial illustrations. How did you arrive at your current position?

At the time, QCA didn’t offer much digital design education so I was filling in the gaps with internships. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Don’t be afraid to experiment with your work, and to break what you think are the rules!

While I was still working in advertising, I had an exhibition of my lettering and illustration, and people saw this and started sending me briefs. Once I quit my job, I ended up getting represented by the Jacky Winter illustration agency. What does a typical day look like for you? Wake up, eat breakfast, check emails and do admin, walk the dog, then eat lunch and do my illustration work! I usually finish work around 5-6pm. Sometimes I need to work later or on weekends. What are the best aspects of your current role? I get to do work that genuinely excites me, and I get to make my own schedule. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Aside from AWARD school, I just practiced my illustration and lettering a lot and got it in front of people by putting it online. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Probably having that first exhibition, and getting signed by my illustration agency.

SAMANTHA MCCLURG ROLE

Digital Design Director

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Animation, Minor in Film Samantha is the owner of Film. Edit. Repeat. They work with a range of clients from local businesses to international app developers to television programs to large corporations. How did you arrive at your current position? After university, I worked long-term in a few different positions in companies and creative agencies, building up my skills and constantly freelancing until the freelance work needed more time and was making the same amount of money as the salary jobs. I had to decide if I wanted to work for myself or not. I set up my business officially before quitting my 9-5 job and haven’t looked back since. What does a typical day look like for you? A typical day for me looks like any other job, really. The first thing I do for work is to check and reply to emails and write a to-do list in priority of each job, if I don’t already have one from the day before. Then I work on the most urgent or easiest and quickest jobs first to deliver as much as possible as early as possible and then time manage the larger jobs to make sure they are delivered ahead of time.

What are the top three skills you regularly use? The top three technical skills I use the most would be: —Animating using Adobe After Effects —Editing videos —Designing using Adobe Photoshop But the top three professional skills I use the most are definitely: Time management—knowing how long a job will take and what you need to do to get it done within the client’s timeframe is an invaluable thing to know about yourself. Problem-solving—sometimes a client needs a job that sounds almost impossible, but there’s always a way to achieve the impossible in this industry and being able to problem solve is a huge benefit. Communicating and managing expectations—of both myself and the client. Most creatives are perfectionists and can be protective of their work, but if you choose to do this as a career then reminding yourself that it is no longer just your work will do wonders for managing your own expectations. Being able to effectively communicate with your client to manage their expections in relation to your own skills and limitations, as well as letting go of your work to see it as a product that the client owns, not your own artistic expression will greatly help you when a client comes back with revisions or tells you that they don’t like it. It’s not personal, it’s just business.

What are the best aspects of your current role? Some of the best things about my current role is being able to dictate my own hours and clients. Using my time management skills to be able to take half a day off and go to the beach if it’s a sunny day or say no to a client if I’m not interested in the work is a great feeling. Being able to create work that people are happy with and challenge myself at the same time is awesome. And only having to answer to myself and not a boss is also pretty wonderful. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Every job I’ve had I’ve looked at it as a learning experience. I’ve worked in some wonderful jobs and some terrible companies and each time I’ve tried to learn as much as possible to apply it to my own work practices, whether that was talented filming and editing techniques or recognising bad client relations and what not to do in business, each experience has shaped me and my current role. Taking on work that I’m challenged by and clients that excite me have been great, natural ways of up-skilling while working, as well as keeping an eye on trends within the industry. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I was lucky enough to participate in an exchange semester through Griffith University where I studied Film, TV and Animation at Ithaca College in Upstate New York, and it was one of the most memorable and incredible experiences I’ve had to date.

I would highly recommend that experience to everyone if you can. It helped me realise what I want to do and what industry I want to be a part of, and solidified my love for my career. Did you do an internship of any sort? I interned in Los Angeles during my exchange semester in the USA. I helped out with designing pitch documents and amending small designs or animations for clients. It was very valuable to see how many different facets go into large-scale projects and the work ethic and commitment required for such a time-consuming occupation. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Enjoy every moment of your studies. This is your time to really experiment and be free. Work and clients can sometimes be restrictive, but when you’re in a learning environment take full advantage of the opportunity to experiment and fail, and fail, and fail, in the best and safest way possible. When I said “fail” I don’t mean fail a subject, I mean to maybe try something that might not really work out the way you hoped, but giving it a go anyway. The first step to success is to give it a try, and to not be afraid of failure. Everyone there wants to see you succeed and is there to help you do so. You get out only as much as you put in, so give it your all and use all of their resources to learn as much as you can and discover what you love. Enjoy it!

MONIQUE GRISANTI ROLE

Digital Content Creator

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media with Honours, Major in Digital Design and Marketing

Monique owns Uneek Creative which is a production business producing video content for businesses both locally and nationally. How did you arrive at your current position? After working in the industry for nearly ten years, I decided to go out on my own and work for myself. I started freelancing and then decided to take it one further and create a business. What does a typical day look like for you? Emails, phone calls, client meetings, editing, preproduction, filming if required, or attending a shoot at being a client liaison, a producer, director, and every other role necessary.

Post studies I secured a full-time role at Southern Cross Austereo as an editor, editing and producing TV commercial campaigns, radio social media content, and other videos. This role progressed into a second in command role and then further to an operations manager and producer role, where I managed a team of two fulltime staff and several contractors. We became a well respected department, recognised nationwide within the billion-dollar company. Winning awards and gaining an exceptional reputation in the industry. After 6-7 years in SCA I was part of a sales deal between SCA and WIN Network where I was sold across to WIN to be part of their new Gold Coast team. I remained in the same role, however with the loss of my two full-time staff I took on more responsibility and became a solo producer—where I produced every TV campaign from scratch on my own.

The best things are the freedom to run my own business the way I want, making important decisions and being my own boss. I get the freedom to be selective about the projects and clients I want to take on, giving each job the attention it deserves and producing work I am proud of.

I continued another six months in this role and then left WIN and started a new role as a full-time editor for a production agency called The Edit Suite. Here I worked on many large clients including Uber, AFL QLD, Goldoc, The Urban List and the Treasury Casino, producing many TV and social media campaigns, covering the 2018 Commonwealth Games and upskilling ten fold.

I feel I have a great work life balance also because I organise my own time and can work at any time of the day or night, week days or weekends. I get to be creative and in control of my business every day.

This then paved the way for my future business venture and soon enough I left The Edit Suite and started freelancing, followed by starting Uneek Creative.

What are the best aspects of your current role?

What pathway did you take to get to your current role?

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Yes. Between freelancing and starting Uneek Creative, I met some pretty influential people who I can attribute my success to. My partner has and still continues to be a strength and motivator in my life. He has introduced me to some major players. I attended a networking group he was a member of and met some inspiring business owners who eventually became clients, mentors and very good friends. I also met the owners of The Events Agency who I went on to produce event videos and photos with for some very large scale events. Between my partner, the networking group and the events company, my future was set for success. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? What comes around, goes around. Make sure you do the right thing by your clients—look after them, make them happy, produce your best work, and they will continue to use your services. Repeat business, referrals and industry contacts are gold. Networking is also a very important part. This doesn’t just apply to owning and running your own successful business. As I have proven in my years at QCA, having a good reputation within a large business can strongly benefit your future and your quality of working life.

JESS O’SHEA ROLE

Creative Director Designer | Maker

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Jewellery and Small Objects and Minor in Printmaking Jess is owner of jewellery store and label, Jess Blak. She graduated from the QCA in 2017. How did you arrive at your current position? I started my own jewellery label upon graduating QCA, I started in a studio and then moved into a store front with studio as the brand grew to a point where this could be supported. Who are your typical clients? My client’s range but are mostly people finding me through my store or through referrals. They are typically seeking a local maker who they can collaborate with on a design. What does a typical day look like for you? A typical working day I am in my studio/store where I make and sell my jewellery. After hours I am answering emails and Instagram inquiries, photographing work and building my website. And when I get a chance I am going to industry events to see fellow artists work. What are the best aspects of your current role? I love that I get to make really unique pieces for my clients, I have been making more engagement and wedding bands which has been a dream. I really love being my own boss and getting to work in my little store which is my home away from home.

What pathway did you take to get to your role? Not really a skill, but my networking has really paid off. Collaborating with other designers has led to a lot of the successes I have experienced. And just working consistently to push myself to be better in all areas of my business. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Getting my store in Winn Lane has really propelled my business forward. Prior to that I had a showroom in Paris fashion week which really informed what I wanted to do long term. That experience really helped me to realise a lot things about what I wanted in my future. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Experiment, use the facilities as much as you can. Make lots of mistakes because that’s how you are going to learn and progress as a maker/artist. Learn about pricing your work appropriately!!! So many artists undervalue their work and this is super important. Listen to your lecturers but also don’t be afraid to go against the grain. We all have different pathways waiting for us, and some of those pathways may not exist yet. Use the library.

DENICA LAYTON ROLE

Senior Interaction Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media with Honours, Major in Graphic Design

Denica works at Fjord—a design and innovation studio in Melbourne—helping clients realise meaningful growth by combining human-centered design and technology. What does a typical day look like for you? A typical day always involves meetings—meetings with stakeholders, developers, the project manager, copywriters and marketing. I spend a lot of time prototyping, tweaking and enhancing based on results from user testing and developer or sponsor feedback. What are the best aspects of your current role? First of all, I get paid to think. I love digging into complex, crunchy problems and making sense of them every day. It’s incredibly rewarding to arrive in a big old mess and gradually clear away all that confusion and uncertainty until all that’s left is clarity. What are the top three skills you regularly use?

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I’ve had a big mix of experience which all help me today. I sold Foxtel and mobile phones, I designed logos for small businesses, I worked in call centers and marketing teams. Every job and experience has informed my UX practice. I didn’t formally study UX, but I did study creative writing and worked my ass off consuming every credible scrap of human centered design advice out there on the internet. There’s a lot and it’s free. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? While I was madly consuming everything, I could find about how to UX, I volunteered to do a piece of work wireframing an app for a manager outside of my then marketing team. She saw my potential and (kinda) poached me onto her team. That was my first UX role and set the tone for the rest of my career to now. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Firstly, you have ADHD so get on top of that. Secondly, get involved at uni—there’s no half-assing this. Thirdly, sit at the front of lectures, ask dumb questions so you can hear smart answers.

Influencing others through visual storytelling, data and straight-up conviction. Investigating, unpacking and understanding problems. Abstraction and lateral thinking.

MITCHELL HICKEY ROLE

Motion Content Specialist

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Digital Design

Mitchell works as a full-time motion designer for global education provider Navitas, while freelancing on the side for various creative projects. What does a typical day look like for you? A typical day in my current role looks like video editing and animating motion graphics, mixed in with the occasional client meeting and film shoot. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Communication skills are imperative in all aspects of my role. Whether it be communication between the client, my colleagues or directing my cast and crew on a film shoot. Video production skills as a whole are the life-blood of my role. Without them, I wouldn’t have my job. Design practice is what influences every decision I make in my role with a focus on composition and form. What are the best aspects of your current role? I’m very fortunate to travel both interstate and internationally in my role. I get to meet so many interesting people and challenge myself with new and exciting projects.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I was proactive in building my portfolio and experience while I was still studying which helped me to transition into my role straight out of university. Have you done any further study? I’ve undertaken some on-the-job training related to digital marketing as well as mentoring students and colleagues. Did you do an internship of any sort? While studying I did an internship at the university design studio, Liveworm. I would definitely consider this to be valuable as it allowed me to experience what it’s like to work in a studio and collaborate with students from other disciplines in my degree. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Make the most of the resources the university offers, whether this be equipment, facilities, or the experienced staff.

JEE SURAIDI ROLE

Design Director

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design

Jee is the founder and director of his own label called J by Jee and creates a wide range of high-end design and fashion accessories. Who are your typical clients? My clients are fashion buyers of retail stores. Online fashion buyers for online retail as well. Customers who love fashion and style. How did you arrive at your current position? I started working for a local company, and learned the ways of how to run a business. I learned how to market a brand, design graphic communication design for customers brand awareness and I learned how to sell a product. What does a typical day look like for you? Visiting stores. Making sure that the whole collection is on display. Making sure each stores have sufficient stock to sell. Doing research on fashion trends and new designs on the collection. Inspiration and ways to improve visual merchandising of the display. Brand awareness in social media. What are the best aspects of your current role? Freedom to do things that inspire me most! Meeting new buyers and retailers to expand out the collection and point of sales.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? When I was studying in QCA, I was always passionate to have my own label someday and wanted to start a business of my own in fashion. At QCA, I was able to learn how design can be functional and practical to the audience, how can it communicate to sell a brand or a product. Did you do an internship of any sort? Yes during my third-year of study at QCA I interned for a local Australian fashion label who owned a store in Surfers Paradise. I learned ways to find latest fashion trends, to style a customer, clothing production, and how to create mood boards for every collection. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Be passionate in everything you do. Designing is something I am always interested in to learn. Keep an open mind to learn new things, ideas and take inspiration from others. It might lead you to something more.

NATALIE HASKELL ROLE

Lecturer | Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Multimedia; Bachelor of Design, Major in Product Design; Master of Visual Art

Natalie currently teaches at QUT and has been lecturing and inspiring students for over six years while continuing to develop her practice through research. What did you study at QCA? I have two degrees from Griffith, B. Multimedia and B. Design at QCA. And a MAVA with a focus on sustainable product design and digital fabrication. I came back to QCA 10 years after the B. Multimedia to study design and it was the best decision. It led me to a rewarding career in Product Design (lighting and furniture), creating my own work as a designer-maker and lecturing. I have been exposed to new ways of thinking, new technologies and a creative design community. It has been an amazing journey.

What are the best aspects of your current role? The best things are the creative design community I am part of at QCA, the opportunity to facilitate others learning about design through lecturing (and see the new directions they take it in), to designing and making sustainable products integrating new fabrication methods. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Working industry was a key pathway. I have found it invaluable in my teaching and research. The knowledge you develop, alongside the networks and projects you work on build up a great resource when lecturing. I am a designer as well, the Masters at QCA really helped me to shift to being a designer-maker. A subject I did within that, Digital Making, opened up so many opportunities, including a mentorship in New Zealand for two months on sustainable product design and digital fabrication with a world leader in that area, and a product design position also specialising in this (the work I did in that subject/in the masters was the portfolio that got me the mentorship and role).

What does a typical day look like for you?

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path?

As a lecturer it changes every day. It could include, teaching in the workshops (for digital making), meeting with students, researching and writing journal articles, coordinating an exhibition, and working on research projects (such as a 3D printed lighting project with Industry I am working on at the moment). It is this diversity that I love about being an academic, it combines everything I did while working industry, with ongoing research, to then apply that to teaching and working with students. It’s a rewarding career.

Yes, several! I have had three distinct careers— Instructional Designer, Interior Designer and finally Product Designer (for the last eight years)/Lecturer (for the last six years). At every point where I have wanted to explore new directions I have done further study which has opened up so many doors, new ways of thinking and working, new technologies and pivotal mentors. I actually think it is these people and mentors that facilitate others that are so important. I have been lucky to have a number of mentors who have been pivotal to my career path.

Did you do an internship of any sort? A two-month mentorship in New Zealand. It was incredibly valuable, I was able to see all areas of the business and design processes, and I also learnt unique skills across digital and handmade fabrication. It was similar to an intensive course in some ways, I learnt a lot in a short amount of time! What form does your folio take? I have a number of forms for my folio—website, PDF and instagram. A lot of interest comes from instagram and I have been offered exhibitions and commissions from there—I started it as a way of documenting my work and process as a designer (mostly for myself). But I think we all love seeing the creative process and how different designers create! It enables people to easily see the work you are creating. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Make use of all the facilities (I did!). My QCA Masters supervisor actually gave me the best advice as I was leaving for New Zealand—enjoy it and say YES to the opportunities that come up! I still think of that as I am going into any new situation.

ALYCE SIMMONDS ROLE

Marketing and Digital Sytems Manager

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design; Bachelor of Business, Major in Marketing Alyce works for the Royal Hospital for Women Foundation as a digital engagement manager, working with past patients to help promote The Royal in the community and give back to the hospital. Who do you currently work for? The Royal Hospital for Women Foundation. We are the registered charity for The Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick, NSW, the only dedicated women’s hospital in the state. Over 10,000 women and 4,000 babies per year including 1,000 premature and critically ill babies are cared for each year. The Foundation’s role is to raise vital funds for equipment, programs and research that help transform the lifelong health of women and babies. What does a typical day look like for you? As the Digital Engagement Manager, my role is responsible for marketing (digital focus), community engagement and technology that enables the patients to give back to The Royal and ensure that the Foundation team have the correct systems to be able to fundraise. Each day is different depending on who we meet in the corridors of The Royal. Although a typical day would include creating and implementing upcoming fundraising campaigns, building webpages to host the campaigns, creating the supporting materials, EDM’s, Fundraiser (customer) journey mapping and data segmenting and analysing.

What are the best aspects of your current role? I get to work in a digital marketing role that truly makes a difference. Big wins for me are implementing a new campaign or fundraising journey that reaches targets and is able to fund life-saving equipment or research for women and newborns. That’s a great feeling!

Did you do an internship of any sort? Yes—I was able to do three internships while studying. I did an internship with a magazine company I found it useful to understand the publishing process, deadlines and use of systems. Work experience in the Gold Coast Liveworm Studio and also an internship with a digital ad agency. This is potentially where my love for digital marketing first started! What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Be open with where your degree could lead you. There are so many amazing jobs out there and truly something for everyone. Once you find what you love doing—you’ll know it! I definitely use a combination of skills that I learnt across both my QCA degree and Griffith Business School degree and wouldn’t be where I am today.

What are the top three skills you regularly use? 1. Communication and marketing. 2. Web development and systems management. 3. Data management. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? After graduation I relocated from the Gold Coast to Sydney where I went straight into an entry level marketing assistant role in a branding agency. I was a hybrid across marketing, PR and graphic design. Managing things like email marketing and websites as well as PR and media outreach. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Yes. After 1.5 years in a branding agency I found myself struggling to enjoy work knowing that I didn’t care too much for the product I was trying to sell. I then wanted to do something more meaningful.

ELLA JOHNSTON ROLE

Freelance Graphic Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media

Ella is a freelance designer currently working for Made Thought in London. What does a typical day look like for you? I start with a coffee, read through any emails and catch up with my project manager or designer I’m working with to be briefed on what I’ll be doing for the day. There is not necessarily a typical day workwise, but often there is research involved, design work and catch-ups throughout the day with collaborators to share ideas and make sure we’re on the right track. What are the best aspects of your current role? The best part is working with people who are generally pretty awesome and like-minded, collaborating on ideas and working with clients who are passionate about their product and put their trust in you. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Strategic thinking, conceptual design, and the ability to talk about your work and explain your ideas clearly and confidently. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? After I graduated, I did an internship in Stockholm, Sweden. When I came back to the Gold Coast, I worked with a group of entrepreneurs on a number of start-ups, which gave me an invaluable insight into the business side of things as well. I then moved to Melbourne and worked full-time for almost six years in various studios, before relocating to London last year to start working as a freelance designer.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? My internship in Stockholm helped me realise that I wanted to focus on branding, which changed my pathway. Moving to London was also a pivotal moment which has given me the opportunity to work in different agencies and experience varied working styles. Did you do an internship of any sort? I did a three-month internship at Neumeister in Stockholm. The experience was really valuable as a bridge between university and a full-time job. It prepared me for what was ahead without as much pressure and shaped where I wanted to go with my career. I also found it challenging working in a studio where English wasn’t the preferred language! Coming home with international experience on my CV was really helpful in landing future positions. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? I think I’d tell myself to experiment more. You’re given so many resources to play with at uni, and often I was worried about looking like I didn’t know what I was doing, instead of testing things out. So just get in there and explore everything.

DAN CARSON ROLE

Commercial Product Photographer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Photojournalism

Dan works for the Spotlight Retail Group as a commercial product photographer, shooting content for catalogues, brand campaigns, in-store material and more. What does a typical day look like for you? Morning meeting to discuss trends coming up, week schedule and day schedule. Tend to emails and begin with briefings for shots planned for the day. Commence setting up lifestyles including set assembly and camera and lighting equipment. Complete the set amount of lifestyle shots. Ensure imagery is uploaded and archived for future usage. Make retouching annotations in the uploaded images. Sight and sign off on retouching made by Premedia team. Pack down photography set/s together with all equipment. Send final emails and mark off tasks completed in my day. Ready for the next day! Have you done any further study? I make sure I stay up to date by competing a course relating to my field of expertise every 6-12 months. Mostly I take on courses in different software and photography workshops together with graphic design and videography specific workshops.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Additional experience gained through internships with photographers, numerous in-person workshops, countless online workshops and tutorials, discussions with people who have jobs I want myself. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I once thought I wanted to be a civil engineer, however my passion for photography together with the immense support my wife provided me truly provided me with the pivotal moment in my life that saw me strive. Having excellent academia also ensured the best chance for my success. Did you do an internship of any sort? I completed two internships while at university. One for Fairfax Brisbane Times during the G20 Summit and the other as part of a component for one of my courses. Internships are a great way of almost fasttracking your way forward and often, if supported by a great team, you form professional relationships and industry connections. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Embrace every opportunity and experience, help others, and don’t be afraid of being different. Different is what makes you YOU!

AARON LUTZE ROLE

Commercial Web Tech Lead

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Design What pathway did you take to get to your current role?

Aaron is a tech lead in Nine’s Powered Studios, managing teams to create digital content and user engagement. What does a typical day look like for you? Briefing my direct reports and ensuring they understand their goals for the day. Afterwards, setting up my local development environments for the work that I have scheduled for the day, and proceeding to develop from there. Through the day, reviewing code of my direct reports and guiding them on best practice or improvements. Generally there are other team meetings for upcoming work where I am involved in an advisory role. What are the best aspects of your current role? Being exposed to new topics and products from our advertisers allows for new ideas. Also, our designs change subtly over time, so coding in a different way is required. Did you do an internship of any sort? Yes, I worked at a Gold Coast based web design studio in my final year. It was valuable, and I was even offered a job, but I declined due to problems I observed in the workplace culture.

I started freelancing after graduating, and did sessional training at QCA and a few other institutes for a few years. I worked at small studios until I was able to work more independently from home with my own business. After that I moved to Sydney and wanted more consistency and to improve, and during that time I moved into a full-time role with more responsibility. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Yes, definitely meeting and marrying my wife. I was ready to move overseas or live anywhere, and this happened and she was keen to stay in Australia, so I took the full-time job offer at Fairfax Media. Had that job offer not been on the table, I might be living overseas and on a completely different path now. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Push yourself now while you can and you have all that energy! Do internships in Sydney or Melbourne and aim to leave your safe comfortable home town as you will not learn or grow fast enough if you play it safe. It will pay a dividend in the long run, trust me!

RENEE STEPHENSON ROLE

Graphic Designer Digital Marketer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design Renee works for the WorkwearHub in Burleigh Heads creating digital and print materials. What does a typical day look like for you? Start by checking my emails to see if anyone needs anything from me and see discussion within the team. Then jump onto Asana to manage my work and see what I should do for the day. Then I usually spend the day in Photoshop or Illustrator creating artwork for social media, the website, different companies that we resell items and also creating EDMs for promotions we have running! Always going back and forth in meetings also to look at our targets and schedule our promotions also. What are the top three skills you regularly use? 1. Digital manipulation 2. Creation of EDMs with Klaviyo 3. Coding when making changes on our site. What are the best aspects of your current role? Best thing currently is the flexibility of working from home and also evolving and learning as the company is growing rapidly. I’m being involved with making new products and designing the new warehouse / shop front that we’ll be moving into. It’s not all graphic stuff but I’ve learnt to always take on any experiences and use them to better your own personal development.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I’ve slowly moved myself up. I started at a company that did racing and flight simulation cockpits, this was my first design role out of university. A lot of things I’ve had to Google or learn myself, a bit from experimenting, and also being involved in different marketing meetings taught me a lot. I also made a few side hustles on the side and took the time to learn more about different platforms and ways of marketing. Once I found I wasn’t benefiting or learning much from my role, I moved onto something different to up skill my coding abilities. Then I moved into this position as I had a decent portfolio and had a lot of knowledge not just in design, but the marketing field. Did you do an internship of any sort? I did an internship at Liveworm of 100 hours, which was good from a creative standpoint, but didn’t give me the experience of a true work environment. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Ask questions, ask so many questions. Be open to learning different things. I struggled because I was too scared to ask people how they did certain things because I didn’t want to seem like I was less experienced than them and didn’t know what I was doing. But man it’s so much easier and worth it if you put yourself out there and ASK.

VANESSA WILLIAMS ROLE

Jewellery Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Jewellery

Venessa works at Atlas Mcneil Healthcare while also sustaining her own jewellery practice part-time. What does a typical day look like for you? My job is four-days a week. Friday’s, Saturdays and any other spare time I spend in my home studio. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? A part-time job whilst focusing on my jewellery practice became more of a full-time concern, which has allowed me to be more creative in my practice and not rely on it as my primary income stream. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? When I graduated from QCA, I moved from Queensland to Adelaide when I was accepted in the two year Associate Program at the Jam Factory in 2009. Did you do an internship of any sort? Whilst at the Jam Factory I was able to focus on building a strong production range, learn new skills and develop networks. Through the South Australian Arts Grant program I have had success in applying for several grants for both national and international mentorships, and international exhibitions.

KIRSTY GORDON ROLE

Social Media and Content Creator

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media with Honours, Major in Graphic Design Kirsty works for Typism, a global lettering community, as their digital content guru. What does a typical day look like for you? My role involves publishing blog posts, scheduling social media, updating the website, writing and creating challenges and so it can be a wide range of activities. Most of them involve sitting on a computer, but when the yearly conference is on, there’s lots of running round in person. We also publish a book every year, so there is lots involved with that as well. It’s a yearly cycle rather than a weekly or daily one.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I volunteered to help out with the Typism conference when I was at university and then when my boss got too busy to do all the work herself, she started paying me to help her out. After a while, that grew into a regular paid position. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Volunteering for that first conference really changed everything for me. I loved what Dominique was doing with Typism and saw an opportunity to get involved. I’m still learning on the job, and I love creating posts which raise social aweareness. She has been really cool about letting me add my own voice into the brand and sharing my perspective. Did you do an internship of any sort? The volunteer position was an internship of sorts and then that led into paid work.

What are the top three skills you regularly use? Organisation is the top one. We have a weekly content schedule that has to go out, no matter what else is happenening and so you have to be on top of the schedule. Empathy is the next one. We are a global community with lots of people from different countries and people have different perspectives and opinions and they share them publically so you have to be understanding of that. I guess resiliance is the final one. Sometimes you can try things and they just don’t work so you have to find the energy to keep going and to keep up the pace.

SELVIR ZULIC ROLE

CGI Artist

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Media, Major in Digital Design and 3D Design Selvir runs his own 3D Architectural rendering studio, Zulic 3D, on the Gold Coast. How did you arrive at your current position? After working in the industry for many years I gained valuable skills and experience that enabled me to venture into my own business. My clients include property developers, architects, home builders, real estate agents, interior designers and marketing agencies. What does a typical day look like for you? Running my own rendering business a typical day can be full of surprises from going on building site taking photographs, flying a drone for aerial shots, being lifted by a cherry picker to take Back plate images or simply working hard on a deadline till late into the night. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Marketing, Management and design. What are the best aspects of your current role? The best thing is I get to do what I love and enjoy. Freedom of movement, meeting clients, going on building sites and taking pictures. Have you done any further study? Interactive and Visual Design at QUT Brisbane.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I worked in education sector for about seven years teaching Digital Design, then moved into the architecture industry for about few years, gained valuable skills and then decided to venture into my own business. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? The greatest way to get inspired is by learning how to observe everyday elements around us. I observe all design elements daily in physical and digital form in my visual range. I draw ideas from what I see and write them down. This way I stay sharp and get my inspiration for new designs. Focusing on a single entity for inspiration in my opinion suppresses your creative thinking outside the box and you become an inside the box thinker as I call it. Outside the box is where all great design takes place.

Did you do an internship of any sort? Yes, I worked with few companies and I strongly suggest to seek an internship, this will give you a great introduction how the industry operates and what skills are required to work in the industry. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? I would say explore your creativity in your first year see where you excel this is your chance to see your potential and prioritise your goals. Create a digital folio online and start networking, post your early designs and seek feedback.

ZOE PORTER ROLE

Cross-disciplinary Artist Arts Educator

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art with Honours, Major in Painting; Graduate Diploma of Secondary Education; Doctor of Visual Art in Cross-disciplinary Practices

Zoe is a cross-disciplinary artist and arts educator at Education Queensland and QCA. What does a typical day look like for you? I teach art part-time so when I’m not teaching I usually start work in the studio in the early morning. I also consider my art practice to be similar to a business and I’m often researching, developing ideas, corresponding with other art professionals and working on a range of projects. I have maintained a professional art practice while teaching for the past decade and ensured that I balance my time between my art practice and role as an arts educator. What are the best things about the things you get to do every day? I get to think creatively, collaborate on different projects, make art and remainspired.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I think completing my doctorate at QCA really allowed me to establish my art practice and developed my teaching skills as well. I worked under the guidance of really innovative lecturers at QCA which really assisted in the direction of my current art practice and gaining an understanding into how to create a sustainable and long-term practice as an artist.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role?

What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA?

After completing a bachelor of Fine Arts with Honors I completed a graduate Diploma of Education. I taught on a casual basis while I continued to develop my art practice and exhibited regularly in Australia and overseas. I then continued my studies at QCA where I undertook a Doctorate in Visual Arts, throughout my degree I had the opportunity to study at Geidai University in Tokyo (which was an exchange program between QCA/ Geidai University in Tokyo) as well as travelling to the US to undertake a residency and have a solo exhibition at Crane Arts in Philadelphia as well as spending time at various galleries in New York.

Take risks, experiment with different media and techniques, soak up as much as you can about art, find artists that inspire you and don’t be afraid to make accidents—these often turn out to be some of the most important discoveries! Also some of the people that you end up studying alongside are the people that you maintain life-long friendships with.

I also lectured in Foundation Drawing during my Doctorate Candidature and since graduating, simultaneously running workshops as a guest artist at numerous schools and universities. Did you do an internship of any sort? I didn’t undertake an internship as such but I was fortunate to undertake a funded mentorship program with artist, Ian Friend after completing my BFA with Honours. This was a valuable experience as I got to spend time discussing the direction of my artwork and gain advice from an established and recognised artist. I was able to discuss my work through informal critiques and implement new ways of working. Throughout my DVA I also had the opportunity to tutor in Art Theory as well as lecture in Foundation Drawing for undergraduate students and this teaching role became a strong foundation into how to teach art to emerging artists.

GERWYN DAVIES ROLE

Artist | PhD Candidate

STUDY Bachelor of Photography with Honours, Major in Creative Advertising Photography and Photographic Art Practice Gerwyn works for UNSW as a sessional lecturer while completing his postgraduate studies. He also works independently as a photographic artist, exhibiting work in commercial galleries and selling work direct. How did you arrive at your current position? After working at QCA I relocated to Sydney and approached UNSW (University of NSW) about commencing my postgrad there before beginning lecturing in photo media. What does a typical day look like for you? I split my time between research and writing across queer theory, Camp aesthetics and performative photographic practice as well as making work for this research and for upcoming commercial exhibitions. Throughout the semester I typically teach one or two undergraduate photography classes at UNSW Art and Design. What are the best aspects of your current role? I get to make elaborate costumes, play adult dress ups, take selfies and research and write about queer arts practice—there is a lot of best things wrapped up inside that.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Following Honours, I tutored for several years at QCA before moving onto UNSW. Throughout that period I worked consistently on developing new work and finding opportunities to exhibit, I worked on collaborations and sought out new applications for my work beyond a traditional gallery context.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Being entrusted with the opportunity to teach as well as the mentorship I received from Jay Younger and Amy Carkeek in my time at QCA and beyond has been invaluable. Building both practice and profile as an artist takes commitment and it has been less about pivotal moments and more about remaining consistent and focused so far. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Take risks and be playful, its art not accounting. Make lots of experiments and try not to be precious about them, inevitably there will be eyesores and errors but this the only way to develop what you want to say and discover how you’d like to say it. The microcosm of art school is a really productive, energetic and special space if you invest yourself in it properly. You have access to peers with diverse interests and identifications and you should seek out their responses and feedback and respectfully offer yours in return. Art school is the only time you’ll have such direct and honest access to these broad minds and the collective energy is intoxicating if you and your peers throw yourself headfirst into the process together. There is nothing cooler than an art school nerd.

KEI WONG ROLE

Senior Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Digital Design

Kei is the senior designer at Entel Holdings who are the exclusive distributor of the Energizer® Homepower in Australia and New Zealand. What does a typical day look like for you? I am responsible for design assets of Energizer Homepower (technical documents, videos animations and product showcase). Liaising with external agencies, setting-up photoshoots, creating digital and print ads, maintaining websites, portals, and increasing user-friendliness. Maintaining brand consistency and supporting external retailers and installers. What are the best aspects of your current role? It’s great to manage a relatively well-known brand, and the privilege to aim for the best outcome instead of rushing deadlines is priceless.

Have you done any further study? Yes, I went to QUT and completed a Master of Creative Industries while working parttime. I majored in Interactive Design.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? It was the time I realised how tough it was as an international student, even to get a job in local companies. I flipped my motion design specialist dream into an all-rounder. I became a Swiss army knife that does almost anything and everything that a small to medium-sized company would ever need. Did you do an internship of any sort? Yes, QCA Liveworm Gold Coast gave me the experience of collaborating with a team of designers, working on client briefs for real for the first time What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? 1. Getting a university degree doesn’t get you real-world ready. A GPA of 6 or even 7 doesn’t always mean you’re good to go. It only means you’ve met the criteria and/or your tutors were being nice to you. 2. Working for marketing agencies gives you less competition in design but endless fights with marketing and IT departments, and it’s pretty easy to be stuck in that territory. 3. Spend more time socialising and making more friends.

MIKA NAKAMURA -MATHER ROLE

Visual Artist

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art with Honours, Major in Painting; DVA Mika works from her home studio on commissions for private collectors, art galleries and public exhibition organisers. What are the best things about the things you get to do every day? I love researching a new idea and discovering something I didn’t know about my culture or my history. And I love challenging myself to create something that affects people on an emotional level as well as a visual one. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Working with timber to enhance its sense of history and cultural significance. Configuring different installations to work in different spaces. And good old-fashioned drawing. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? When I was studying my DVA, I went on a threemonth exchange residency to Tokyo University of the Arts in 2015. Meeting up with other international postgrads and taking part in a group exhibition enabled me to gainsights into the way art is perceived in different countries and convinced me that I could develop my own voice as an artist.

Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? The Thai artist Nipan Oranniwesna is a particular favourite of mine. His work ranges from the political to the personal but always begins with a human insight. I met him at Setouchi Triennale in 2013 and we have remained in contact ever since. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and always challenge yourself.

LIAM BRYAN -BROWN ROLE

Registrar

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art with Honours, Major in Jewellery and Small Objects Liam works as the registrar for the State Library of Queensland, managing and coordinating the movement of cultural objects. What does a typical day look like for you? Coordinate logistical and legal aspects of loans of cultural objects between collecting institutions (contract preparation and freight arrangements), pack objects for transit (or advise on this), catalogue and document objects pre/post-transit, assist with handling and installation of objects going on display, observing/referring to relevant policy and procedure. What are the best aspects of your current role? Ensuring that audiences can experience important cultural objects through exhibition display, while minimising that objects exposure to any potential risk of damage that may occur. I am passionate about caring for objects and protecting them from harm. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? During my studies I participated in museum and gallery volunteering and internships, at Logan Art Gallery, Griffith University Art Museum and the Museum and Gallery of the Northern Territory. From here I obtained an entry level role into the Registration field which I have since built on.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I always thought I wanted to be a curator, selecting works for display and utilising specialist/academic knowledge to create narratives for exhibitions. However, my early experiences with that kind of work revealed it didn’t actually appeal to me for a long-term career, and I realised I much preferred the behind-the-scenes work of collection management/ registration tasks, so I began pursuing roles in that field instead. Did you do an internship of any sort? Yes, interning and volunteering is a common pathway into museum and gallery work. I volunteered at Logan Art Gallery (my local regional gallery) in my first and second year of university, completed a 2-week intensive internship at Museum and Gallery of the Northern Territory, and participated in the Griffith University Art Museum internship program. They were each valuable experiences because I began to learn how these types of organisations worked and confirmed that I was in fact interested in pursuing a career in this field of work. The Griffith University Art Museum internship led directly to my first paid work in the field, initially casually and eventually as a part-time staff member there. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Try not to worry too much about making ‘logical’ choices! Study whatever courses appeal to you, because it will all weave an interesting, unique tapestry. Put your interests first and a fulfilling career will develop and follow—don’t put the cart before the horse!

KATIE TUTTY ROLE

Signage Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Communication Design, Major in Graphic Design Katie is currently working for Corlette, a signage and wayfinding company in Sydney who’s clients consist of luxury hotel and resorts like the Four Seasons and Marriott Hotels. Who are your typical clients? We typically cater to luxury hotels and mixed-use developments all around the world as well as at home in Australia. How did you arrive at your current position? I moved to Sydney a few years back with no job and roughly 4 years’ experience in the design industry. After a couple of weeks of using a recruitment agency and a few successful interviews, I was offered a position at Corlette. Signage and environmental design was always something I was interested in and so I jumped at the opportunity to join their team and learn more!

What does a typical day look like for you? Currently—while working from home—our studio starts with a morning huddle to catch up on any news and look at our workloads for the day and week ahead. From there, our daily tasks are pretty clear and we each autonomously work through various items to complete our projects. We touch base with our project managers, creative director and studio manger throughout the day as needs be. At Corlette, each of our projects begin with a concept phase which progresses with client feedback into a design development phase. Once all approved and signed off, we designers create artwork files and technical documentation for the signage manufacturers to fabricate the signage suite from. It’s usually a pretty solo job but we might share projects as the studio workflow requires. Our projects can go on for years and years, so some handover is often required. What are the top three skills you regularly use? 1. We concept largely in Adobe Illustrator so having an in-depth knowledge of the program and the best effects to create realistic concepts is super important in my role. 2. A general understanding of scale. Creating signage on a screen and then having it fabricated 1:1 in real life is two very different things. I always have a ruler and tape measure nearby to make sure I’m documenting realistic sizes for my signage. 3. Time management. Being able to stick to the time budget allocated and finding your concept direction quickly is super important to your studio and your schedule. Of course, sometimes things occasionally blow out. Having realistic expectations of how long things will take you will save a lot of stress.

What are the best aspects of your current role? I love seeing my designs fabricated and installed in locations all around the world. It’s especially cool to see them in person in our Australian project locations. Knowing that these signs have assisted people or influenced them in their journey is a cool thought too. A lot of our clients have big budgets to create really luxe signage outcomes for their hotels or shopping malls or whatever the project might be. Because of that, we have a lot of free reign in the material finishes we get to specify. Corlette has used real gold in a project in the UAE!

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I started in a graphic design position for a marketing company a year or so after graduating UNI. It was during this time I really, truly developed my skills in design—building on the foundations I’d learned at UNI. I gained a deeper understanding of the software and theory behind design and learned a strong work ethic quickly. Work came in thick and fast during this time and as the only designer in the company I quickly developed strict time management practices. From there I found myself in another graphic design role but this time for and interior design company. This position was a lot more branding focused and saw me more client-facing as I managed the graphic side of the interior studio. It was here that I got to merge my two design passions of interior design, with its strong wayfinding and materiality focus, and graphic design. I loved working alongside the interior team to create signage, packaging and other brand touch points. So overall, I haven’t actively sought out further formal education but instead feel as though I’ve learnt so so much more from being on the job and seeing different aspects of the design industry firsthand. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Find your unique style and express it while you are still flying solo at university. Build up your Instagram profile, be more creative in your spare time, explore other mediums outside your discipline. Listen to your tutors more! And do Liveworm more than once!

HANNAH HEADRICK ROLE

Graphic Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Visual Communication Design Hannah currently lives in London and is working as a graphic designer for the Google Brand Studio, assisting on a range of unique and interesting projects. How did you arrive at your current position? I was living in London and created a profile on a creative network called The Dots. My manager found my profile through there and got in touch with me. What does a typical day look like for you? Morning standups with the project teams to discuss everyone’s progress and tasks for the day. Then independent work for the rest of the day, with informal check-ins with my manager throughout. A group of us goes to lunch together each day and we get coffee together. A nice mix of independent work and socialising. What are the top three skills you regularly use? 1. Web design (UI/UX). 2. Editorial layout design. 3. Strategic thinking to solve a brief. What are the best aspects of your current role? Working on big projects about interesting topics like the Bauhaus or Artificial Intelligence. It’s so rewarding to do what I love every day and work with talented people.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? While I was in my final year at QCA I found an internship with a marketing agency. This internship turned into paid freelance work, which helped build my portfolio and industry experience. Once I graduated, I found a job in a local marketing agency. I think it was crucial that I started doing design work outside of uni before I graduated, as it gave me a head start and showed that I was passionate. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? My career path has been fairly linear, but with each job you learn what you like and what you don’t like, which sets you up better for your next job. My first two jobs were in small agencies, which has its positives, but working for a big business has personally been a much better fit for me, and will be what I look for in the future. In smaller businesses you often get to do more, getting stuck into more varied projects and usually managing your time and the projects yourself. Whereas in larger businesses people’s roles are more defined and specialised, so you’re not spread as thinly. I’ve welcomed the change in working for a large business, as it means that I get to focus on what I’m really good at.

What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Don’t specialise too early: it pays to have a bit of skill in various areas (web design, print design, branding, animation and so on) as these skills will invariably come in handy when you start your career, and give you a broader range of options for entry level jobs. Definitely don’t neglect web design and at least basic HTML and CSS—the web is where most of my work has been in all of my jobs, and skill in this area will set you up well for the future. Did you do an internship of any sort? I found an unpaid internship online—to get the role you had to quickly design an ad to show how you approach a brief. In this role I did digital ads, some branding, and print design. It was an excellent introduction to real-life work: in the kind of work you do as well as how to work in a team. Eventually, they were so happy with the work that I was doing that they started paying me. Unpaid internships are a controversial practice, and people deserve to get paid for their work. However, when I took this internship on, I was still living at my parent’s house and could afford to work for free. Ultimately it worked in my favour, as it turned into paid work and gave me extra work to add to my portfolio and experience to add to my resume. I highly recommend doing any kind of professional design work while you’re still in uni, as it will truly give you a head start on your career.

KRYSTLE WRIGHT ROLE

Director | Photographer

STUDY Bachelor of Photojournalism Krystle is a talented freelance photographer and director represented by The POOL Collective. Krystle captures astonishing photos of extreme sports and storm chasing.

What are the best things about the things you get to do every day? As a freelancer, I continue to work with the greatest freedom and choose how best to use my time. I love the challenge of designing ideas for brands and presenting them with projects that add value to their presence. Any day presents the unique opportunity to open a new collaboration. How did you arrive at your current position?

Who are your typical clients? Clientele includes National Geographic, Red Bull, Canon, Carlton United Breweries, Outside, Outdoor Research, Patagonia and more. What does a typical day look like for you? Whilst I don’t have a set routine, as a freelancer, it’s incredibly important to find structure and keep myself accountable. Every day is different which carries excitement but also poses challenges. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? During my time at QCA, I had pursued as much work experience as possible that would equip me with the knowledge to enter the workforce before graduating. Early in my career, I attended a few workshops that would both up-skill and branch out my network. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I wouldn’t say there were pivotal moments, but it’s always been a gradual transition. From putting work out there constantly there were moments of recognition and it certainly helps in establishing a name. Overall, it’s just one beautiful chaotic journey.

I have been proactive in building my network, both in Australia and overseas. Whether I am turning up to events such as exhibitions or launches, emailing editors or athletes and attending trade events in the outdoor industry. I believe it’s all about momentum and over time, the network builds one by one and after 10 years I noticed the hard work pay off.

Did you do an internship of any sort? I completed a series of work experience placements, but I never did an internship in my career. Whether its work experience or internships, I would greatly encourage others to pursue this experience as learning in the field offers such a wonderful opportunity to learn so much so quick. It also opens your network and the potential to receive ongoing work if you impress your colleague. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Even in moments of frustration can stir incredible motivation. Pursuing a career in the creative world, there is no right path to take as everyone who gets here came on their unique journey. You may not see the greater value now of what you are doing but its always worth to finish what you started as further down the track, certain doors can open. Finally, don’t ever burn your bridges as it’s a small industry and professionalism is key to maintain.

ROSE STAFF ROLE

Senior Motion Graphic Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Media, Major in Digital Design Rose is a motion designer working for Grande Exhibitions creating immersive touring projection shows while also freelancing for Projection Teknik. What does a typical day look like for you? Currently we are working on creating animated sequences to be used in ephemeral lighting installations. We use After Effects and Cinema 4D to make this content. Grand Exhibitions creates immersive touring projection shows that travel around the world. One project many people are familiar with is the Van Gogh immersive projection mapping show. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I started out as a graphic designer and merged over into motion about two years ago. This happened through doing years of personal passion projects outside of work for the love of it that were motion focused. I spent ten years playing around with After Effects and Premier making video and animation loops. Often, I would use them for doing live visuals / vjing at events and festivals.

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How did you arrive at your current position? I applied for a short-term contract role at the company as a web designer. Whilst I did not get this position, they came into contact with me and saw my portfolio which was much more focused on projection mapping and motion graphic design then it was web design. This is also in line with what the company’s core business. When my position came up a few months later and was advertised I already had a relationship with the company and had met the head of creative prior. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I spent some time living and working overseas. Whilst travelling around Europe I was exposed to some very established digital artists working in this field that hugely inspired me. At that time the whole projection mapping world was pretty niche and very small. Now its exploded and everyone knows what it is. We even have dedicated festivals for this in Australia which didn’t exist at the time I started. Have you done any further study? I did some further study at Monash University completing a Graduate Diploma of Multimedia Design. This was a good refresher course for me to learn about some of the new changes in my field that were evolving.

What form does your folio take? I have two portfolio websites, one with my commercial design and one with my digital art projects. I have found it useful to keep them separate as the work can be focused on very different objectives and outcomes. However, for this job I actually sent in a very newly created Behance account that was a small selection of my most high-profile work. I had 10 years of work to select from so my Behance account acted more like a showcase. Then I had links to my other websites further down if they wanted to look deeper. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? It’s definitely worth it! University days can be demanding with the workload, but it’s also balanced out with following your passion, living your dreams and meeting people that you share so much in common with.

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BEN LEES ROLE

Creative Director

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Design and Visual Communication

Ben is the creative director of M&C Saatchi UAE, one of the largest global independent creative agency networks located in the Middle East, with clients such as Pepsi, Nestle, Shell, and Nespresso. What does a typical day look like for you? It changes everyday. I can go from managing a creative department to conceptualising on multiple briefs at once and even presenting ideas to client. What are the best aspects of your current role? I get to test myself everyday, there’s always a new challenge. It’s addictive to see if you can solve it the best way possible with little to no time. What are the top three skills you regularly use? 1. Time management. 2. Conceptualising. 3. Problem-solving. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? None really, it was all learnt on the job.

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Have you done any further study? I was accepted in course called AWARD School which takes in only around 10-20 applicants per state. Once completed, I was awarded second place in Queensland and top 10 in Australia which led me to get my first job in advertising as an art director with Publicis. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I created a campaign for a kid’s charity that helped them raise of 250k by creating a self-sustainable product that’s still being sold today. It taught me advertising is always for big brands trying to sell their products. How did you arrive at your current position? Headhunted by a global recruiter while I was working for an advertising agency in Australia Did you do an internship of any sort? Yes, at an advertising agency in Brisbane. It was good to see how other creatives worked in a high energy environment. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Listen, take everything in and research. You have to do things that others won’t if you are going to become better than anyone else in your field as in push ideas even when you think you’re done. If you really want it, it’ll happen.

JOSEPH POLE ROLE

Design Manager

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Illustration

Joseph works for Channel 9 as the creative manger involved in the strategic creative development of commercials as well as the production and postproduction process. What does a typical day look like for you? My days vary depending on the stage of production we are in on a project. In pre-production, there’s a lot of research and discussions about how to achieve the creative vision of the director or producers through the use of visual effects. At the end of this process, we’ll have an animatic which is basically a rough version of what we will shoot made from CGI, YouTube clips, bits of movies and anything else we can find or make to represent a final shot. During production, I’ll be filming anywhere from a rainforest to a disused railway tunnel, a helicopter or a green screen studio. My job here is to work closely with the director on how to achieve specific shots and also collect data, camera information, lighting reference, high, res stills and so on, to help with post-production. During post-production, my team and I build shots from what has been filmed, computer-generated elements and footage from other sources into finished shots.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I won a Queensland Government scholarship designed to train people with artistic backgrounds in (at the time) new digital technologies with a focus on Visual Effects for film and television. I also was an executive producer and Visual Effects Supervisor on an independent film that myself and a group of friends made. This project allowed us to develop our skills and familiarise ourselves with every aspect of filmmaking. What are the best aspects of your current role? Bringing extremely diverse creative briefs into fruition visually while collaborating with talented individuals and managing a highly skilled team. No two projects are the same Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Studying at QCA, winning a scholarship and becoming a junior designer at Channel 7, senior designer at Channel 7, senior designer at Channel 9, design manager of Channel 9 Queensland, network art director of Channel 9, and design manager of Channel 9. What form does your folio take? I have a digital showreel Did you do an internship of any sort? Not really, but self-funding and filming and a largescale independent film gave us a lot of experience in roles we could not otherwise get at a young age.

The final stage is grading where a look is applied to each shot to emphasise the mood and give the work a cohesive look.

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SAM EDMONDS ROLE

Awards Co-founder Antarctic Expedition Leader

STUDY Bachelor of Communication, Journalism and Related Programs Sam is an ambitious creative professional who works for Intrepid Travel as a Antarctic operations coordinator while also being a co-founder of the Frank Hurley Photography Awards, Australia’s newest awards for contemporary photography and exploration. What does a typical day look like for you? A typical day is multi-tasking between bare bones Antarctic logistics and safety as well as business development and marketing. I continue to use photography and visuals to educate and inspire about Antarctica. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I started out camera operating for TV and one of these roles took me to Antarctica. From here, I built on other skillsets that feed into being a mariner as well as a photographer.

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Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Not long after graduating I was offered a dangerous job on a rusty old ship in the Southern Ocean. It was the best career move I ever made. What are the best aspects of your current role? I get to bring photographers and others to Antarctica and facilitate effective communications about climate change and Antarctic ambassadorship. Have you done any further study? A number of workshops in Germany and Bangladesh with World Press Photo and Magnum Photos. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Keep your studies broad-reaching and curate them to meet your genuine interests. History and politics go a long way in shaping anyone’s understanding of the world.

JESS NEATE ROLE

Marketing Coordinator

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Digital Design; Bachelor of Business, Major in Marketing

Jess works as the marketing coordinator for TechConnect IT Solutions on the Gold Coast. What does a typical day look like for you? My ‘typical day’ is busy managing a number of active projects concurrently including strategy meetings, team meetings, building product solutions to normal marketing activities such as social media, advertisements, events and content writing. My design skills have proven to be an effective tool in complimenting my outcomes. What are the best aspects of your current role? I enjoy being involved in a broad range of tasks as it is not the same routine “day in, day out”. The flexibility of being able to work from home (or anywhere) and an employer who supports and encourages that ethos. Leading the marketing department in driving strategies, campaigns, and so on and helping the company to grow.

Have you done any further study? Yes, qualifications in: - Google tools GoogleMyBusiness, Digital Marketing, Google Ads) - Amazon Web Services Training - Business Professional Foundational Accreditation (Job/Industry specific) - Facebook Ads Training - LinkedIn Campaign Training - In-progress: Microsoft Training (Job/Industry specific) Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Being the first marketing person in the company had its challenges however my goal of becoming a marketing manager within 10 Years has accelerated into a two year goal due to experience and opportunity. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Work hard and everything will work out. Believe you can do it, because you can.

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NATALIE LAVELLE ROLE

Artist

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art with Honours, Major in Painting Natalie is a contemporary abstract painter working in the language of monochrome painting, colour fields and post-minimalism. She is represented by Jan Manton Gallery and ehibits locally and interstate. How did you arrive at your current position? I started by volunteering for Brisbane Festival set design team, Griffith University Art Museum (GUAM) and Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) installation team. I completed an Internship at Griffith University Art Museum and Collections Office and in the final year of my degree worked as a painting assistant for local artists in their studios as well as public art projects for Queensland Rail, W Hotel, Integrity20, Brisbane City Council, Museum of Brisbane and the Queensland Children’s Hospital. What does a typical day look like for you? There is a lot of making and re-making in the studio, planned and spontaneous. I’m constructing and deconstructing supports, often using different materials. Abstract painting allows for experimentation. When I’m not painting I’m reading, researching, collaborating, writing and applying for future projects and exhibitions.

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What are the top three skills you regularly use? Top three would have to be organisational time management, attention to detail and a staining technique for painting on linen. What are the best aspects of your current role? The best things about being an artist are being able to create and connecting with others through art. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I don’t think there is a set pathway. I worked hard on whatever role I had, from volunteering and studio work to artist assistant work until I was upskilled enough to start applying for these types of opportunities myself.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Griffith University staff and lecturers have been very supportive. I have had the opportunity to exhibit my work as a student in the Webb Gallery, Grey Street Gallery and to paint a wall mural for the Webb Centre walkway as part of the Public Art Course. All of these moments have been pivotal in the course of my studies at QCA. Did you do an internship of any sort? Griffith University Art Museum runs an internship program which I was very lucky to have participated in. The internship is spread across GUAM at South Bank and the Collections Office at Nathan Campus. The internship was valuable because it acknowledged a number of different pathways to a career in the art industry. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Say yes to the opportunities that are presented.

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RICHARD NEVILLE ROLE

Design Teacher

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Media with Honours, Major in 3D Design Richard works for Education Queensland at a high school in Cairns, teaching a range of design skills and techniques to all grades. How did you arrive at your current position? By completing a Post Graduate Diploma of Teaching after finishing my undergraduate degree in design. What does a typical day look like for you? Coffee before the fun begins. I normally arrive at school around 8am to get ready for the day by reading emails and then preparing for lessons and so on.

Teaching at times can be challenging but it’s also very rewarding. I love being able to pass on my skills and knowledge to students but more than that (and this will sound very corny) but the ability to inspire and motivate students to follow their dreams is extremely gratifying. In order to this you have to be motivated yourself. I mentioned before that I am very lucky at the school I am at to have a dedicated design room. One of the things that I love most about teaching design as a day job is the freedom I know have to explore, play and hone my skills as a designer and artist without having to give much thought about the commercial constraint challenges I often faced whilst working in the industry. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path?

I teach a range of design classes from year 8’s through to year 12’s and I am very lucky at the school I am at as I have a room dedicated to design which is kitted out with some pretty cool tech like laser cutters, CNC routers and 3D printers. I also have time throughout the week dedicated to planning and marking as well as professional development.

Definitely. Becoming a teacher was life changing for me but also, I decided to take a chance and move away from Brisbane, family and friends to work in FNQ for a year. That was seven years ago and I’m never coming back.

What are the top three skills you regularly use?

You only get out what you put in so stop going through life on autopilot and actually try. If you are actually reading this, I challenge you to do this tonight. Brush your teeth to the absolute best of your ability.

Wow, this is a hard question because teachers are the Jack of all trades and their tool kits are vast. I think for me though the most important would-be reflection. You need to reflect on what you are doing and what you have done in order to continually improve and get better. Interpersonal skills and communication are obviously extremely important if you want to be a successful teacher and then to round things off you can take your pick between critical thinking and creativity.

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What are the best aspects of your current role?

What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA?

Consciously focus on what you are doing and do it better than you ever have done before. This is the mindset you should have when you go class to learn. Hint: It should be exhausting!

ELISA JANE CARMICHAEL ROLE

Artist

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art; Masters of Fine Art

Elisa is an Indigenous multidisciplinary artist, known for her incredible contemporary Quandamooka weaving. Who do you currently work for? I’m mostly self employed working on commissions, projects and workshops. I work casually at Open House Collective. How did you arrive at your current position? I am often asked to submit concepts for projects or asked to participate in exhibitions. With Open House Collective—my friends run the shop! I also have great knowledge of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander products in store. What does a typical day look like for you? Wake up, coffee number one and weave. Coffee number two and breakfast and then back to weaving! Emails and other admin mixed through out making. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Listening, gathering, making. What are the best things you get to do every day? Researching and always learning.

Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? My country, my family and the amazing arts community around us—mostly all connected to QCA! What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I travelled overseas and have lived interstate. This involved a lot of learning and growing. I also completed a MFA at QUT. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Yes—learning to weave and regenerating Quandamooka weaving. What form does your folio take? Photographs. Onespace Gallery represent me and they have all my works photographed professionally and on file to share when need be. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Make sure you are ready for this!

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MONIQUE MONTFROY ROLE

Co-Founder | Creative Director of Volunteer Abroad GT

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media with Honours, Major in Photojournalism

Monique is a Co-Founder and Creative Director of Volunteer Abroad GT which partners with NGO’s and community groups in ten countries to connect students, groups and professionals to opportunities in their area of expertise or interest. How did you arrive at your current position? This business venture started when I was in Mexico 2019. I had no job and no money and little ideas of what to do other than volunteer my skills in exchange for a bed and food. I found my way to Guatemala, where I was maintaining the social media account and photographing the efforts of a street-dog rescue center. Here I met my very good friend, the first half of VAGT, Jonathan. He was impressed with my skills in design and photography, proposed this beautiful business idea and we started straight away. Have you done any further study? I have completed a week in-field photography mentorship in Bangkok, Thailand. And I have also completed a three-month artist residency in Campeche, Mexico. I have studied a couple of online courses to improve my writing skills and hone my design knowledge.

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What does a typical day look like for you? I cannot say I have a typical day any day. As well as this role I hold for my business I also work part-time in a printing and framing store as well as do freelance photography. VAGT entails a lot of focus on designing material to publish and organizing social media. I spend time updating the website and emailing clients. What are the best aspects of your current role? The best thing about my role is the ability to inspire others through creative design to use their knowledge and skills to create a change. Giving the opportunity to expand a persons life and their open eyes to new experiences is amazing. Being propelled into starting and owning an international business has been challenging and stressful as well as incredibly rewarding and exciting. I love the challenge this business has given me to expand my web design and graphic design skills.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? The role I currently have as business co-founder and creative director has not taken the form of a normal linear career path. Like many aspects of my life, this opportunity arose after a series of unfortunate events, which in hindsight are the events that where meant to happen to lead to this point. This being said, I was able to fulfill the requirements of this role because of the skills and knowledge I learned in past workplaces. Since graduating from QCA I have been an event photographer and portrait photographer. I have had exhibitions and held workshops. I tried my hand at fashion photography and editing. I have designed social media content and marketing materials. I have even launched my own range of vegan cactus leather handbags called Texcoco. I continually up-skill my design, photography, art and theory through short online courses or even attending panel discussions and events. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? My creative “career” up until now has been about discovering my niche, finding what direction I really want to follow, deciding if my photography is a career or a hobby. The most pivotal moments have been of hardship. The moments that really shock and put you on your feet, are the times when I have made a choice to push past. I have had a number of long overseas trips which have opened my eyes to greater options and ideas and these have also led me along my creative path.

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KATHERINE BATTERSBY ROLE

Author | Illustrator

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Communication Design What are the best aspects of your current role?

Katherine is a critically acclaimed author and illustrator of popular children’s books such as Cranky Chicken and Squish Rabbit. Who do you currently work for? Publishers such as Simon and Schuster, and Penguin Random House. How did you arrive at your current position? I was signed by a US literary agent who represents my work to publishers. What does a typical day look like for you? I wake early before my daughter gets up and spend several hours on creative work, usually writing and illustrating for my current book deadline. This can involve editing an existing story, designing characters, creating a storyboard for the book or choosing a final colour scheme. Once my daughter wakes I move to working on my iPad so I can stay more flexible, where I usually do the final line work for my books and lay down colour. Later in the day I tend to move into the role of running my creative business, which involves answering emails, invoicing, doing interviews, updating my website, promotion for my published books and posting on my professional social media platforms.

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I love the flexibility of getting to work for myself, as I can set my hours each day to suit my life and family. I also work hard to keep a really nice work / life balance. When you work with ideas, you need to make sure you live a really rich life full of people and adventure so you will continue to get great ideas, so while I do work really hard I am also protective of my down time. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Creative problem-solving. Time management. Saying no! I get asked favours a LOT. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Breaking into children’s publishing is incredibly tough and competitive. I spent many years working hard to learn about the industry; attending conferences, doing workshops and online courses, networking and meeting with publishers and agents. I spent every moment I could working on my stories, developing my writing and illustrations and pushing myself to grow and develop. After several years I was signed by my literary agent who began sending my work to publishers, which lead to my first book contract in the USA. Have you done any further study? Yes, every year I complete workshops, do online courses and attend industry specific conferences.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? After my first few books were published, I had several years where all the stories I submitted were rejected by publishers. It’s easy to think that rejection only happens at the beginning of your career, but it happens throughout (and to everyone). This was by far the most challenging time in my career, and after two years I had to do some serious re-thinking. The first thing I did was to get back in touch with why I had started writing and illustrating in the first place, which shaped the kind of stories I wrote from then onwards. The second thing I did was realise I needed to change literary agents—my work had changed and I needed someone who represented me as the artist I am today. These two shifts lead to the most successful years I’ve had in my career to date, both creatively and financially. Did you do an internship of any sort? I won an opportunity to work with a published author on a manuscript of mine for many months. During that mentorship I learnt things I still refer to today, and lessons that I now teach those I mentor. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Choose the subjects that excite you. Don’t worry too much about a future career path—follow your passion and your energy and an exciting career path will become clearer as you continue to study.

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JONATHAN MCBURNIE ROLE

Gallery Creative Director

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art with Honours, Major in Visual Culture and Painting

Jonathan is the creative director of Perc Tucker Regional Gallery after being head-hunted in 2018. What does a typical day look like for you? My days are incredibly varied. I go between managing my team, working with artists and designers, delivering public programming, speaking and events, curating, budgeting, strategic planning, programming exhibitions, events and workshops and writing essays. Basically my days are different configurations of spinning plates. What are the best aspects of your current role? Working with artists is always the thing I look most forward to. Making dream projects come true. For me, there’s nothing that comes close. What are the top three skills you regularly use? I would have to say multitasking, empathy and owning my mistakes in order to learn from them. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Before my current role, I directed a smaller team in a smaller gallery, which was an amazing experience. Before that I really tried everything, including teaching, writing, editing and several administration roles.

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What did you study at QCA? First I studied two years in the Animation degree, and changed over to the Fine Art and Education double degree with majors in English, Visual Culture and Painting. Then I ditched the Education part (it was a real punish) and did my honours. Have you done any further study? later I got my PhD at the Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Leaving Sydney opened up many opportunities. I understand people’s resistance to leaving places like Sydney and Melbourne, which are amazing places to live, but as places, they are swamped with talent, spoiled for choice. With even a little talent, you can really jump the queue in the regions without necessarily working like a dog for a decade before you get anywhere. I am far too impatient to hang around waiting for something to happen, it’s a shortcoming but it has served me well.

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SHA SARWARI ROLE

Artist

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours Sha is a multidisciplinary artist passionate about changing the current attitudes towards refugees through his art. Who do you currently work for? My income comes from arts grants, which is not very much. How did you arrive at your current position? As an artist and particularly belonging from a refugee background in relation to the current political attitude towards refugees I need to be persistent and resilient to make my mark. What does a typical day look like for you? Dropping my son at school and then working on my art projects in my garage studio, research, preparing grants application and sometimes a small amount of reading. What are the top three skills you regularly use? As a multidisciplinary practising artist, the skillset varies from project to project and often I invent new techniques while exploring materials that I use in making art. The three main skills involved in producing artwork for me is writing, designing and fabricating.

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What are the best aspects of your current role? I guess the best thing about being an artist is that I have the freedom over my work, the use of time and the decision making. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I have been practising art and exhibiting as much as I can. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Every hour of every day is a pivotal moment for me because I prefer small achievements and overcoming daily obstacles. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, the best learning process is daring and making mistakes and learning from your mistake.

JACKIE BABBAGE ROLE

Co-Founder | CEO

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design; Bachelor of Business, Major in Marketing

After years working in the tourism industry Jackie now runs her own business Gifting Owl—a global experience gift-giving platform focused on adventures and activities across 115 countries. How did you arrive at your current position? After graduating from Griffith, I worked as a brand and marketing manager for several popular tour and activity operators in Queensland. I have always believed that the best gifts are feelgreat life experiences. This coupled with my work in tourism behind the scenes, emerged Gifting Owl. I went into business with my boss at the time, in order to create a global gifting platform that brings more customers to activity providers and makes it easy for people like me to give and receive experiences. What does a typical day look like for you? No one day is the same. I wear many hats in what still is a very small team. I always look at our data and how we are tracking with our targets for the month/quarter/year. I usually do some planning and business development strategy. I work with my user experience (UX) designer and programmers. I liaise with partners, suppliers and customers.

What are the top three skills you regularly use? Communication, Planning, Marketing. What are the best aspects of your current role? The best part about starting your own business is having autonomy, being able to work on different parts of the business to see your vision come to life. I’ve also always loved working with tourism operators, helping promote fun adventure activities doesn’t seem like work. Another perk is that I usually (pre-COVID) get to do a lot of travel. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Work experience during university. I wouldn’t be where I am at 25 without doing the hard yards through my whole course. I also think it was beneficial being at university for four years (a double degree), as it gave me an extra year to get more experience. Have you done any further study? Some more advanced programming courses. Javascript and React. Also attended the Young Women Leaders In AI program in 2019—and LOVED IT! I highly recommend for anyone studying. Did you do an internship of any sort? Yes—I was lucky enough to get a paid internship at the Gold Coast Adventure Travel Group. It was so valuable to get my foot in the door in tourism and start building connections industry. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Start applying for work experience or any job that lets you utilise the skills you are learning at university. Also don’t stress so much about that HD!

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MEGAN CULLEN ROLE

Photographer | Director Filmmaker

STUDY Bachelor of Photography, Major in Photojournalism Megan Cullen is a photographer, director and filmmaker who has worked around the world shooting for brands, music videos and short films. Megan is now focused on her filmmaking, developing her first feature film. Who are your typical clients? For almost my entire career I have been selfemployed so by now I have regular clients that contact me for work from production companies to news outlets, record labels or brands. When I’m not shooting for them I’m working on my own personal projects. Currently I am in preproduction for my first feature film which takes up a lot of my time—in the best possible way! How did you arrive at your current position? To be in the position I am in now has been a culmination of many things. Even if it is not in my nature to ‘put myself out there’ I’ve had to get over that and find ways to let the right people know about my work. If they don’t know, they don’t know! Often shoots come by word of mouth, which is why it’s important to have other photographer friends. When I’m not available for a job I will pass it on to someone I know and trust.

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Have you done any further study? I think in this industry the learning never stops. I was one of the last years (2003) to do my photography degree entirely on film. It certainly was an initiation of fire when I started working at the Courier Mail just after graduating and was handed a digital camera— something I had never used before! Since then, technology and the way we consume images has changed so much and will continue to change so it’s incredibly important to keep skilling up. An example of this is around 2009 when I had just bought the brand new Canon 5D camera. It shot HD video and wanted to test it out. At this point I had never shot any video before. I took some footage of my friends on a night out in Paris, slapped it together in iMovie and put it online. Little did I know some fashion designers in New York would see it and ended up flying me over to shoot a film for them. I was looking up how to do video on the plane! I then started getting asked to shoot music videos and short films and realized I needed to learn, at very least, the basics of cinematography and editing. I gathered all the books I could find and went to work. Today I get asked to shoot more video than stills.

What does a typical day look like for you? If I have a shoot, it’s packing and prepping my gear, checking weather and general conditions and then being ready to lead a team on set. Then, it could be a day or even weeks of post production that follows. Being self-employed requires a lot of discipline so if I’m not out shooting I’m taking meetings with potential collaborators, doing research, or taking care of the boring but important stuff like bookkeeping and invoicing. What are the best aspects of your current role? The people I meet. The places I go. The stories I uncover. I love that I am able to sustain myself through my creativity. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Wow, we could be here all day! My path has been so winding. I’ve worked throughout Australia, been based in Berlin, I now live in Los Angeles and have been granted permanent residency in the US because of my broad and varied body of work. I have always graciously accepted (within reason!) shoots that have come my way, even if they don’t make the cut on my website. You never know who is going to be the person that helps propel your career forward. It’s generally not who you think. Recently it feels like things have come full circle for me, combining all the skills I’ve learnt throughout my life, studies and career. As a child I did acting, then went on to do photography, cinematography, directing and writing which all combined, bring an immeasurable depth to my filmmaking, which is my main focus right now. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I think my mistakes, or what I thought were mistakes at the time have always had a silver lining and led me in the direction I didn’t even realize I needed to go.

Did you do an internship of any sort? During my second year at QCA I did an internship at the Sydney Morning Herald. The picture editor at the time Mike Bowers threw me in the deep end assigning me to jobs from day one. It was terrifying but what I needed. I learnt two of the most important skills as a photographer—how to think on my feet and how to make subjects feel comfortable within minutes. I also met so many incredible photographers who are dear friends to this day. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I look to my peers. I have some very special friendships with my fellow QCA graduates like Adam Ferguson, Natalie McComas and Nigel Brennan. We support each other as friends, as colleagues and can call on each other for advice and direction. I think it’s important to have at least a few fellow creatives within your practice that you can celebrate and commiserate with. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Don’t feel silly calling yourself a photographer from day one. Own it and start letting the industry know about yourself and your work now. Don’t think you have to wait until after your studies to get the ball rolling.

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KATIE CHEN ROLE

Design Manager

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Media, Major in Graphic Design and Business Katie was one of the early designers at AirBnB before she made the move to Slack where she now works as a design manager in San Francisco. How did you arrive at your current position? One of the designer managers at Slack reached out to me via email to see if I was interested in working at the company. While working at Airbnb, we used Slack a lot and I thought it’d be a wonderful opportunity to design the future of work. So, I accepted an interview and here I am almost two years later. What does a typical day look like for you? I start the day checking my calendar and catch up on all the different conversations that have happened in Slack. I post responses, make note of decisions that have been made and people I’ll need to catch up with. I have at least 2-5 meetings a day. My meetings range from 1:1 with my direct reports, update on project progress and planning meeting with my cross-functional leadership team. On some good days, I’ll get to push some pixels around for three hours. But these days, I spend my time making sure that everyone has the information they need to focus on the right thing, to do their jobs, make good decisions and work with autonomy.

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What are the top three skills you regularly use? 1. Storytelling—being able to clearly articulate the problem, the solution, the goals and help the audience visualize the ideal user experience to get us there. This can be a Dropbox Paper document or a Google Sheets presentation. This is important for providing clarity on why we’re investing resources in pursuing a project and for inspiring the team. 2. Design and prototyping—being able to follow up the presentation with a prototype so people can click around the experience potential solutions, asses technical requirements and give feedback. It’s also great for research and user-testing. 3. Empathy—being a designer and a leader isn’t just about pure hard skills. Soft skills like empathy, compassion and ability to listen and acknowledge people as whole human beings is really important. I found that, being able to create psychological safety is critical to foster an environment where people are willing to try new things, challenge each other to grow, ask for help and celebrate each other success. This is how a team can come together to be innovative. What are the best aspects of your current role? —Mentoring others, help them grow and achieve success. —Dream up new ideas, create it and put out in the world. It’s very rewarding to have millions of people to find it useful and delightful. —I am constantly learning from my industry and my workmates about new technology, ideas, philosophy and so on.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? In between that time: I moved to Sydney and worked in a few agencies. I met some wonderful designers and software developers who inspired me to learn how to code. Went to as many hackathons as I can to challenge myself to learn about the latest technology, design and build things quickly. As a designer at a startup incubator, I helped cofound some companies. I learned how to launch businesses, manage runways, design and code. I took startups from 0 to 1 to failures and acquisition. I started my own company called Red Pen. It’s a feedback app for designers and their team. Red Pen took me to Silicon Valley where Airbnb was a one of many customers and eventually they hired me. I got to design and lead the Search experience, a re-design of the mobile app from the ground up and pilot new businesses like Airbnb for Work, Airbnb Plus and Luxe. Wanting to change it up, I took a job at Slack. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Yes, realizing that graphic design gave me a great understanding and love for the fundamentals like typography, colour theory, design history and branding—but, the future is the internet. I pivoted to learn as much as I can about how to build for the internet. That realisation changed my entire life and career trajectory.

What form does your folio take? I have a very simple website with some career highlights, just so it’s easy for people to find me online. My actual folio is tailored for onsite interviews only and not publicly available. Usually, it is a keynote presentation with 1-3 case studies. Each case study shows some sketches, designs, process, data, photos, videos and interactive prototypes. Have you done any further study? I’ve taught myself how to code (html, css, js). I’ve taken a few management courses and a business course via Designer Fund. Did you do an internship of any sort? I did an internship at a really really small advertising agency in Brisbane. It wasn’t that valuable because I wasn’t paired with anyone to work with, they largely ignored me and I didn’t work on a real project. What I got out of it was what not to do. The past few years, I’ve hosted a few interns and I always make sure they get paid, they work on a real project that ships no matter how big or small and most importantly, take care and contribute to their love of the craft. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? It’s okay to not know where the ‘on’ button is for this Mac computer you’ve never used before. It’s okay that everyone seems to know what their doing and you don’t. Follow your curiosity, put in the time to learn, copy designs you like and make as much stuff as you possibly can. Everyone is taking the same course, the difference when you leave is what did you make out of it. Lastly, Google everything, the answer is out there.

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JAYDEN ALLEN ROLE

3D Generalist

STUDY Bachelor of Creative and Interactive Media, Major in Digital Arts and Design Jayden’s work as a 3D Generalist at Ikonix has given him the opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects for clients around the world. How did you arrive at your current position?

What are the best aspects of your current role?

Head-hunted through a university tutor.

Being able to contribute to work for some well-known clients as well as working on cutting-edge projects.

What form does your folio take? Small snippets on Instagram. Have you done any further study? Currently studying Creative and Interactive Media—Honours. What does a typical day look like for you? Receiving a clients brief at the beginning of the day, 3D modelling an object or scene, discussing with colleagues/manager what needs to be improved and changed then refining; rinse and repeat. What are the top three skills you regularly use? 3D modelling and rendering, research (finding content and guides for software) and adaptability (each day generally requires me to complete a task I have never faced before).

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What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I immediately began work after finishing my degree. However, I have continued to teach myself new skills and software packages to keep up with what is required for the job. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Realising the ‘interactive digital world’ was not only movies and games—learning about the digital side of art galleries, festivals, concerts, live performances, installations and so on has shifted my idea of what is possible in the digital realm. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Ask as many questions as possible, exceed what is required of a course and show interest in your tutors and lecturers’ career and knowledge.

GRACE HOUGHTON ROLE

Founder | Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Visual Communication Design Grace is an experience designer in the process of launching her own start-up company The Cultural Index, a platform that collaborates with heritage and cultural institutions to revive archives, enhance new collections, and activate younger audiences. How did you arrive at your current position?

While working here I also completed a Master of Creative Industries at QUT. I researched how we can use design to foster civic engagement which lead me to a project in Amsterdam for the European Holocaust Research Infrastructure. I worked with them for six months to design educational experiences. I then worked for two years at a start-up Lab Rooms, where I lead design sprints, innovation works and innovative design projects from clients from big Dutch corporates to start-ups. I spent the next year designing an educational experience for the human development studio—Hatch. This year I began the development of my own company—Index State.

My current position came from experimenting with ideas for a start-up over the last few years.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path?

The end of my last employment gave me the push I needed to do it!

Always believing I would become a traditional graphic designer, entering tech is probably the biggest change in my direction. Over the years, I began to learn that design spreads much further than logos and colour palettes, but is a part of every part of life and business. As a creative in nature, it was empowering to see the possibilities and immense opportunities to use design to create experiences that let people flourish.

What does a typical day look like for you? I am in the start-up phase of a new venture, so my day is very varied! Without a doubt, I will be on calls trying to create valuable connections, partners or gather some feedback from a trusted advisor. I spend my day strategising on marketing, product development as well as imagining possibilities for new learning experiences. When working on the product I spend my time researching, writing, drawing and designing new ways to connect users with learning. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? After graduating QCA I took a role as junior Designer for a local Brisbane tech start-up (Rex Software). There I learnt about tech, and was bale to experience all sides of the creative work of tech—form marketing design, web design, to UX.UI and UX research.

Did you do an internship of any sort? I had one internship during QCA, and I wish I had done more! Internships allow you to explore what you like—and don’t like. Learning from practising designers is the best way to step forward. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Experiment and explore. Now is the time to push the boundaries and not follow the trends you see online. Focus on discovering your style and honing in on those technical skills!

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SARAH HICKEY ROLE

Artist | Art Teacher

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Ceramics; Bachelor of Secondary Education

What are the top three skills you regularly use? Visual communication, creative problem-solving, intellectual playfulness

Sarah Hickey is a practising artist and designer who also spends two days a week as a high school art teacher. How did you arrive at your current position? I completed Bachelors in Fine Art at QCA and Bachelors in Secondary Education with Griffith and have worked for Education Queensland for over 17 years. I have been a practising visual artist in a professional capacity for 12 years. What does a typical day look like for you? On my non-teaching days, I answer emails, investigate art competitions, order supplies, make work-in-progress posts to social media, research how various contemporary artists are displaying their work, collect and collage visual ideas, paint in the studio, design prints. What are the best aspects of your current role? I have a great amount of freedom in my roles as an artist and teacher. There is a natural excitement that comes from working on your own creative projects. There’s always a striving for more and upon reflection, the joyful investment of time over many years makes you better at it. Through trial and error comes an innate knowledge of who you are and where you want to be. You are the Captain of your own ship so to speak and your instincts and decision-making only get clearer.

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What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Having the education degree does allow me to work creatively with young people in a way that’s fulfilling and paid well. The benefit of a part-time job that is steady and pays well affords me a great amount of freedom with my Arts practice. The brutal truth of the matter is, Art making requires a certain amount of financial backing at the beginning. Like any small business, you may not see the rewards until you’re several years into your practice. You need the time to make but also need the financial independence to be able to live. I also find that having another financial source or stream of income allows me more creativity and ‘daring’ in my work. If the work doesn’t sell, it won’t break me or put extra pressure on my journey as an artist. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Reading Julia Cameron’s ‘The Artist’s Way’. I completed my Fine Art degree at a young age and wasn’t clear on why I wanted to make things. The path seemed unclear to me then. After a few years of age and life experience away from Art, reading this book was seminal to me reconnecting to the creative spirit that was always there. The Fine Art Degree allowed me a few years of play and experimentation that I am able to draw upon now as an older, wiser practising artist.

Did you do an internship of any sort? Probably the closest thing to an internship for me was my practicums whilst learning to teach. It was such a privilege to learn under such creative, generous teachers. I draw upon these learnings as a practising artist too. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? How long do I have? I love Preston and Olley—both strong women who forged their own path in a largely male-dominated industry. I loved their personalities too—confidence and self-assuredness that you don’t often see lauded in female artists. The trope of a painfully shy, compliant, withering genius simply does not keep you picking up the paint brush. There’s got to be a fire in the belly, an opinion to be had. I would love to see this encouraged and fostered in young female artists. I love Lucy Culliton too as a contemporary painter. She is one of my favourites. And very generous on social media and encouraging.

What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Knowing your worth as a young person is difficult— especially as a young female artist. The critical dialogue that happens about your art can be a baptism of fire in many ways—you need to seek out people who believe in your potential and your experiments. Know that it takes years and years—it’s a marathon, a lifetime thing. Don’t lose the playfulness and belief that everything always works out for your highest good. Keep those thoughts high and bright—a successful artist is one that is a perpetual optimist. It’s what keeps you making and persisting. The alternative is giving up.

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JOEL REA ROLE

Surrealist Painter

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Illustration Joel Rea is a highly acclaimed and multi award-winning artist known for his incredible surreal paintings. His work falls between the genres of hyperrealism, photorealism and virtuosic Renaissance realism. Who do you currently work for? I’m a self employed visual artist, making paintings for exhibitions and then selling them to art collectors worldwide. How did you arrive at your current position? I built my career as an independent artist. Have you done any further study? Overseas residencies, museum tours. What does a typical day look like for you? Painting approximately 8-10 hours a day, five days a week. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Drawing, painting, and photography. What are the best aspects of your current role? Working for myself and having the time and freedom to research all my other interests. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Get involved.

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What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Held exhibitions consistently in Australian capital cities then ventured into international art shows and galleries. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? New York City exhibition/residency in 2015 and utilising social media, especially the first few years of the Instagram platform.

SHANE HARLEY ROLE

Visual Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Media, Major in Graphic Design

Shane works as a designer for Google. How did you arrive at your current position? A recruiter from Google approached me on Linkedin. We stayed in touch for a year and then went through the official (LONG) process. What does a typical day look like for you? I usually try to split my day in half. In the mornings, I’ll try to get most of my meetings out of the way. These can be team meetings, 1:1s with colleagues within Google or meetings with engineers and product managers.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I decided that I wanted to focus more on digital products instead of pure graphic design. This opened up a lot of career possibilities for me and broadened the scope of my work. Additionally, I moved to San Francisco for a job at a design agency called IDEO. This exposed to me an entirely different side of design and taught me the value of taking a human-centred approach to my work. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? Some incredible designers at Google inspire me, and they have been at Google for some time. They show me that you can still be creative and push your craft, even while working in a huge company.

In the afternoon, I’ll try to go heads down and think through tricky problems. This can either be by myself or with other design partners. Lots of time on video calls, lots of time in Figma What are the best aspects of your current role? It is getting to work with insanely smart people who are always excited to tackle complex problems. Everyone wants to work things out vs just thinking it can’t be done. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I’ve been working as a designer since I graduated from QCA but have tried many different forms of design. I’ve gone between advertising agencies, design studios, digital agencies, and now tech. I am always focusing on what I want to learn from a role versus taking the next logical ‘career’ step.

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MATT NEAL ROLE

Lead Product Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Media, Major in Graphic Design and Digital Design

Matt works as a lead product designer for Liquid Interactive involves jumping between project planning, product development and art direction. Who do you currently work for? I currently work for Liquid Interactive (LI), a digital experience agency in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. We primarily work in health and education, where we use design and technology to create simple experiences that solve complex problems and improve peoples lives. How did you arrive at your current position? While I was freelancing (a few years ago now) I met Sam Daley, the Design Director at LI. I initially helped out on a few small projects, but before I knew it I was consistently collaborating with the agency on larger, longer projects. A full-time opportunity eventually became available and I couldn’t pass it up. Their studio culture is really hard to beat. I was working with a really smart and diverse group of people and just didn’t want to stop.

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What are the top three skills you regularly use? A good sense of visual hierarchy, empathy with the people that are using the products we design and most importantly communication. What does a typical day look like for you? The best thing about my job is there isn’t a typical day. Today I’m helping a project team plan a series of research workshops that will be held in a couple of weeks. Tomorrow I’ll join back up with a product team to work on an evolving design system before the next development sprint. Towards the end of the week I’ll be working on the art direction for a new digital product for mental health with one of our other designers. What are the best aspects of your current role? The best thing about my role is collaborating with the other designers. Most days we are presented with weird and wonderful problems that we have to make sense of. It’s great be able to lean on each other while we work towards a solution.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Since finishing at QCA, I’ve continuously worked in production studios or agencies for large and small clients. In each new place I surrounded myself with smart people and found mentors to help guide my development on the job. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? When I left QCA I thought I was going to be a graphic designer, creating posters and books. In 2011 I went to work in the UK and landed a role as a Junior Designer in a small studio working on digital products.

Did you do an internship of any sort? I didn’t technically do an internship, but I did complete a six-month placement at the end of my degree. It was very valuable, it taught me a lot about people, client relationships and the role of design in a real practice. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Technology is constantly changing, so don’t focus too much on the tools you’re using or the medium you’re designing for. Focus on learning good design principles that you can carry forward and don’t ever stop being curious.

During my time there I was exposed to a whole new type and scale of design. I learnt about interaction design, information architecture, user experience and research and I haven’t looked back since. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I have a strong affection for the people I’ve met along my journey. They’re all silent achievers that have gone on to do great things, so I try and reach out to them from time to time for advice or inspiration. Have you done any further study? I love learning so every year I look for short courses run online that I can fit in and around my work. Last year I focused on craft skills including typography and front-end development. This year I’m focusing on workshop facilitation and user research.

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ABBEY MCCULLOCH ROLE

Artist

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art; Master of Visual Art

Abbey is a self-employed artist who is represented by the Melbourne gallery, This Is No Fantasy. Abbey’s work focuses around exploring femineity and contradictions. How did you arrive at your current position? I managed to get commercial gallery representation straight after graduating and have continued to exhibit since then (20 years). What does a typical day look like for you?

I started practicing as an artist straight after graduating. I was fortunate enough to find representation quickly with a commercial gallery. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? No not really. Perhaps being a finalist in the Archibald Prize a few times helped to get some attention. I haven’t changed direction; I haven’t wanted to! What form does your folio take? Website and Instagram. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model?

What are the top three skills you regularly use?

I’m not sure, I love so many painters, there is just something about people who choose painting and want to construct their own little worlds. I think Prudence Flint is a brilliant artist in that sense. I am inspired by anyone who works hard out of a special kind of urgency. Artmaking is a tonic.

Innovation with common art materials, visual problem-solving and handling rejection.

What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA?

What are the best aspects of your current role?

To make the most of it and get busy. I think that was the most important lesson from my undergrad degree—to get to work.

I work mostly seven days a week in my studio at home. I start by 9am and work until early evening most days, reading, researching, painting, drawing, making clay sculptures and photographing work.

I get to embrace the solitude and I love making my work. I feel incredibly grateful to get the opportunity to work as much as I do. It’s incredibly therapeutic and it’s the way that I connect with people and process the world around me.

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What pathway did you take to get to your current role?

It is very easy to be discouraged by criticism or by looking sideways at what everyone else is doing. Don’t. Just work.

MEGAN HESS ROLE

Illustration Artist | Art Director

STUDY Bachelor of Graphic Design

Megan Hess is an illustrator who has done work for some of the world’s leading luxury brands and magazines including Italian Vogue and Vanity Fair. How did you arrive at your current position? I began as an Art Director and then created my own studio and developed the work that I create today. I work with different creative companies and luxury clients all around the world. What does a typical day look like for you? It really varies. I might be in the studio working across about ten different projects from Illustration to Design to animation. I might be travelling to other countries to collaborate with a brand or client. It’s always very different and that’s truly what I love about my job. What are the best things you get to do every day? I literally get butterflies in my stomach every single day that I walk into my studio. I simply love to create and I love collaborating with other interesting people all around the world. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Imagination, creation and bravery.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I studied Graphic Design. I then worked as an art director in advertising and then I moved across to illustration. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? My big break came when I was asked to illustrate the cover of Sex and The City back in 2006! It completely changed my life and I began working with many esteemed brands after the cover came out. I always joke that I haven’t really slept since 2006! What form does your folio take? Website and social media. Did you do an internship of any sort? I worked in many creative jobs in the early days. Some were not my skillset, but ALL were very beneficial. I’m a strong believer that everything (the good and the bad) helps you get to where you’re ultimately meant to be. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Enjoy the journey as much as getting to the destination. I’ve come to realise that the joy is in the process and the moment. Always waiting to ‘get there’ makes you feel like you’re never there! I’m very mindful of this every day.

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JACK PACKSHAW ROLE

Freelance Digital Design Generalist

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media with Honours, Major in Studio Art As a freelance digital designer, Jack spends his days working on a range of projects for his own clients and on out-sourced work from studios. Who are your typical clients? As my skillset ranges across a large spectrum of areas I have many different types of clients, from large PR and marketing companies to small eco-friendly local businesses. How did you arrive at your current position? I arrived at my current position through organic selfevolution and development of my craft plus simply flowing with my natural professional journey. I recognised potential opportunities along the way and utilised them for a positive purpose and outcome which then furthered me in the creative industry whilst expanding my network and knowledge. What does a typical day look like for you? As a digital design generalist freelancer my days vary. One day I may be working on out-sourced illustration work for another design company and the next day I’m doing an artistic logo or some website design for an upcoming local business. As my skillset varies, so do my clients.

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What are the top three skills you regularly use? The first skill I’d say would be a know-how of good ol’ Adobe Photoshop. The second being my ability to adapt and communicate with the client in an articulate, easy to understand way about the process of their project. The third is utilising my natural sense of perfection and attention to detail. What are the best aspects of your current role? Activating my creative juices and vision is by far my favourite part of my job. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? The pathway or journey I have taken to get to my current role has been smooth, organic and highly diverse. In 2017-2018 I worked at a Byron Bay VFX company called Cumulus Visual Effects. After working with a great team there for over a year I left and continued freelancing and received work as it came. Having the mentality that all will be okay has landed me all the projects and clients I need to live happily and comfortably. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? As a generalist, my career path is very broad and I’ll find myself working on a project that seems to be tremendously different to a prior project. This is one of the things I love most about being a generalist. The fact that one project can be an album cover and the next project can be an upcoming eco-friendly business logo creates interest in my career and never leaves me bored.

Have you done any further study? Following my undergraduate degree I decided to continue my QCA study in 2015 with an Honours degree graduating with a Class 1 status. Since my time at the QCA I have completed a Cert. IV in New Small Business and several creative writing courses. Did you do an internship of any sort? I completed a four-month internship at a digital media agency in Byron Bay in 2016. I found that the most beneficial thing about the internship for me was being a part of a creative team and seeing how the dynamic of a ‘real-world’ agency works. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Expand and take advantage of projects outside of your own little study journey. Collaborate with more people (students and others). Get involved with more university group activities. Utilise those long end of year breaks by starting to build a professional network through internships, work experience and so on.

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ELLEN POWELL ROLE

CEO | Creative Director

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Communication Design

Ellen is the CEO and Creative Director of The Somewhere Co. a company focused on creating beautiful, fun and practical products for women. Who do you currently work for? Self-employed at The Somewhere Co. (formerly Blushing Confetti). Our clients are both consumers and wholesale customers. We have an online store, as well as a wholesale operation where boutique retail stores can stock our wares. Also, we just opened a boutique Indooroopilly Shopping Centre! How did you arrive at your current position? Funnily enough it came from my love of foil and love of paper! At university I would always go the extra mile with my printing techniques, so eventually I started creating wedding stationery. It then progressed to other stationery items and from there, into gift and baby items! It has been quite a journey. Have you done any further study? Before QCA I started an advertising and media/ comms major but quickly realised I wanted to explore more of the creative side of things.

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What does a typical day look like for you? Hard question indeed! No two days are the same in my office. We have a fun, beautiful creative space that always has so much going on. I manage all of our product development and marketing direction so when I am not doing that, we are receiving in product deliveries, collaborating with artists, having meetings about what graphics we need for the upcoming week and creating social media content, PLUS so much more.

What are the best aspects of your current role? I get to create new things and people (hopefully) like them. That is the most rewarding part of my job. But also I get to work with a bunch of extremely talented people who are just as passionate about the brand as I am... that is the best feeling! What are the top three skills you regularly use? Creative direction, marketing direction, people management. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? After QCA, I moved to London to work for a high profile publishing company (very Devil wears Prada vibes) and it was incredible. When I came back to Australia I stuck with the publishing industry for a while, before moving to an agency who specialised in PR. The agency environment allowed me to start a side hustle where I started my stationery products. My studies at QCA definitely set me up with the tools to think about client briefs strategically (including my own!). Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Moving to London (twice) really helped me find my feet in terms of my career direction. I didn’t go straight into a studio and I allowed myself to explore my options. Making the jump into full-time business was also scary but necessary! Because, it had to work! What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Ease back on the energy drinks and plan better (although I’m still working on that to this day!).

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KATE O’MALLEY ROLE

Art Director

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Media, Major in Graphic Design and minor Photojournalism Kate works for Gold Coast branding agency Embark (formerly CSQD), where she started as a junior designer and has worked her way up to art director. How did you arrive at your current position? I was working at JB Hi-Fi at the time and one of my managers knew my soon to be bosses through a mutual friend and were friends on facebook. My boss James had put out a post saying they were looking to hire their first employee, a junior graphic designer and to tag anyone they knew that might be interested. What does a typical day look like for you? We start with a “huddle” each morning where we all go through our tasks for the day. I spend most of my days between large brand projects and front end web design. Since COVID, our project manager works remotely and so I can often have Zoom catch ups to discuss current projects. As the art director, I also work together with our creative director to oversee any and design, brand or web projects that our designers are working on. We make sure that the work being produced is at the high standard that we can take pride in. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Time management. Open and honest communication. Problem-solving.

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What are the best aspects of your current role? I love working with the team to create projects that we are proud of. It’s so rewarding to start with ideas in your head and then see them bought to life within a brand. It’s also really rewarding to work with younger designers and see them improve with each new project. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I started at CSQD as their first hire—a junior graphic designer. I was promoted from there to senior designer and more recently art director. We have recently rebranded the company as Embark. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Not really, I always knew this was what I wanted to do. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Learn all the Adobe shortcuts you can!

CJ ANDERSON ROLE

Furniture Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in 3D Design

CJ created his own business, Studio CJ Anderson, where he creates furniture ranges and products for interior designers, architects and retail. How did you arrive at your current position? I originally set up my own business while at QCA and worked in the industry for a few years before going full-time working on my own designs. What does a typical day look like for you? Responding to client queries and meetings and also a lot of research and development as I am currently working on a few new ranges of products. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Networking, design presentation and communication, manufacturing drawings. What are the best aspects of your current role? I get to spend time with my family, working with Australian manufacturers and suppliers of materials. Collaborating with other creatives. What pathway did you take to get to your current role?

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I went back to study after working in finance for several years to pursue a creative career. Going to Griffith and being exposed to a degree with flexibility definitely helped guide me to where I am today. Did you do an internship of any sort? Yes, I found the internship very valuable. it gave me a taste of what the real world of design is like. It also gave me the opportunity to test out working for companies without committing to a full-time job. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Try new processes, learn what other students are doing so you can collaborate and get as much industry experience in your degree as you can.

I have worked as a technical designer, Industrial designer as well as a business development manager.

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MARC HARRISON ROLE

Designer Director

STUDY Bachelor of Interior Design Marc is the creator of Husque, a design product influenced by the shape of macadamia shells. Marc also does commissioned work in furniture and lighting. How did you arrive at your current position? I created my own position because of the uniqueness of the role.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Prior to QCA I obtained hands on skills in boatbuilding. Post QCA I worked for a design company DeDeCe for a short period. I got to learn about the Australian design world that way. From then on I merged my making skills and design knowledge to build my own designer/maker business. Over the years I have up-skilled when required and have participated in joint exhibitions and competitions and awards to challenge myself. It’s an ongoing process.

Have you done any further study?

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path?

I studied international business and have upgraded my skills in 3D design.

I applied for, and won an Arts Qld grant in 2000.

What does a typical day look like for you? It’s a mixture of customer liaison, design and making. What are the top three skills you use regularly in your role? Communication, problem-solving and making. What are the best aspects of your current role? Flexible working hours, creativity and making.

Through that grant I invented the process of combining ground up macadamia shell and polymer, this process is the basis of my current business. Did you do an internship of any sort? I always put myself forward for work experience in areas that I wanted to learn about. Any experience is valuable. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Keep an open mind and work hard at all skills of presentation. Most people will learn of your ideas through your ability to impress them with your presentation skills.

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ALE RAMIREZ VIDAL ROLE

Digital Nomad Researcher

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media with Honours, Major in Graphic Design and Product Design; DVA Alejandra’s career has allowed her to merge her passions for design, travelling, and learning into one as she researches the life of digital nomads. Who do you currently work for? I currently work with a mixture of clients, for myself and for Griffith University. How did you arrive at your current position? I arrived to the current position following my passions along with academia. I started as a sessional tutor at QCA Griffith university and after a few years of teaching I decided to study Honours. During my two years researching I was able to combine all my passions together; Graphic Design, Photography, travelling, Social work and research. That is how I was able to build my dream career path. After completing my Honours I was granted a scholarship to continue on research and I started my DVA. My topic continued to evolved from purpose driven travellers to sustainable digital nomads in the creative industry. What form does your folio take? Mostly digital with a combination of printed products and online services. I have a website, and a large social media presence. Have you done any further study? I did an Advanced Diploma of Business, and an Advanced Diploma of Marketing.

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What does a typical day look like for you? I am constantly travelling, researching and working online. Each day is different, depending on the task I have to get done. It varies from teaching online, to research, and also freelancing. I have to create a lot of content for social media. My current role is about understanding how the creative digital nomad world works and how we can make it more sustainable. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Structure, dedication, and commitment. What are the best aspects of your current role? I love being able to have freedom to work anywhere. Also being able to combine all my passions such as graphic design, photography and purpose driven journeys. One of the most satisfying outcomes is being able to teach and educate others about these passions.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? My pathway has been a little different, I came to Australia 13 years ago from Colombia, when I was 17. I studied and then worked as a graphic designer for a year. Then I was given the opportunity to work as a sessional, teaching at QCA and my career at QCA evolved a lot in the last eight years. I believe attitude and determination helped me learn quicker about the role and never stopped following my passion with travelling and contributing back to society. I was able to combine my skills and I created my own lifestyle as I knew is what I wanted to do. I love the academia, teaching students at university, however while doing my Honours I was able to grow my career path on a new direction. I published a travel journal, I created online courses, and built up a large social media presence. Now I am studying my Doctor of Visual Arts and my research topic is creative digital nomads. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? There has been several. All of which have contributed to where I am today. 1. Moving to Australia at 17. 2. Being kicked out of the country due to migration changes and comping back to start from zero, gave me the opportunity to work at QCA as a teacher. 3. In order to stay in Australia I had to create and grow my own company, sponsor myself and learn all about running a design business. 4. Honours pushed me to follow and combine all my passions—design, travel, and sustainability. 5. DVA is a new adventure, being able to research creative digital nomads will definitely re-shape my career path and life. Did you do an internship of any sort? I did an internship when I was at university, I worked with a company creating their graphics for six months. It was the best experience and I guarantee having that opportunity is extremely valuable as a student. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Take advantage of all the electives, workshops and have a taste of all different areas of design so you can make sure you are doing what you are truly passionate about.

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EMMA SCHWENKE ROLE

Imagery Specialist

STUDY Bachelor of Photography with Honours, Major in Photojournalism and Documentary Emma works for The Royal Australian Air Force and the Australian Defence Force as an imagery specialist. How did you arrive at your current position? I first saw the job being advertised on Seek and figured it was worth taking a shot and applying, they were quick to respond to my application and got back to me the next day to set up an interview. What form does your folio take? My website is set up to resemble an online portfolio, however I also have a more in-depth PDF version I email out if needed. What does a typical day look like for you? At the moment I’m still completing further training to learn the military aspects needed as an Air Force photographer. Once my training is completed, I’ll be photographing everything from training activities, ceremonies, operations within Australia and overseas and humanitarian projects the Defence is involved with. A typical day would be attending a job followed by a quick post-process to send the photos off for clearance and publication.

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What are the top three skills you regularly use? Composition, lighting techniques (on and offcamera flash as well as utilising available light) and metadata/caption writing. What are the best aspects of your current role? The best things about the role is its unpredictability, you never know what you’re going to shoot next and everyday is different, the opportunities to work with different people across Defence is also a bonus. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I’d only been working officially as a photographer for a few months before being hired by Defence, the fastpaced role I’d been working in helped as well as the fact that Defence was looking for photographers that had university qualifications.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? There haven’t been any pivotal moments that changed the direction of my career, but I did struggle for the first year out of university to get a job as a photographer. I didn’t let the rejection stop me applying though, I knew what field I wanted to work in and continued to pursue it. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I’ve always looked to my university mentors, tutors and even other students for inspiration. Any opportunity to absorb new knowledge has helped me get to where I am today and it’s something I’ll continue to do throughout my career. However I do admire the work ethic of photographers such as Lauren Greenfield, David Chancellor and Adam Ferguson and they’ve been a continuous inspiration throughout my studies and career. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? The advice I would give myself when I was first starting my studies would be to take as many classes as possible and always apply yourself regardless. Also, start mapping your career path early and know what classes to take to help you achieve your career goals. One of the things I regret is not taking any journalism classes, applying for photojournalist/journalist jobs without taking any classes held me back and I wish I’d thought of that earlier on.

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LACHLAN GARDINER ROLE

Photographer | Filmmaker Writer

STUDY Bachelor of Photography with Honours, Major in Photojournalism and Documentary Practice Lachlan is a freelance photographer, writer, and filmmaker and works with a mixture of outdoor brands, tourism offices, magazines, travel operators and clients in other related industries. How did you arrive at your current position? Hard work, networking and spending a lot of time outdoors. What does a typical day look like for you? There are no typical days. A mixture of locationbased work on shoots and trips locally, interstate and overseas. Days might be 12-18 hours long and end with sleeping in a tent at 6000m on a mountain. Or begin before sunrise in the dusty Australian Outback, on-assignemnt and surrounded by equipment charging. Admin and editing days are mostly computer-based from a home office. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Technical (photo, video production). Communication and problem-solving.

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What are the best aspects of your current role? The opportunity to work in some of the most beautiful places in the world, mountains, forests, rivers and deserts. Sharing these places with good people and telling stories through images, video and words. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? A long and winding road. Much of my early work was self-funded and used to build a relationship with clients and publications. Learning the outdoors skills required to shoot rock climbing, trekking, mountaineering and other activity-based adventure sports was crucial. Becoming part of these communities, and learning how the brands, operators and organisations in each function. Understanding what clients want, and how to use my unique set of skills and experiences to position myself for success professionally. Mostly hard work, and a lot of help from friends, family and some amazing clients. Oh and coffee. Vital for career progression.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Many. Opening emails and booking flights before a job was secured. Pushing myself to summit mountains I thought were beyond my reach, with a camera in hand, Cold-calling and emailing. Taking risks, but not overstepping the line. Both in the business side and the adventure side of my career. Taking a step backward (back to a casual retail sales job) with the aim to move into and learn the ins and outs of a different industry. Have you done any further study? Certificate III in Micro-business Operations (NEIS). Technical Mountaineering course and learning on the job! What form does your folio take? Website, Instagram, showreel, tear-sheets Did you do an internship of any sort? I undertook a writing/journalism internship with Capture Magazine. It helped me to understand the editorial side of working with magazines and publishing, and how to improve my writing. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? You have to love it. REALLY want it and don’t expect to be successful overnight. A creative career takes years to build, and you’re most likely not going to graduate with an established career already in-the-bag. If you work hard enough however, you will graduate with the potential, education and basic skills required to become successful in your chosen field. Along with a whole collection of like-minded friends and colleagues. 100% worth it.

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NADEEM TIAFAU ESHRAGHI ROLES Community Organiser Creative Director | Storyteller Visual Communicator STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design and Fine Art Nadeem’s passion lies in enriching community values and experiences. This is channelled through his work at The Print Bar and across a range of events and collaborative projects. Who do you currently work for? From Tuesday to Thursday I work 30 hours at The Print Bar guiding design, marketing, web, user experience, photography, collaborations and brand voice. The rest of my time is usually spent exploring personal projects (graphic, sound, installation, light and apparel), or collaborative projects; Pray Tell (music events and label) and Viscous (community activations, experimental sight and sound). How did you arrive at your current position? I was freelancing “full-time” and wanted some stability so I could comfortably focus on my own projects. I’d been to The Design Conference over the years and The Print Bar have a live screen-printing activation there. My interactions with the team were super pleasant, and when I eventually moved to Brisbane, I became a customer. Picking up my first order, I asked if there were any positions available, and a month or so later I started as a digital printer. Over time I started contributing some design and ideas and was eventually offered the marketing manager role.

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What does a typical day look like for you? Days are a huge variable, but they’re a wonderful mess of great ideas, contextual limitations and reluctant compromises. TPB is a material communication service; we work with a broad-spectrum of artists, festivals, conferences, makers and characters to create real, physical outcomes—big and small. Because of this expansive diversity, it’s an incredibly rewarding job, and I get to use the platform to encourage and celebrate creativity, individuality, empathy and action. I also work on a bunch of different in-house projects, from new web platforms to workshops, exhibitions, activations and apparel, so there’s a lot of prioritising, open dialogue, brainstorming, design development and testing, and a laughable attempt at time management. My other projects share similar ideals; building and nurturing communities through multi-layered experiences and tangible outcomes, with goals considered through every stage of the process. This side of things ranges from design, photography and art explorations, through to event planning, liaising with artists, agencies and venues and building teams to deliver engaging experiences. What are the best aspects of your current role? Irrespective of the work or project, the values are all aligned, and the goal is the same in essence; to enrich the human experience within certain frameworks. That’s a pretty conceptual outlook, but it’s the exact purpose that drives most of my time. And when you’re driven by purpose, it’s not work, it’s duty. There’s a lot of careless noise out there, and what I appreciate most about the opportunities I have, is that I can use all of them to promote a certain utopia that exists in my head—through considered and purposeful design, systems and language.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? When I was walking to the Student Centre to change from Business to Multimedia (OP 18 lol), I saw Digital Media and thought it sounded kinda interesting too, so I picked it instead. I’m happy with that decision though, and the foundations that resulted. But I think all the real progress happens in the opportunities you’re given, or the opportunities you’re willing to give to yourself. Once I’d developed a healthy, accepting relationship with my own creativity, and started sharing it in digital spaces, I was met with years of great projects that sought me out (mostly) for my own particular approach. This allowed me to keep developing my style and methods, present consistent concepts, meet many interesting and valuable characters, and get a bit lost in the process. I’ve worked a lot primarily in the music industry over the years, both in an operational and design capacity, and when I started Pray Tell with a friend in 2018, it was a chance to purposefully contribute to it. I could ensure that every piece of the puzzle was well developed and delivered in the way it deserved, or if it wasn’t, I could accept responsibility for the shortcomings. When you’re in the drivers seat (or sharing it), the only real limits are your own. Steering multiple brands has really helped me find and develop voices that engage people, and that’s a fundamental aspect of what we’re all doing. I’d been freelancing graphic and web since uni, sometimes on top of full-time jobs, and it’s been a largely rewarding experience, though pretty stressful at times.

In the last few years I’ve actively tried to consolidate my efforts—to do less, and more effectively—and while it’s been quite difficult to say no to some opportunities, I’m very grateful for my current landscape. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I can’t stress enough how important it is to surround yourself with the people and environments that support and elevate you. None of it matters anyway, so you deserve your best. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? You must learn to accept what you cannot control. Everything is dynamic and constantly shifting. Yes, it should all be questioned, but also acknowledged and respected. Multitasking is a curse; try to focus your attention. Clarity of the mind should not be taken for granted. Everything takes time—be patient, but also persistent. Balance is a perpetual pursuit; start now. Sleep— please, give yourself to it. Food might be fuel, but it’s also art, pleasure and connection. Drink more water. Consider the relationship between your physical body and your mental landscape. Walk. You can’t care effectively about everything, even if it all deserves your attention. Remember that every path is shared; communities are the vehicle for every real triumph. And if you find a deep enough purpose, you’ll only work for the rest of your life.

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FIONA HARDING ROLE

Photographer | Marketing and Communications Coordinator

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Arts, Major in Photojournalism

What are the top three skills you regularly use? My three top skills I use regularly in both roles, flexibility, organisational, and creativity. What are the best aspects of your current role?

Fiona juggles working as a freelance photojournalist and her permanent role with PFG as marketing coordinator where she is a content creator, photographer, media liaison, and designer. How did you arrive at your current position? Working as a photojournalist around the world for over two decades now, I am privileged to have the opportunity to document everything from war zones, fashion shows, and countless sporting events and festivals. When I left my full-time position at New Corp, I wanted to broaden my career outside of the mainstream media, and undertake more writing and content creation to complement my photography work. As I have a background in Media, moving into the creative space of marketing and content creation allows me the diversity to use my photographic, design, and journalism skills to tell the stories of the people who work within the industry and use the services. Both roles complement each other.

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Meeting interesting people and helping to tell their story. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Life experience! Working as a photojournalist exposes you to so many things and calls upon you to be able to act, think quickly and be resilient. I actually had planned to work as a commercial photographer. David Lloyd, who was my lecturer at the time, asked me if I had considered working for a newspaper as I seemed to have the ‘personality’ for it, and perhaps I should consider that career option. I often think about that meeting and am grateful he planted the seed. Did you do an internship of any sort? I was fortunate to get a small amount of paid work taking photos of up and coming musicians at the Brisbane Publishing company’s youth street newspaper called ‘Manifesto’. At high school I would write a monthly article for the Bayside Bulletin (unpaid), which was one of News Corp’s community newspapers. Sadly these papers folded June this year.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Early in my career, I realized that to stay in the industry, it’s important to adapt and evolve along with technology changes. The introduction of the first digital camera implemented in newspapers for the Sydney Olympics in 2000 change the format in which we worked saving time on processing film, scanning /or printing depending on the publication. I began my photographic career shooting on black and white film and processing it for newspapers. Any photos for magazine work were taken using transparency film to produce highly detailed imagery. It was incredibly expensive, and there was no room for error. Back then there were no apps or photoshop to quickly edit your work, time was taken to craft your images in-camera. Now with mobile phone technology, the photo resolution is higher than the first digital cameras, they are lighter and convenient to carry with you, and have inbuilt editing and publishing capabilities to share images immediately, SLRs have been used less frequently. I’m still blown away at the speed the photography and publishing world has evolved. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Stick to it! Work hard and the rewards will come.

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KAREN BLACK ROLE

Visual Artist

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Painting

Karen Black is an award-winning visual artist who graduated from QCA in 2011. Who do you currently work for?

Have you done any further study?

In a way, I’m self-employed, although I have gallery representation with Sullivan and Strumpf in Sydney and Sutton Gallery Melbourne, so they handle sales and marketing, collectors, art fairs and so on.

I have completed informal ceramic and glaze making short term courses to upgrade my skills in that area.

Typical clients are institutions and collectors.

I usually get to my studio by around 10 am and begin reading emails and completing admin. I aim to begin painting by around 11 am. I lecture in ceramics at The National Art School in Sydney, so I have to have my studio days well organised to meet the deadlines for my galleries. If I work half days at NAS, I’ll use the afternoon to research new artists for my students and update notes for them, so I’m well prepared for the following week. It’s a bit of a juggle, but I like the energy it gives me.

How did you arrive at your current position? While finishing my third year of a Bachelor of Fine Art degree at QCA Griffith University, I was a recipient of the GAS Award. This QCA yearly art prize was awarded to the best artist’s work at the university that year. Soon after, I was approached by a Melbourne gallery for representation, and it began from there.

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What does a typical day look like for you?

What are the top three skills you regularly use?

What form does your folio take?

Researching, painting, drawing.

I have my Website, and Instagram page and both of my galleries have digital sites, advertising and Instagram in their programming with imagery of my works.

What are the best aspects of your current role? I get to set my own pace and create the space I need and want to work in. Being surrounded by my peers in the studio is important, and I love engaging in critical conversations around our work and its relevance to the complex world we live in.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I received gallery representation in my last year of the Bachelor Degree at QCA, so I have been working in this role ever since. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? My career path since graduation has been on course. There are, of course, pivotal moments on that path that have informed specific ways I work and being curated into institutional exhibitions that I would consider important in my career. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Embrace being an older female student. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? Rose Wylie, Lynda Benglis, Miriam Cahn, Huma Bhabha, Lindy Lee and Jenny Watson.

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QIAN NI ROLE

Design Director

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Interior Design Qian (Tracy) Ni graduated from QCA in 2007 and started her own design studio Ni Design in 2014. How did you arrive at your current position? I started my own business in 2014, continue to grow through successful project delivery and reputation. Have you done any further study? QBCC Licensed Building Designer (mid-rise) What does a typical day look like for you? Update and briefing with project teams, meeting with clients and then few hours of personal focus. Finish the day with reports from teams. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Concept design, communication, finance and project management. What are the best aspects of your current role? Talking with various people and learning new things every day What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I worked for a variety of different companies to gain industry experience before starting my own business.

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Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Giving birth to my daughter enabled me to pause from day to day and decide on my path. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? This is a place when dreams begin. Please be creative. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? My husband who is my partner in crime. Did you do an internship of any sort? Yes, I had eight months of work experience before graduation. However, it was valuable for me to learn the real world and successfully apply for the first job after graduation.

ZANI INDER ROLE

Fashion Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in 3D Design Zani is an artist and visual art teacher at Swan Christian Education Association who graduated from QCA in 2013. Have you done any further study? Yes, a GradDip of Education at Edith Cowan University. What does a typical day look like for you? When I teach art, I prepare teaching materials and examples for my classes in the mornings. Once I’ve done this, my classes arrive, and I present the lessons to them. Once students start working on their art, I create an environment to relax and be creative. When I am at home and working on my art, I have a stunning studio where I create art in various mediums, including oil paints, watercolours, graphite pencil drawings and chalk drawings. Portraiture is one of my favourite things to draw, so if I do not have time to create a large piece, I will sit and practice drawing different faces. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Teaching art skills so that students can interpret and apply them in a meaningful way—assisting students in finding their artistic style. I am well-practised in graphite drawing. What are the best aspects of your current role? I get to make art every day and share that joy with my students. I feel inspired each day, and this helps me to work on my art as well.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I have practised my art skills for many hours to reach a point where I have a large enough audience to see my artworks and be acknowledged for my skills in a role where I teach art to primary and high school students and private students. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Enjoy every moment and perhaps consider majoring in the area you are passionate about, Visual Art, rather than the area that seems more practical, which is 3D Design. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I look at Perth art teacher Kate Driscoll as she delivers amazing content to her students. In terms of a working artist, I look to local Perth artists Rachelle Dusting and Wanda Comrie who’s work inspires me daily.

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EMILY AYERS ROLE

Senior Digital Marketing and Design Manager

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media and Business. Major in Marketing and Graphic Design. Emily graduated in 2015 with a double degree in Digital Media and Business. She now works as a design manager in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods industry. Who are your typical clients? I work as a self-employed marketing and design contractor for clients in the FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) industry. My typical clients include Pepsico, Nestle, Red Bull, Ferrero, TetraPak, Sadafco, CO-RO and more. How did you arrive at your current position? My first introduction to the FMCG industry was in 2019 through a company called Impulse Marketing. They advertised a marketing and communications job via the Seek platform. I applied online and was asked to come in for an interview the following week. During the interview, the Impulse team shared some of the Job perks, such as: walking distance to the beach, office dog and free confectionery samples. As you can imagine, I never looked back! After working for Impulse Marketing for a couple of years, my partner received a job offer overseas. Fortunately, I was able to agree with my employer to work remotely on a contract basis.

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Since becoming a contractor, I have supplemented my work through word of mouth. This is how I came to work with a company called TetraPak. Through TetraPak, I provide beverage packaging designs for established and emerging brands. What did you study at QCA? At Griffith University Gold Coast, I studied a double degree: a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Digital Media. In addition, I majored in Marketing and Graphic Design. Have you done any further study? I have not gone on to further study since completing my double degree. However, I have had Google Ads training, attended digital marketing seminars, and immersed myself in design by following design accounts and watching educational design videos. What does a typical day look like for you? A typical day would begin with checking for the release of any new product from one of our suppliers. If a product is due for launch, I will prepare and release it to our app, wholesaler websites and add it to the supplier’s product catalogue. From here, I will check, fix and generate reports for various websites for their performance, accessibility and SEO. Finally, I usually like to end the day with design. This may include flyers, website banners or beverage mockups. What are the top three skills you regularly use? 1. Web Design 2. Graphic Design 3. SEO What are the best aspects of your current role? The best part about my role is the freedom of working independently. Working remotely overseas also means I can travel and work at the same time.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? My first full-time employment was with a startup company. This meant I could put many hats on and learn on the job. During work hours, I was given over the phone training in Google Ads and encouraged to follow leading SEO influencers and learn their techniques. Furthermore, the environment was positive, where I was given the flexibility of trial and error in marketing. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I have stayed relatively close to the field I studied in. It was clear from my first job; I needed to specialise in the area of marketing. The need for digital marketing became paramount in a business just starting due to a limited marketing budget. I, therefore, specialised in this field of marketing to adapt to business needs. In terms of design, I delved more and more into UX UI design. This stemmed from the desire to create more website conversions (leads). In my experience, creating a clear, user-friendly website and landing page assists in increasing conversions exponentially. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? I would tell myself to ask business professionals in the field I hoped to work in what skills they desire. For example, web developers and video makers/editors have been highly sought after. I would then tailor my electives to suit these needs. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I look up to Neil Patel for his digital marketing and SEO techniques. For inspiration and to stay up to date with design trends, I follow various artists on Instagram and Pinterest. Did you do an internship of any sort? Yes, I did an internship with SMART Advertising Agency during my degree. I could not recommend enough to undergo an internship. Experience is critical in landing a job. The more internships you have on your resume, the better.

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EMILIO BRETT-HALL ROLE

Freelancer | Image Retoucher

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in 3D Design Emilio (Hubert) Brett-Hall works for Wellcom Worldwide and Bump Events after graduating with Honours in 2015. What does a typical day look like for you? Wellcom Worldwide: My days start around 9am at the office, and I’m given a brief of images that need retouching. These briefs range from colour matching garments, model retouching and cleaning up product shots. A brief usually takes one to three days and will range between 50 to 300 images. Bump Events: On days I’m needed, I go to my client’s office or am briefed remotely via email and voice chat. First, I am briefed on the scope and theme of the event or venue I’ll be designing. Next, I work with the client to figure out the intent and the desired aesthetic. The client then chooses an option or requests minor amends. Lastly the final visual concept is supplied to the client to be used as a reference for setup. Additionally, print ready files for any signage or facades are provided. What are the top three skills you regularly use? 1. Photoshop Is the widest used skill for all the different types of Design I have done in the past (3D, web design, graphic, illustration) 2. InDesign is standard for presentations in all the offices I’ve worked at; it is also a significant plus if you can create designs for print. 3. A positive collaborative personality is an essential thing in creative industries. Communicating your ideas, listening to feedback, and creating something new and improved with no ego will get you far! 156

What are the best aspects of your current role? Being a freelancer with two clients is liberating and keeps my work interesting. My retouching work is quite therapeutic when I am in the zone, and my event design work is exciting and creative. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I took an internship at a laser engraving company for design/ manufacturing experience when I couldn’t find a job straight out of University. I then got my foot in the door at a marketing agency in Melbourne and worked as a digital designer creative social and web and EDM ads for clients like Coles, Optus and Renault. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Working in advertising: I originally wanted to be a 3D designer, however I really enjoyed graphic and digital design: particularly the creative process. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Get an internship ASAP; you will learn so much more and become exponentially faster doing what you love while in a work setting.

JEFFREY DAVIDSON ROLE

Training and Knowledgebase Manager

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Media, in Digital and Graphic Design Jeff was a sessional lecturer at QCA, and a project manager in a digital agency, before taking a role as a training and knowledgebase manager at Omnyfy. What does a typical day look like for you? Currently, half the day would be spent digitally conducting personalised training sessions for clients local and international (mainly Europe, USA, and Asia) using our platform. The other half would be tailored to either assisting other staff or creating/writing tutorials or guides on how to use the platform. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Web development knowledge and expertise. Communication and presentation skills, and writing (though maybe replaced/in conjunction with video editing skills) as I make video guides. What are the best aspects of your current role? I like training people in multiple countries, interacting with them, understanding their needs, and then delivering the knowledge to get what they’re after. It has helped more so during the pandemic to be available to work remotely, and this way, it’s still a new way to meet people and share my expertise in the Web and our platform. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Doing a Digital Design major helped because it allowed me to become part of the community to the point that I could even teach at the university and found my passion in teaching.

I also met classmates who were able to help me get into a project managerial role in a web agency and even assisted/learned more web development skills. Here is where I practised and gained more working knowledge. During this time, I had also been able to use my video editing skills, graphic design and web development for freelance work on the side—so the second major of Graphic Design honed my skillsets. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I was strongly heading towards more of an animation and 3D modelling career path until I took the job at the university and started teaching. I then realised I enjoyed teaching, and my other digital expertise was used more towards just experience or hobby work. However, before the pandemic, I started working with some friends. We started doing a video game start-up company to use Mobile Virtual Technology to bring together people and play a wireless game. Unfortunately, the pandemic didn’t help give us confidence in the in-person experience at the time, though it was almost another large project we tried to manage and change of career path. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? Creative inspiration goes to my peers. I recommend getting a second, third or more perspective to get constructive criticism has helped me become confident about my works. And seeing them all do the same allows me to feel more comfortable sharing my work and ideas freely and inspires me to do more, even just as a hobby. Career-wise, for management, I rarely had any senior managers to help me, just a lot of reading and experience to get me through.

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JUSTIN GRAY ROLE

Marketing Manager

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Design

Justin founded two online businesses since graduating from QCA with a Bachelor of Digital Design in 2006. Who do you currently work for? I founded and operate two online businesses. One is an online health food store called Aussie Health Products. The other is a BNPL search platform called Pay Later Finder. How did you arrive at your current position? I used to run a small digital agency on the Gold Coast and moved into online retail in 2009. What started as a side project to becoming more knowledgeable in e-commerce development became my main focus a couple of years later. What form does your folio take? My pixel-house website is the best folio of my work. I kept it as a showcase for my personal projects. There are some old client projects listed on there too. Have you done any further study? No formal studies, but I allow a couple of hours each day to learn. Most of our role is in marketing, and the environment is constantly changing and evolving, so I try to stay across it as much as possible.

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What does a typical day look like for you? A typical morning starts with handling emails. It’s my least favourite part of my day, so I like to get it out of the way. After making a morning coffee, I take the time to run my eyes over our analytics and reporting—particular attention given to our PPC channels. Primarily just looking for inconsistencies and to keep me across all our most important daily metrics. This is then followed by assigning tasks to the team (and to myself). I usually try and knock over any small loose tasks before lunch. My most productive period is 2pm–5pm, so I leave larger tasks for the afternoon. I find I can get into a more productive flow later in the day. These tasks often include UI and feature updates, PPC and affiliate management, research and general tasks associated with our growth objectives. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Data analysis is a regular part of my role and one that I quite enjoy. I find delving deep into analytics highly satisfying. A skill I’ve developed over the last few years is critical thinking and problem-solving. A big part of my job is finding solutions to problems. Identifying the issue, coming up with creative solutions, and analysing data to help uncover the best way forward. An underrated skill closely related to problem-solving is stress management. Stress and anxiety has been a real challenge for me over the years, and I’ve had to put a lot of work into improving my coping skills. It’s also helped with life outside of work.

What are the best aspects of your current role? One of the things I like most about marketing is that it is constantly changing. Despite often being overwhelming, being forced to adapt is what makes it exciting. It is an industry where you are constantly learning and up-skilling. Every day, I make it my goal to learn something new. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Ten to fifteen years ago, there wasn’t much quality information that was freely and easily accessible based on e-commerce and digital marketing. So I attended conferences, read books and magazines, and took part in forums. A lot was learned simply by trial and error. You have no choice but to become good at Paid Search pretty quickly when spending your own money. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? I’d remind myself to enjoy the journey. I have great memories of my time at university, but I found it stressful at the time. I’ve become much better at stress management since then. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? Wayne Baskin, CTO of Booktopia and Jen Geale, Founder of MTB Direct, is really inspirational. They are both constantly doing amazing things in the Aussie ecomm scene. Another big inspiration in my life is my father. He is an incredibly talented software developer who I’m often in awe of. He is also a great person to bounce ideas off, being highly logical and an expert problem-solver.

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YOSHI TAKAKI ROLE

Interior Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Interior Design Yoshi graduated from QCA in 2008 and currently works for Curious Us as an interior designer. What does a typical day look like for you? My tasks include design and documentation, liaising with consultants. I also source finishes, lighting and furniture and make enquiries to suppliers and manufacturers. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? To study more practical side of things and research various designs and arts more than just focusing on assignments. Did you do an internship of any sort? I worked as an interior designer intern. It was worthwhile doing it as it was a completely different experience to work in a design studio from working on university assignments. Working in the actual studio involves more communication. Discussing with co-workers about concept ideas and direction and liaising with building and services consultants, suppliers and manufacturers of finishes, materials and other elements are all parts of the essential process of accomplishing projects. There are many processes to go through to deliver ideas into the real world. An internship is a valuable opportunity to be involved, gain experience and learn from all of the parts of each process.

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LUCY BLAND ROLE

Design Director

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Visual Communication Design Lucy is the design director of Studio Bland, a Brisbane-based brand identity studio.

Did you do an internship of any sort? Yes, I did a paid internship with Studio Round. I found this experience extremely valuable in developing my skills, my understanding of the commercial design environment and also in the type of designer I wanted to be and the studio I wanted to work for.

What does a typical day look like for you? There are no typical days. As a design director of a small studio, my role is to bring my experience to each unique situation—to understand, empathise, collaborate, innovate, challenge, educate and evolve the project, client and design team. What are the best aspects of your current role? Learning something new every day, whether it be from my team, our collaborators or our clients— Interacting with the people I work with every day What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I gained experience working and learning under the direction of design studios such as Studio Round who aligned with my design values and inspired me to progress my career in a particular direction. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Be curious and challenge peoples opinions of what a ‘graphic designer’ could or should be Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? Collaborators from various industries, such as architecture or interior design, are extremely important to break away from the graphic design industry to seek perspective and inspiration.

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RAE COOPER ROLE

Design Lecturer | Researcher

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Master of Design Futures, Doctor of Visual Arts

What did you study at QCA? Did you Major in anything?

Rae is a design educator and researcher with a committed dedication to continuing education.

My doctorate was called ‘Visualising Disillusionment with Politics: An Exploration of Remixed Media and Commercial Design Practices’. I also completed a Master of Design Futures with honours and a Bachelor of Design majoring in 3D Design and Visual Culture. (And a Graduate Diploma of Education from QUT). Fun fact: no one has ever asked what my major was.

What is your current job title? Design Lecturer, Design Researcher, QCA International and Regional Convenor and Designer Who do you currently work for? I currently work for Griffith University, and my private clients are usually small business owners and Not-for-Profit organisations.

Have you done any further study? I study every day (I think we all do, regardless of if we realise it or not). I am working hard to learn as much as I can about my cultural connections and specifically about Indigenous knowledge in design and research.

When I graduated, I created a printed portfolio. I showed it at grad show, and then it lived in my cupboard for a few years until I threw it out while moving house.

More than ever before, it’s essential for everyone to reflect on their knowledge of Australian and First Nations history and contemporary politics. We are also part of a changing social consciousness when it comes to equality and respect, so it’s essential to constantly learn about positive change and my own misconceptions or gaps in knowledge when it comes to contributing to positive change in society.

After that, I had a few versions of a PDF containing work samples. Now I have a website that moves between both design and research. It’s handy for potential clients to see what my work is like, but I find it most useful as a tool to reflect on who I am as a designer. I have a Behance and an Instagram account that I occasionally update as well.

I use technology every day, so I frequently need to do online tutorials to learn new tools and software. I often need to refresh my skills when it comes to moving between different operating systems. It’s really easy to get ‘stuck in the past when it comes to design—so unless you are constantly in a state of learning, you get left behind.

What form does your folio take?

What does a typical day look like for you? I start work between 8-10am and leave work between 4-7pm. Sometimes I work from home, and sometimes I work in the office. Before COVID, I travelled overseas for work and hoped to do that again once borders opened. I’m mostly attached to a computer.

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It’s the best thing when students exceed my level of skill and begin to teach me things. It’s wild to be paid to research and explore, create and question things. I am in a position of privilege that I can use to support other people’s pathways into creative industries. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I want to say that I had a well thought out pathway—but I really didn’t. I’ve spent many years working retail (because freelance jobs were inconsistent and didn’t always pay the bills), I’ve had studio jobs that paid really little and very uncreative design jobs. One of the reasons I chose to do a masters degree was that I wasn’t excited by Design anymore. A funny thing about the Design industry is that many people feel pressure to present themselves as a success and minimise the realities, the gaps and the lows. I like to be transparent about this part of my career because I want emerging designers to know that (like all industries) not landing an Instaworthy design career a week after graduation doesn’t mean that you have failed or that you aren’t good enough. Like all industries, there will be highs and lows. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I was in New York City, it was late at night, snowing, and I was walking back to where I was staying. There was a person asleep on the steps of a church, covered in cardboard and snow.

I teach many classes, create course content, support a team of tutors, problem solve, and complete a lot of administration. I try to allocate time to reading and exploring other peoples research, attending research workshops. And there are always lots of meetings. For my private design clients, I usually communicate over email and, depending on the jobs, will work on them for an evening. It’s challenging to have a boundary between ‘life’ and ‘work’, but I feel fortunate that I love what I do, and most of it doesn’t seem like ‘work’. BUT I have a hard rule about never working on the weekends. What are the best aspects of your current role? Every day I stop and appreciate how lucky I am to have the job that I do. I have a lot of autonomy and freedom. It’s great to see students develop confidence in their creative practice and realise that they have a lot of influence as emerging designers.

That’s the moment when I decided that I had no interest in being someone who selects colours and fonts for the rest of my life and that I have a responsibility to do more with the privilege that I have. That’s when I came back to study and learn more about how design can be ‘more significant than what we often think it is, which led me to my work as a design researcher. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Don’t worry about marks. Remember that everything you make contributes to your identity as a designer. Be brave and strange. Build a reputation as someone with who people want to collaborate. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I work with an amazing group of inspirational women who are leaders in their field; I try to absorb as much of their magic as possible. 163

LINDSAY HOWARD ROLE

Marketing Manager

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Media, Major in Graphic Design Lindsay specialised in marketing and creative communications at QCA and now works as marketing manager at AlphaFit. What does a typical day look like for you? My current role varies greatly from day to day, though my primary responsibility is managing a team of three in our marketing team: graphic designer, digital marketing coordinator, and digital content coordinator. Most often, it also includes assisting the directors and sales team, overseeing the running of our e-commerce website, liaising with contractors (photo/ videographers, copywriters and so on.) and partners (sponsored athletes, influencers, elite sports clubs). In addition, planning new product launches or sales and promotions, designing custom branded equipment for the customer, and on occasion, helping out with other graphic design tasks such as catalogue creation, basic product design and packaging, plus website and EDM assets. What are the best aspects of your current role? Having a job that is so varied and evolving is something that keeps me engaged and driven to do well in my role. I enjoy working for a local familyowned and run business that produces a quality Australian made product. It is rewarding seeing a direct impact on the work myself and my team produce in growing the brand awareness and sales of the company, particularly in the past 2–3 years.

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What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Before graduating, I was lucky enough to be hired as a small graphic design business freelance designer. Within a couple of years, I had progressed into a full-time account manager and lead designer role, and then onto studio manager as that business grew. In that time, I worked on a huge variety of projects across many different small business clients. This provided invaluable experience in both business and graphic design. I was also fortunate enough to participate in regular business networking events and sales training, which helped me be more confident and capable in this role. After six years, I left to pursue an in-house graphic design role focused on rebranding a wellknown supplement company, its products, packaging and website. Shortly after, I moved into the in-house graphic design role at AlphaFit, where, almost four years later, I am now managing a growing team at an exciting time for the business. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? There have been a few catalysts for change in my career to date. The first would be experiencing a work situation where I didn’t feel valued or encouraged, which taught me to understand my worth, and that it was OK to leave a job that wasn’t the right fit for my goals. The next would be working with people who built a great work culture environment to grow in, plus celebrated strengths and differences in myself and other designers. From there, I learned a lot about business in general and the importance of taking confidence from your gut, balanced with asking for help from those around you. The last was having a great support system from QCA—building a relationship with other students, teachers, and staff has created a community I can turn to for assistance and advice, even over ten years since graduating.

LINDY JOHNSON ROLE

Director

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Painting Since graduating from QCA in 1984, Lindy has forged an impressive career as an arts advocate and policy-maker, and now serves as director of her marketing and PR firm Lindy Johnson Creative. What is your current role or job title? Director, Lindy Johnson Creative Who are your typical clients? My current clients are Australian and International architects and design firms.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I was the founding CEO of the Queensland Artworkers Alliance (10 years), the Senior Ministerial Advisor for the Arts (10 years), Director, Creative Industries, Queensland Government (6 years). Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Yes! Conceiving Australia’s first Employment Service for Artists; and the 2% for Public Art—Australia’s first whole of government arts policy. I was also being appointed the Senior Ministerial Advisor for the Arts for the Queensland Government. So I was introduced to art forms well beyond the visual arts.

Have you done any further study?

What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA?

Art History, English, and History subjects at the University of Queensland.

Value your creative thinking skills.

What does a typical day look like for you? I am liaising with my talented staff, advising clients, managing and promoting my business. What are the top three skills you regularly use?

Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? My Ministers—Hon. Matt Foley—taught me a lot about using my voice and the importance of valuing creativity and the arts.

Strategic thinking; creative thinking; clear communication. What are the best aspects of your current role? Transforming architecture and design businesses —increasing their value and making them more successful.

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LIZ CHRISTIANSEN ROLE

Designer | Studio Director

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Graphic Design Liz graduated in 2000 and now runs her own design studio Lula Creative. What is your current role or job title? I am a designer currently working for myself across branding, creative communications, hand lettering and surface pattern design. Who are your typical clients? I am self-employed, and my client base is across diverse industries, with typical clients residing in health and wellness across education, community and research spaces. I am currently also a sessional academic in one subject per trimester at QCA in second-year design within typography. As a student, I never thought I would have been working at QCA decades later! How did you arrive at your current position? I’ve organically grown a business through word-ofmouth referrals. What form does your folio take? My portfolio to date has been PDF (old school!), but I’m currently moving it to a website. Have you done any further study? Since graduating from university, I have done a lot of informal studies to widen my scope of creative disciplines, from silversmithing and painting to surface pattern design.

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What does a typical day look like for you? I have a mix of creative, technical and administrative tasks on any given day—I constantly have on the go projects at different stages. So, I could be researching for a new branding project, creative problem-solving and sketching concepts, communicating with clients or finalising a project within the production phase. I’m a big believer in lifelong learning as well, so I set aside time to learn new things and expand my skillset. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Creativity and creative thinking, communication and attention to detail with typography and design software. What are the best aspects of your current role? Being flexible with my creative approach, the time I work and seeing all my projects from the beginning to project completion are some of the best things I get to do every day. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I initially sought out experiences across different industries within design to find out what worked best for me. As a result, I worked up to a senior designer over a few years through roles across in-house design studios, advertising and then a branding studio. All invaluable experience to equip me with the skills to wear all the hats you must wear when working for yourself.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? My first impactful pivotal moment was starting a family and realising I no longer desired the fastpaced and exciting studio life that took me long hours away from home—the realisation that led me to start working for myself. I’m also currently having a massive pivot again and feeling an exciting change within the current direction of my business—I have never invested so much time and effort into my business growth as I have this year. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Be confident in yourself and your work. You’ll have to work hard and sometimes feel like giving up—but you’ll get there in the end. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? As I see my branding and design work as a collaborative process, I am inspired to work with passionate clients—when a client loves what they do and expresses that to me through their brief and our discovery phase, that will show through my work. For career role models, I have looked to my peers over the years and have studied and worked with some amazing and inspiring designers and art directors who have made me strive to be a better designer. I also look to multidisciplinary artists and designers for inspiration—those who have crossed the worlds and are commercially successful with their art on products like Rachel Castle, Ken Done, and Lisa Congdon. Did you do an internship of any sort? I spent a lot of time at Liveworm my last year or so of study after receiving a Liveworm scholarship. I also had an informal internship at a gallery working with the senior designer when I could in-between my studies. It gave me invaluable experience while learning on real-world design projects. I was then able to start freelancing direct to clients prior to graduating from university, which was my stepping stone to quickly gaining a full-time position as a designer.

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KELLY MCILVENNY ROLE

Photographer | Tutor

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Photojournalism Doctor of Visual Arts Kelly is a photojournalist with a doctorate, and also teaches at QCA. What does a typical day look like for you? Every day is different, but currently, I am teaching theory classes in the Bachelor of Design, where I get to facilitate first-year students asking big questions and critically thinking through new ideas. When not working with students, I freelance doing photography and film for small businesses. No two days are the same when shooting, and I love that photography is a passport to many new experiences. Then every chance I get, I am in the water shooting my second great love, the ocean’s creatures. What are the best aspects of your current role? It is getting to meet people from every walk of life, both as students and clients. Photography is an art form that touches us in that it reflects our memories, created or real. It is a great privilege to be able to share that with someone. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I interned as a photojournalist both here and overseas Shanghai Star, Northern Star, Shanghai Times, and a few others, saught out personal projects and tutored along the way. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Look for the lessons in every experience; you are learning more than you think.

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Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? An email to One Heart World-Wide’s founder would change my path, beginning my then honours project, which turned into my doctorate project. I knew the second I jumped in the back of that jeep in Kathmandu with medical supplies and a camera that this was it! Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? Ami Vitale, Michaela Skovranova, Darren Jew and Jasmine Carey, Warren Keelan, and many more.

COURTNEY HOLLAND ROLE

Freelance Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path?

Courtney is newly self-employed and works with small female-run businesses.

To be honest, I think it would be after being injured in a car accident. I was always too scared to make the leap into self-employment, but the positive of being injured was that it allowed me to do it without anything holding me back.

How did you arrive at your current position?

Did you do an internship of any sort?

I had always had my own business as a side hustle, and it was just perfect timing to move into working for myself.

I interned at Liveworm during my study and found it helped me prepare for industry life, and I already had a good feel for how everything worked.

Have you done any further study? I have done the odd mini-course to upskill myself or learn a bit more about things—for example, Google courses, web development and photography course. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Top personal skills would be: Problem-solving, ability to work collaboratively and solo, working well under pressure and an “I got this” attitude. Three skills: The entire Adobe suite, web design, and typography. What are the best aspects of your current role? Getting to work with like-minded people who want to achieve something amazing. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I was lucky enough to experience a variety of different experiences within the workplace with many different environments and projects to work on. It helped shape the designer that I am. It showed me what I do and don’t like and provided me with opportunities to upskill and figure out what I enjoyed.

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VICTORIA REICHELT ROLE

Artist

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Honours, Doctor of Visual Art Since graduating from QCA in 2005, Victoria has forged an impressive career as an award-winning artist. Who do you currently work for?

What are the top three skills you regularly use?

I am represented by two galleries and have exhibitions there and in other public and regional galleries. How did you arrive at your current position?

Painting skills, obviously, but also being able to write comes into play when writing artist statements and applying for grants and so on, and being about to speak in public as you have to quite a lot as a professional artist.

I have been practising as an artist since I left QCA.

What are the best aspects of your current role?

What form does your folio take?

I still can’t quite believe that I get to paint as a job!

I make paintings, so my work can be found on gallery websites, my website and Instagram.

But, I also love doing masterclasses and working with young artists at a school or university level; that is so rewarding.

What does a typical day look like for you? I am currently raising three children under six, so I juggle having time to paint with looking after them. I can generally paint three mornings a week if I can get someone to come and help look after the kids.

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What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I just painted from the time I was a uni until now. Of course, I have done other things sometimes, but keeping on the same path and doing the one thing has helped me hone my skills.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Winning the Sulman Art Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW in 2013 was a pivotal moment for my career. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Relax and enjoy it! I wish I could go back to those uni days now—I was so lucky to be at QCA with so many great friends and colleagues. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? Any woman who is raising a family and maintaining an art or academic practice. I am in awe of them all.

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ZOE WILSON ROLE

Graphic Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Visual Communication Zoe works as a designer for Village Roadshow Theme Parks. How did you arrive at your current position? A friend sent me the seek application and encouraged me to apply! Have you done any further study? No, but every day is a school day! What does a typical day look like for you? Very varied. I work between digital, video, animation, print and concepting work. Sometimes we even shoot our own videos. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Drawing, Layout and concept ideation What are the best aspects of your current role? Working on a wide range of jobs keeps me engaged. I’m always learning or improving. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I did YouTube as a job for two years before I got my current position. The general idea of the channel was that I would try out a new artistic or design related skill in every video. Of course, I did it purely for fun, but I guess it helped me improve my skillset and general confidence in what I was capable of.

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Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Not yet; COVID-19 definitely made me nervous about the future but so far, so good! What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Take lots of notes!! Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? If I’m looking for inspiration for design or artwork, I’ll always hop on Pinterest and pull all kinds of different images. Sometimes the feeling or emotion of a photograph could inspire an idea for a logo or something of a different medium. This is true for things I experience in real life too. Ultimately all of my experiences in my life have led me to make the creative decisions that I have so far.

RAINER DOECKE ROLE

Artist | Printmaker

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Honours Major Painting/Printmaking Recent graduate Rainer works in the event and food industry as a caterer and also works as an artist and printmaker. What did you study at QCA? I started as a painting major. However, I switched to a printmaking major. I also based my honours year on my printmaking practice. Have you done any further study? I did a short winemaking course. I love wine and knowing what went into the drop in my glass. What are the top three skills you regularly use? I’ve had to become thoroughly organised, and I now meticulously plan everything. I engage with members of the public in a sales capacity and have honed my ability to make a sale. Every dollar counts when one is self-employed, so I’ve become much more efficient at saving money, accounting and bookwork practices and managing my finances.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I bought an existing business six years ago, which really forced me to grow into a role as self-employed. I’ve since sold that enterprise and have started others, so it’s definitely paid off. I can’t see myself working for anyone else anymore. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Have fun, study hard, and get busy making connections. Hone your craft into a niche area, and surround yourself with people who support your creativity. Experiment profusely. Don’t presume to know anything at all. Listen to those people who are older and wiser than you are. Don’t give up. Did you do an internship of any sort? I did a year-long stint with Grey Hand Press as a printmaking and publishing intern. This was exceptionally valuable, as I learned so much of the technical craft surrounding printmaking practice. In addition, it helped me ground my love of the printed image in a real-world business environment.

What are the best aspects of your current role? It’s a fantastic validation when somebody spends money to support what you do. It’s even better when they return and recommend their friends. What pathway did you take to get to your role? I think the school of hard knocks and life choices has helped me get to where I am, much more than anything I learnt at university. Choosing an eclectic plethora of jobs, travelling widely and being interested in a variety of activities gets you far. In addition, my studies taught me how to write and present a convincing application, making my entry into events much more competitive. 173

D HARDING ROLE

Visual Artist | Research Fellow

STUDY Bachelor of CAIA, Doctor of Visual Arts

What year did you graduate from QCA? I graduated with my undergraduate degree in 2012.

D Harding is a Griffith University Postdoctoral Research Fellow and a visual artist of international standing.

What did you study at QCA? I was a student in the CAIA degree (Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art), and I majored in Sculpture, with just shy of a major in Art Theory. Have you done any further study?

Who are your typical clients?

My Doctorate from QCA was conferred in 2019.

Griffith University Arts Education Law, Queensland College of Art.

What does a typical day look like for you?

My Art Practice is represented by Milani Gallery Brisbane, and our typical clients are Art Institutions and Contemporary Art Collections. How did you arrive at your current position? I arrived at my current position with Griffith University via networks supported by Queensland College of Art HDR colleagues. My work with Milani Gallery Brisbane came via colleagues who introduced me to Josh Milani towards some work installing other artist’s exhibitions with Milani Gallery. What form does your folio take? My folio is primarily accessed via the Milani Gallery Brisbane website, also in exhibition publications online and in hard copy print.

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I begin each week with an admin day and then move through the rest of my week in response to the project work at hand. As a result, some periods involve a lot of keyboard and preparation time, and some periods involve a lot more studio work and art-making. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Problem-solving, be it artistically or logistically; effective planning and communication; research skills.

What are the best aspects of your current role? My freedom of movement is the best thing that I enjoy every day, and my time in the studio making art is most precious. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I assisted practising artists in their studios and installed other artists’ exhibitions throughout my QCA studies. I will suggest that there is no pathway towards life as an artist; however if someone has the studio work constantly in practice and involves themselves in the worlds of artists and professional communities. In that case, they might find themselves living the life of an artist. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? One pivotal moment that changed the direction of my artistic and research work was when I found myself among peers—other students and other artists. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Writing is great; try not to fight it. Choose your methods and styles and then settle into your voice. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I look to other artists for inspiration and as role models. Also to academic colleagues and friends— nerds rock. Did you do an internship of any sort? There was no formal program, but as mentioned before, I worked as a studio assistant to a number of practising Brisbane artists from 2009 until 2013. This was invaluable for innumerable reasons, and is something I would suggest a new artist might make themselves available to do.

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JENNA HUTCHISON ROLE

Graphic Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design After working in industry for eight years, Jenna opened her own design studio, the Brisbane Design co. What are the best aspects of your current role? Flexibility and the lifestyle of running my schedule, the best thing is doing something you love, so it’s easy to wake up for and get excited about What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Worked in a variety of small to medium businesses to learn the processes and run the business side of things. I always knew I wanted to open my own studio eventually. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Focus on networking with your peers, as those connections will be what helps you in the future with jobs and opportunities Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? Businesswomen that have started their agencies, such as Tess from Smack Bang Designs. Did you do an internship of any sort? I did a short stint at a studio for experience early on (first year of university). It was a good experience and taught me how to operate within an office.

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LIBBI REED ROLE

Design Educator

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design, Doctor of Visual Arts Libbi recently completed her Doctoral research into sensemaking using sketch notes and teaches into QCA design. How did you arrive at your current position? I worked as a desktop publisher and graphic designer in the 90s. Then as my children came onto the scene, I took on freelance graphic design and illustration work. Later, I had the idea to up-skill by returning to study. I enrolled at QCA and have never left. I recently completed a Doctor of Visual Arts and continue to explore creative opportunities outside of university. What does a typical day look like for you? I do less freelance work now and focus more on digital products and workshops ranging from kids to adults focusing on building creative self-expression using calligraphy, lettering, sketchnotes and murals. I also tutor graphic design and typography classes, and this balance creates a fulfilling workload.

Have you done any further study? As a young lass, I started by completing a Diploma in Graphic Design. A fair bit older I completed a Bachelor of Digital Media with Honours and topped that off with a Doctor of Visual Arts scholarship. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Deciding to return to study was a hugely pivotal moment in my career. This decision provided so many opportunities I hadn’t even fathomed. Speaking at Typism conferences to creating class content to writing research documents. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Push your skillsets with loads of experimentation and practice; learn through doing. Do more than what’s expected. Enjoy the friendships that you make. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? Dominique Falla and Aurelie Maron for their creative passion, drive and productivity.

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CAMILLE SANTIAGO ROLE

Lead Photographer Graphic Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Media, Major in Graphic Design Camille graduated from QCA as a graphic designer in 2010, and continues to pursue her love of both photography and graphic design. She now lives in Canada. How did you arrive at your current position? I submitted my resume and portfolio to the Rocky Mountain Soap Co even though there were no open positions in the marketing and creative department at the time. Three months later, they reached out to me and I was hired! The interview process also assesses whether candidates are a good cultural fit with the brand, and I was really happy to work for a company who really embodied their values. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Photography, editing and retouching. Design (including typography, layouts) and UI/UX Design.

What are the best aspects of your current role? With every campaign, there’s a new product launch or story to tell, so even if I’m producing signs for the same stores, what I’m making is never the same. My team always strives to make every campaign better than the last—it makes our day-to-day interesting, and it’s exciting to see the brand evolving. What does a typical day look like for you? After walking my dog, I make coffee and breakfast, then enter the ‘office’ (my living room—I have worked from home since the start of the pandemic) where I quickly check through my emails and Slack. I use the first hour of the day to determine what my priorities are for the morning and afternoon, as well as for the rest of the week. I have my hands in a lot of baskets at the company, so there is a lot of variety in my role and there is never a dull day. Being responsible for planning and producing our campaign photoshoots, as well as doing my own shooting, editing and retouching for the brand, designing in-store signage, window banners and digital assets, having strong time management and project management skills is key. Organising shoots and deadlines as well as communicating to other team members and departments makes up a larger portion of my day than actually creating, concepting and ideating. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Since graduating from QCA, I entered the design industry as a graphic and web designer for a small website/e-commerce startup (it’s since now grown quite significantly!). I was there for almost four years and was able to co-lead a small team of designers.

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After that, I felt like I wanted a bigger challenge and applied to work at an agency (Flip Creative). I was there for around three years before I decided to move to Canada on what was initially supposed to be a two-year working holiday visa—but here I am, writing this from the Canadian Rockies. I have been in my current role for 2.5 years, and I am overjoyed to say it truly is my dream job! Apart from working full-time in the industry, I also freelanced regularly on the side, led photography workshops, and contributed my skills and time regularly to events in the creative community (CreativeMornings, The Design Conference, Typism). You never stop learning, and I love taking on side projects whilst still being in a stable full-time design role. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Moving to Canada in January 2017 was a pivotal moment. At the time, I needed space to think about what I wanted from my creative career and life as a whole. I realised how critical it was for me to have a better work/life balance, and how important it was for me to work for a company that aligns with my values on sustainability and wellness. After getting my Canadian permanent residency, I steered away from applying for corporate or agency jobs and aimed true to jobs I knew I would feel really passionate about. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Don’t give yourself such a hard time! You’ve got this. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? Where do I begin? I have connected with so many incredible creatives over the years! I am very fond of documentary photographers and filmmakers who are also passionate about social change, such as Alice Eady (UK) and Ryan Wilkes (CAN). In Brisbane, my dear friend Anwyn Howarth produces really beautiful work; I have always been a die-hard fan of The Hungry Workshop, and I do seriously admire my pals at Flip Creative, who keep making fantastic stuff!

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HANNAH GROFF ROLE

Senior Associate

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in 3D Design and Illustration Since graduating from QCA in 2009, Hannah has worked in a variety of 3D modelling roles and is now and senior associate and 3D modeller at Binyan Studios in their New York office. How did you arrive at your current position? I was having a bad day at my previous job and noticed that Binyan’s Sydney office was an eightminute walk from my house, instead of an hour and a half commute of my then-current job, and the rest is history. Unfortunately, that was six years ago, so I can’t remember how I found the original job posting! What does a typical day look like for you? On a typical day, I review the information sets from clients, oversee the model production for our North American and London offices, mentoring and manage our international modelling team and work with creative directors to produce architectural renders for our clients. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Communication, problem-solving, and extensive knowledge of the Autodesk Suite.

What are the best aspects of your current role? I love getting to peek behind the architectural and real estate development curtains in a city like New York and LA. It’s such a fascinating industry where you get an in-depth understanding of what makes up the city around you; it turns every day into a mini architecture tour. But, of course, it doesn’t hurt that I get to work on Ghery and Olson Kundig projects and projects like Hudson Yards; the variety is great. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I mostly worked on project-based contracts for a variety of visual effects and animation studios. Eventually, I decided I wanted more stability than the VFX industry could offer, so I pivoted to architecture. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Applying for my current role. Architecture had never really been on my radar before, and I had always envisioned an Australian-based animation role in my future, yet here I am. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Try more things! I was very focused on animation, and it turns out that industry was taking a massive hit at the time of my studies and wouldn’t be my eventual career path. I wish I had sampled more of the classes from the other majors to have those skills in my back pocket when I need to solve a problem.

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Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I’m not sure why but I’ve always avoided having a role model. I think it can be challenging for people in relatively young industries like Arch Viz to find those people to be role models. As I was navigating my career, I never saw people with a story or a path like mine to look up to. Which is fine; I just made my own path. But I’m very fortunate to look around and find immediate inspiration and guidance when I need it. My husband is a fantastic character artist and has such a passion for what he does. It’s infectious. While his career is 3D based, he constantly obsesses over other crafts to draw inspiration from and incorporate into his sculptures. Whether it’s weaving or hair styling or an interesting texture (posing for reference photos of my clarifying clay face mask is a memory), watching him find inspiration everywhere helps me do the same.

Image Credit: Binyan Studios

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CATHRYN LLOYD ROLE

Founder | Director

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Graphic Design Cathryn is founder and director of Maverick Minds, a professional development service. Who are your typical clients? I work with corporate clients, teams and leaders, as well as individuals in the creative industries and other professions. My main criteria is to work with clients who are open, curious and willing to co-create in often complex and uncertain situations. Creativity is essential in our changing world. We need everyone’s creativity at the table. How did you arrive at your current position? This type of work doesn’t emerge from a highly linear career pathway. It’s been an interesting and windy road of experimentation and exploration. I also have an entrepreneurial spirit and a preference for autonomy, although I love collaborating. Prior to establishing Maverick Minds, I had my own design studio and have been involved in education. What form does your folio take? My portfolio of work includes creative facilitation, coaching for individuals and teams, helping people make connections, bring forth ideas, make decisions, build relationships and appreciate the complex world in which we live and work. The work is creative and emergent. I love learning environments that support people in a process of inquiry and sense making.

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In my process of coaching and facilitation I use various creative methods and models—visual props, objects, human centred design and thinking artsbased and artful inquiry, provenance, improvisation and reflective practice, as a way of enabling people to explore their professional contexts and environments and to ultimately take action. I have published a couple of books, The Story Cookbook and Seriously Playful Creativity. When I am creating art I enjoy mixed media and collage. The images I create often end up in presentations and workshops as part of the visual storytelling. What did you study at QCA? Graphic Design—which lead me into fabric design and my design studio. I taught at Southbank Creative Industries and QUT. The design studies and spiritual connection to the Arts and Creative Industries have influenced my professional practice and my business. A lot of what I do is based on design in some way it influence how I approach things. Have you done any further study? I completed a Doctor of Creative Industries at QUT, to help me research creativity and business; Maverick Minds was born from this. I am an avid life-long learner and have undertaken many courses as part of my ongoing personal and professional development. This includes coaching certification, management diploma, postgraduate certificate in research commercialisation; plus other professional short courses and art courses.

What does a typical day look like for you? It varies—I may be with a client (individual or team) facilitating or coaching; developing a course or workshop; reading and writing; business development; researching for a new or particular project. For example, I recently launched Maverick Minds Podcast, which requires research on topics relevant to the podcast about unearthing creative gems). I participate all sorts of professional learning. In 2020 I committed to completing my book Seriously Playful Creativity: An A to Z of Creative Action and Reflection. Now it requires marketing and finding opportunities to work with it. For instance, I ran a workshop for the Queensland Police around uncertainty and creativity and we used the book for inspiration. I’m also having a book launch at Scrumptious Reads bookshop. A lot of the face-to-face delivery turned to online facilitation in 2020. That has been quite a learning curve however I do think this hybrid way of working is the future. Both have their benefits and we’re lucky to have the technology that enables us to have the flexibility and to connect widely with each other. Look at how we have all adapted to new ways of working, learning and engaging with each other, it requires creativity.

What are the best aspects of your current role? One of my favourite aspects is learning about people, their professions, and businesses. It’s fascinating finding out what motivates people and working with them to explore the challenges and opportunities. I have the pleasure of going into industries and professions I don’t know anything about, which is humbling and insightful, and great for a person who is curious about the world. I enjoy the creative process of working on projects, playing, and experimenting with ideas, putting that into practice, and then learning from that. I enjoy it even more when the people I am working with are equally willing to do that. The opportunity to give things a go and make decisions even when they are not 100% is part of the process and does require courage, trust, vulnerability and respect. I love it when people say we want to be more creative, and really mean it—they are the words that fire up my enthusiasm. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Many pathways—living and working overseas was a major disruptor. I looked at what I was currently doing and realised I was ready to do something totally different. I didn’t really understand what that was apart from the desire to work with creative people. I was fortunate to land a role in London at the University of Arts London, based at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design. That experience became a catalyst for many things and set me on a new course. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Experiment, play, explore different avenues, be open, build networks, learn good technical skills, delve into your creativity, be brave, take calculated risks, have the confidence to try different things and seek help as and when you need it, we don’t have travel alone. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I get inspired by ideas and unusual combinations. I am very inspired by the natural world and my relationship with it, it’s a constant source of inspiration. I appreciate people who are prepared to experiment; I value people who seek to make the world a better place through small and big actions. I’m inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of people and those with an open mind and heart. 183

NGAIO PARR ROLE

Creative Director Artist | Author

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Graphic Design Ngaio is the founder of independent creative studio Ngaio Parr Studio, and the international festival Make Nice: Un-Conference For Creative Women, and author of The Grief Companion, and online newsletter Some Things. Who are your typical clients? Clients include The New York Times, Disney, Thames and Hudson, Penguin, Figma, Frankie Magazine, Buzzfeed, Hachette, HP, Leanne Ford, Secret 7, Hardie Grant, Riposte Magazine, and Adobe. How did you arrive at your current position? I moved into design after working as a curator and started by working in a few small studios and then at Triple J. Then, I started my studio. What does a typical day look like for you? Every day is different—but it always starts with a walk to my local coffee shop here in Laurel Canyon and writing out a daily list from my extensive list of tasks! Other than that, a day could include site visits for exhibition design, painting watercolours, meetings for branding projects, working on concepts for a book design, confirming colours for interior design, or writing my fortnightly newsletter. Unfortunately, it also includes a much greater deal of invoicing and emails than I would like! What are the top three skills you regularly use? Creative problem solving, curiosity, and being an effective self-educator.

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What are the best aspects of your current role? I love to work with excellent people who are just as excited to work on projects. I love learning new things every day and being able to make my own decisions. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I had already completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts and worked as a curator/gallerist for more than five years. I worked hard to organise part of my design study at RISD in the United States, and that was an ample learning opportunity. On top of that, I’m just constantly figuring new things out between creative colleagues, YouTube, and jumping into it.

KYLE PLUMMER ROLE

Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Industrial Design

Kyle works for Yellow Goat Lighting after being head-hunted at the 2017 QCA graduate end-of-year show. What does a typical day look like for you? 3D modelling designs using Rhino, creating technical drawings for manufacturing, and occasionally manufacturing the designs myself. What are the top three skills you regularly use? 3D modelling. Creative problem-solving. Acute attention to detail. What are the best aspects of your current role? Working for a company that specialises in custom design allows the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects and challenge me as a designer. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Since I was a teenager, I’ve worked in manufacturing, so starting my role at Yellow Goat after graduation was second nature. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I don’t look up to anyone regarding inspiration or career developments. However, I have always admired self-made entrepreneurs. People who live and work for their passion on a day to day basis are the ones who will always win and succeed, in my opinion.

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YANQIAO JIANG ROLE

Doctoral Candidate

STUDY MAVA; Doctor of Visual Art

Yanqiao (Elaine) is a Doctoral candidate and exhibiting designer focusing on Chinese cultural iconography.

What are the top three skills you regularly use? The Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator); Independently designed branding working across a range of multicultural design projects

What did you study at QCA?

What are the best aspects of your current role?

I completed a Master of Arts in Visual Arts and I am now a Doctoral candidate.

I have been working and learning in a dynamic and motivated team. I have strong energy and enthusiasm, knowledge in branding systems (especially typography and iconography) and research, consolidating professional identity, building a sense of proficiency, contribution, and communication skills that I would like to further develop within the professional field.

I am a branding designer interested in using design to explore ethnography, specifically in Chinese indigenous cultures. My Master’s research focused on designing cultural iconography for the Meishan region in China and my doctoral research examines multiculturalism, tourism and culturally sensitive design in Chinatowns. Have you done any further study? I am a current DVA candidate at the Queensland College of Art. My Doctoral research explores the symbolism that reflects the diversity of Chinese ethnic groups in the Guizhou province. What does a typical day look like for you? I have been honing my skills learning at the Liveworm studio. I participated in some projects and in the process, received more guidance and learned how to work in a studio.

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It is an opportunity for me to get some real-world experience presenting to clients. I have been trying different ideas for each of the projects to make them the good as possible.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I participated in many design competitions, exhibitions and academic research. I was invited to exhibit my work ‘Multiculturalism, Tourism and Culturally Sensitive Design in Chinatowns’. It was on display at TC Beirne in Brisbane and part of Brisbane City Council’s Chinese Moon Festival celebrations. I also participated in the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition for 2021 which helped me hone my verbal presentation skills.

I want to build a sense of proficiency, contribution, and communication skills and further develop within the professional field. Learning at QCA helped me explore the lookout for fresh ideas that indicated a new direction of my career path. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Whenever I come across a problem in my study, I consult with an open mind and try my best to get in-depth knowledge. Therefore, I should have strong willpower and hard-working quality of work to identify persistent optimism, the courage to face difficulties and challenges. At the same time, I have taken an active part in all kinds of activities to improve my personal qualities. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I sincerely thank my supervisors, Professor Elisabeth Findlay, for her suggestions and consistent guidance in academic research areas and Associate Professor Dominique Falla. Dominique established the Typism community, is the author of the Creative Space book and host of the Creative Spark podcast! In addition, Dominique gave me support and insight during the development of my studio practice and finding my own dedicated thinking space. I am also grateful to Dr David Sargent for his generous assistance has been appreciated. As a result, I got more guidance and learned how to make each of the projects the best as possible work and get some real-world experience presenting to clients. Did you do an internship of any sort? Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I participated in some mural design projects; I gained more guidance and learned how to paint mural works effectively. As a result, I am highly motivated to contribute to visual arts as well as design.

I was a Jubaoda packaging Co., Ltd employee and worked as a Graphic Design Director. I undertook the company’s branding design and conducted planning for the enterprise. In addition, I designed related brochures and packaging required by marketing. I was reviewing final layouts and suggesting improvements when necessary promotion. I find every internship experience is highly valuable.

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MARTIN SCHLUTER ROLE

Senior Art Director

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Visual Communication Martin graduated from QCA in 2009 and works as a senior art director for Nickelodeon. What does a typical day look like for you? It varies—I usually start the day with meetings to understand priorities for the week, to then being made aware of new jobs that need attention. If I’m working on a job, I’m then doing a lot of research, brainstorming, sketching and refining ideas to present to stakeholders. All of this in between communication with team members, internal stakeholders, external partners on top of doing reviews of work with direct reports. It’s a delicate juggle between a lot of things! What are the best aspects of your current role? I enjoy that I get to work with so many people. From copywriters to junior designers to project managers and external agency partners—no two days are the same, and every day is a learning experience. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Honestly, I’ve never stopped up-skilling—most of the roles I’ve landed have been because I’ve taught myself something or furthered my education in a way that gave me a skill a company was looking for. So when opportunities were presented to learn a new skill—I jumped at them.

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For example, I undertook an Art Directions Principles course and that helped hone my creative skills in a way that took me out of the “technical skills” of design and into a world that was more idea focused. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Absolutely—moving countries really changed the direction of my career in a significant way. Having to live and work in a different country really throws you in a position where you need to work hard, learn and adapt quickly and push yourself in directions that you wouldn’t usually go if you were in your comfort zone. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Make mistakes, listen, work hard and ideate ideate ideate. You literally do not know shit, so buckle down and learn.

PAMELA SEE ROLE

Visual Artist | Writer | Educator

STUDY PhD

Pamela is a visual artist who works with papercuts and sculptural forms. Who are your typical clients? I am presently doing commissions for local government organisations in Queensland. In the past, I have also worked with multinational corporations in Australia and China. In pre-COVID-19 times, I was exhibiting across Europe, North American, Asia and Australia. Institutions to hold my artworks in their collections include the Huaxia Papercutting Museum in Changsha in Hunan Province, the National Gallery of Australia in the Australian Capital Territory and the Art Gallery of South Australia. How did you arrive at your current position?

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? There have been many, but most likely, the selection of my papercut design to be translated into a sizeable illuminated artwork for the Sydney Lunar Festival produced by the City of Sydney. They translated it with Pink Cactus Props into a series of six-ton sheep. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? You need to focus on developing your knowledge and skills. This includes knowledge of the industry in your local area and communication skills to collaborate with your peers. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I have been fortunate to exhibit with many industry luminaries, particularly of my cultural background. Subsequently, I would identify Guan Wei and Lindy Lee as principal role models.

I tend to be invited to contribute towards exhibitions and commissions. What does a typical day look like for you? I spend my time intermittently doing art and design work and writing articles for journals and magazines. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Computer-Aided Design, papercutting and academic writing. What are the best aspects of your current role? I have the opportunity to work with passionate people, from visionary curators to imaginative children.

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LAINI BURTON ROLE

Senior Lecturer | Visual Arts Design Researcher

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Painting, Doctor of Visual Arts

Have you done any further study?

Laini graduated as a visual artist in 2006 and is now the Higher Degree Research Convenor at QCA.

Prior to studying Visual Arts, I studied French and Philosophy at UQ. Philosophy was mind-blowing.

How did you arrive at your current position? I began sessional teaching when undertaking my doctorate. My first ever lecture was presented to a room of over 450 first-year art theory students. I loved it and knew I’d found my calling. What form does your folio take? I began with a creative practice but quickly shifted to writing and publishing. My folio now consists of a range of publications such as magazines and journal articles, book chapters, edited collections of essays and conference papers. I am currently writing my first solo-authored book. These days, my folio can be found on platforms like Academia.edu or ORCID.

What does a typical day look like for you? If I am not speaking with Higher Degree Research (HDR) candidates, either as a supervisor or in the classroom, I am working on ways to help my colleagues and HDR candidates to navigate program milestones, candidate progression and examinations. In addition, as HDRC, I am involved in evaluating applications and scholarships, establishing training and development opportunities for HDRs, and generating an intellectual and supportive climate conducive to quality research outcomes for artists and designers. What are the best aspects of your current role?

Visual Art and Art Theory. I majored in Painting with a minor in Printmaking.

It is a privileged position to assist researchers in achieving their goals, witness the development of new knowledge, and establish innovative ways that help evolve and positively impact the fields of visual arts and design. In particular, I like to solve problems that staff and candidates often encounter in the journey of higher degree research, removing any obstacles that might hinder progress.

It’s funny because I ended up practising neither painting nor printmaking. But when I began to write, the deep engagement with critical theory and art and design history became an enduring love affair that still sustains me.

Most satisfying, however, is when you are supervising a candidate and your conversations progress toward those ‘Aha!’ moments. When these developments translate into strong research outcomes, and candidates thrive, I feel true role fulfilment.

What did you study at QCA?

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I embarked on an Education degree after I finished my Doctorate. I was halfway through when life intervened, as it tends to do!

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? After high school, I followed the standard rite of passage by moving out of home, getting a job and partying. It was fun, but I wanted more. So, in my early 20s, I attended what they used to call “Night School” to upgrade my high school scores. Then I applied for and was gleefully accepted into UQ (studying French and Philosophy) while working fulltime. Following this, I applied to Art School and was accepted into three universities at once. Finally, I quit my job, became a full-time student and never looked back. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Participate! Milk every opportunity for learning that crosses your path. Don’t be afraid to experiment! Make connections. See as many exhibitions and read as much as you can. Be patient with yourself—it takes time to find your strengths, but they will appear. If you can, find a mentor (they are an invaluable resource). But most of all, enjoy it. It is over all too quickly. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Scaffolding knowledge and ideas. Problem-solving. Listening and mentoring. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Having a family gave me a drive and a direction that I hadn’t anticipated. This change saw me shift entirely from practice to theory.

Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I am incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by supportive, intelligent, fearless women who are leaders in their respective fields. It is endlessly inspiring to be amongst such great company. I also look to great writers whose work I admire and whose prose clarifies even the most complex ideas. Did you do an internship of any sort? While I was studying, I worked at the Queensland Art Gallery (QAG—before GoMA was added) as a guide for a few years. Their education program for guides was phenomenal. I went to university all week, and I went to QAG for weekend lectures and training. I was an artsworker for the Cerebral Palsy League for several years, assisting artists in producing work and curating exhibitions. I also worked at what is now the Griffith University Art Museum. I had three jobs! It was a great and expansive time for me to be engaged in these different aspects of art practice and learning.

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RY HEALEY ROLE

Commercial Artist

STUDY Masters of Digital Design, Major in Fabrication

What are the top three skills you regularly use? Project management Digital 3D design Physical Model making

Ry is a commercial artist working in three-dimensions at Studio Kite. How did you arrive at your current position? A friend recommended that I seek out a workshop hidden in the hills behind Byron Bay. What does a typical day look like for you? I manage the workshop floor of Studio Kite. In the studio, we produce commercial art, medical models, and sculptural productions for a large variety of clients who need to develop and deliver their idea. A typical day includes designing, preparing and optimizing 3D models, which will be fabricated with our large format 3D printer. Depending on the scale of the sculpture, we also provide the engineering required for the project’s success. We also do the finishing of the sculptural works, adding texture, colour, and final touches that make your product pop. What are the best aspects of your current role? Problem-solving, problem solving, problem-solving. It’s nice to have a steady stream of art projects with various unique problems that need to be solved. Every day is different and working on the cutting-edge of additive manufacturing is an exciting place to be. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? The first time I used a small desktop 3D printer to turn one of my digital sculptures into a physical sculpture was my ‘Aha!’ moment.

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What pathway did you take to get to your role? My pathway as a student at QCA was coming to an end, and with no clear industry direction, I began to ask myself, “Who in my circle needs assistance in their projects?”. My Professor at the time, Dr Jennifer Loy, had hinted that there might be a position as a research assistant emerging later in the coming months. Unbeknownst to me, the role as a research assistant would shape much of my professional life to come. The role as a research assistant not only strand so onhed my knowledge in the additive manufacturing space but gave me a meaningful project to sink my teeth into.

TROY BAVERSTOCK ROLE

Design Engineer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in 3D Design

Troy is a design engineer working in three-dimensions at Strike. What does a typical day look like for you? A new mobile device (Phone, Tablet, Payment terminal, and so on.) arrives that requires an invehicle cradle to hold and charge it. I assemble the basic structure from our modular parts and 3D model any remaining parts, which I then either CNC mill from plastic, 3D print, or refine for mass injection moulding. If it requires a custom charging method, I’ll test, probe and sift through any datasheets to develop a solution.

What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Actively develop an obsession and passion for design, don’t rely on this to come naturally. Aim big with projects and work outside your comfort zone, but have an exit strategy for when you inevitably run out of time. Experiment and then experiment more; study is the best time to develop the skills and techniques that will last a lifetime and define the size of your design world.

What are the top three skills you regularly use? 3D modelling, fabrication (CNC, 3D printing, jig making), electronics What are the best aspects of your current role? Making things, problem-solving and new challenges. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? My design study, in combination with my interest in electronics, led straight to my current role. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I came to design the long way around, my first degree was in psychology due to a fascination with the subject, but I had an insatiable desire to make things. So I started studying engineering, which seemed to lack the type of creativity I was seeking. Finally, I found Design, where I could combine all of my interests.

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INGRID BARTKOWIAK ROLE

Artist | Illustrator

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Painting

Ingrid is an artist and illustrator who paints whimsical decorative scenes of native Australian flora and fauna. Who are your typical clients? I have worked with a range of clients such as Brisbane City Council, New Farm Confectionery and Biome Eco Stores. How did you arrive at your current position? After graduating, I wished to pursue the arts as a career, with a particular interest in illustration. I am very grateful to friends/colleagues who have recommended me to certain clients. Other clients have found my work through my website, social media, and platforms such as the IA. I also have several self-initiated projects, such as my shop products. Have you done any further study? Informally I have done a lot of research into how the illustration/art industry works (for pricing, writing contracts, accounts and so on.) and how to run a shop and design products (so the more tedious business side of things).

What does a typical day look like for you? I often begin the day with basic admin tasks and the more operational side of running a business. Then, depending on the day, I move on to packing orders for my shop and wholesale clients. I then get to move on to the painting projects (usually working in watercolours or oils)—these can be self-initiated, client work or private commissions. I paint primarily in the afternoon and evenings, after all the admin work has been completed, as it means I can enjoy the painting process more! What are the best aspects of your current role? Getting to connect with people through art is a really rewarding part of being an artist. You also get to choose the content of what you paint. As I primarily paint local wildlife, I often get people telling me stories about their encounters with birds I’ve painted, facts about their favourite plant species, or why they’re drawn to a particular artwork. I also love the creativity and diversity that comes with this job. No day is the same—the projects I’ve done range from creating paintings for exhibitions, murals, packaging design, running a shop, picture book illustration, to even just painting someone’s dog. I feel like I’m constantly learning and never know what’s coming around the corner. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Don’t be so shy! The people are really nice, and you’ll make some really lovely friends. Also, I know you’ll think some of the assignments are a waste of time, but they will help you to develop your work, even if it’s in subtle ways.

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What pathway did you take to get to your current role? After graduating, I very much wished to pursue visual arts as a career and make it my primary source of income (mainly so I could spend as much time painting as possible!). I was also very interested in product design and having a shop, but wanted to continue art and illustration as the primary focus (although it’s worth noting, there’s a lot more admin involved in this kind of gig than one would expect!). So I read, watched and listened to the advice of as many artists and illustrators as possible to work out how I might structure my business. I was also fortunate to have friends, family, and colleagues who supported me in choosing this pathway and who endured my endless questions and breakdowns! My most recent up-skilling hurdle will be learning how to use accounting software! From a practical skills perspective, I focused on improving my watercolour technique. This was mainly hours of practice and hand cramps (do not recommend, make sure you give your hand rest periods!). Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? There have been so many wonderful artists that have inspired me over the years. Very early on, William Robinson and William Morris’s work definitely influenced me. I also love the work of QCA graduate Monica Rohan. In addition, my high school art teacher, and art mentor, Georgina Hooper, has been a constant source of inspiration and support. And from an illustration and career perspective, Holly Exley. Did you do an internship of any sort? Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path?

I did intern with Clairy Laurence (Laurence Usher Ceramics) whilst still a student.

In year 12, I put Fine Art down as my first preference for university; however, at the last minute, I changed it to Midwifery (I blame Call the Midwife—it’s such a good TV series!).

This internship made me believe it was possible to pursue visual arts as a career and that it was both rewarding and financially viable. I saw how a studio could be operated, the work ethic required to make that work, and all the different income streams you’d have to consider.

Literally, the first day on campus, I realised I had made a huge mistake and that I would be a terrible midwife. When I got home, I cried, my dad gave me my chicken to cuddle, and in that moment I was like ‘yeah I think I have to do art...’.

Even though this internship was short, it was pivotal to me deciding to pursue visual arts after graduating.

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TARA LESLIE ROLE

Artist | Creative Coach

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design Tara left a stressful corporate design and marketing job and starting working for herself as an artist and creative coach. Who are your typical clients? Artists, art students, and art patrons. What does a typical day look like for you? I work on custom commission artworks. I create social media content that advertises the kind of work I do. I teach art students. I design and build my branding materials—website, business cards, branding and so on. I also photograph and video my work and create and edit videos of my work. What are the best aspects of your current role? I get to set my work schedule and create the business that works for me and where I am in my life ( health, family responsibilities and so on.). What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Lots of personal skill development in acquiring fine art skills. I also worked as a photographer and have worked hard to upskill in video content creation. I have also spent a long time learning about marketing and funnel creation. I have also undertaken a funnel marketing workshop to help me automate the client acquisition side of my business.

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Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Yes. Leaving a stressful corporate job just before the global pandemic and lockdown allowed me to focus on building my own business. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Learn as much about branding, marketing and business as possible. These are skills that will help you in every endeavour and role you undertake. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I have followed other artists closely to learn how they make an income. Some examples are Tahlia Stanton, Tran Nguyen, Kelogsloops.

TESS MEHONOSHEN ROLE

Visual Arts Researcher

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Print Media, and Honours Tess is a graduate researcher with an RTP scholarship to study a Masters of Fine Art at The Victorian College of the Arts. What does a typical day look like for you? I am currently writing my final dissertation, so I am trying to balance my days by alternating between dedicated studio time on campus at VCA and writing time at home (due to Melbourne’s lockdown). If it’s a studio day, I could be doing anything from processing clay and making sculptural forms to photographing installation works on-site, experimenting with hanging methods, or measuring up a space for a future work. I try to jot down notes and reflections while making, as this can be a great time of clarity for me that I later use and develop within my writing. My favourite part of the day is if I can manage to capture a unique, fleeting moment of sunlight on an installation work.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Each residency I have participated in has seen my practice develop in leaps and bounds and always feels like a very rewarding and worthwhile experience overall. I feel that I am currently on the precipice of achieving a personal milestone in completing my Masters, and I’m excited to see where my work goes next. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? I’d tell myself to have more confidence in my work and to really soak up and fully enjoy the time of creative experimentation. To ask more questions and take advantage of the knowledge, resources and the community of QCA. Studying is such a crucial time for an artist to get supportive yet critical feedback on their work. There’s nothing better than being surrounded by so many like-minded artists, skilled technicians and lecturers.

What are the best aspects of your current role? The opportunity to focus solely on my practice and develop both creative works and critical writing skills is incredibly important. The support and structure of the Master’s program has allowed me the time, space and resources needed to deep-dive back into my practice, which I hadn’t been able to achieve since studying for my Honours. Who do you look to for inspiration? Some of my favourite contemporary artists include Kate Newby, D Harding, Haley Millar-Baker, Harriet Body, Robbie Rowlands, Marian Drew, Carolyn Eskdale, Simryn Gill, Rachel Whiteread, and Rosemary Laing. 197

AARON CRAIG ROLE

Pop Artist | Business Manager

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Visual Communication Aaron is a gallery artist and founded Australian art company Stupid Krap. Who do you currently work for? I am self-employed. I own the Australian art company Stupid Krap and paint full-time as a gallery artist. How did you arrive at your current position? I partnered with fellow Australian artist, Ben Frost, to re-launch Stupid Krap in 2013. From there, I have learned from doing, and now I own the business outright. Regarding my fine art practice, I started painting what I loved in 2018 and found success that way. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Painting, time management, Adobe Photoshop. What are the best aspects of your current role? The fact I can work to my own schedule, create what I’m passionate about, and collaborate with artists and brands that inspire me. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? When my business partner wanted to leave Stupid Krap was a defining moment. It meant I had 100% creative control of a well-founded Australian art company. I was also diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2018 (which I have healed), which was the catalyst for my becoming a full-time artist.

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What does a typical day look like for you? I’m my own boss, so I start the day, ensuring that I have no stress being carried into the day. I usually do a healing code and transcendental mediation first, and then I check my emails and my social media DM. I respond to anything urgent and then head to my painting studio (in my backyard) and begin/continue my next painting. I usually listen to music or a podcast while painting. I share my time most days between my art practice and curating for my art company Stupid Krap, so I split my time accordingly. I don’t have a “typical” day. At some point in the day, I would usually liaise with the screen printing studio I work within Bangkok via DM, photos and any international artists I am currently collaborating with through Stupid Krap. I will also check in with creatives on Twitter to see any significant updates in the NFT/crypto space in the last 24 hours. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? My development was learn as you go. I didn’t have much guidance post-university, so my pathway has been learned by trial and failure. I luckily had a relaxed creative as my business partner for the first seven years, so there was never a lot of pressure to make it a particular way or meet specific markers.

What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Make what you’re interested in and in a style that is your own. It’s hard not to feel like you should create the way others that are successful create, but from personal experience since university, it’s been the moments when I’ve stayed true to my vision that I’ve found success. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? My first business partner, Ben Frost, was and still is a big inspiration for me creatively. He has evolved his art practice over the years while keeping his own style and finding new success. Did you do an internship of any sort? For my painting career, I spent hours practising fine brush lines and painting completely flat. It was very much a case of practice makes perfect.

I started a company instead of doing an internship.

I have continued to use the Adobe suite almost daily since university and taught myself ProCreate on the iPad in the last few years, which has sped up my time for mocking-up work.

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DAN COX ROLE

Artist | Manager

STUDY Bachelor of Visual Arts, Major in Silversmithing Dan balances his work as a wholesale manager with his practice as a jewellery designer and artist. Who do you currently work for? I work as an artist and also a company called JublyUmph Originals. A friend of mine owns the company and asked if I wanted to take over their wholesale side of the business. What does a typical day look like for you? Between both positions, my day involves driving to work, printing orders and packing wholesale, answering wholesale applications, answering emails, prepping for launches, managing the wholesale website and stock, shipping orders to Australia Post, prep for the following day in packaging supplies, re-stocking the board and so on. My practice will involve getting home from work and working on commission work, designing new collections, packing and shipping my orders, answering emails from customer inquiries, social media posts, and collection promotions. What are the best aspects of your current role? In my Wholesale position, I have autonomy over creating offers, liaising with customers and resolving issues. I like the challenge of this position. I go between designing, making, creating social media content, promoting and advertising, and fulfilling customer requests in my private practice. As a result, my days are diverse and never the same. I like to plan and have things in the works all the time, and my practice and job allow me to do both of these.

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Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? I started off making jewellery and successfully sold my jewellery and exhibited during and after uni. Once finances got better for people after the GFC, there seemed to be more of a shift away from learning, and I am leaning toward making and creating more. I have less focus on teaching and want to focus on my practice, although I am looking closer at manufacturing than making. Embracing new technologies and cost-effective production methods on a global scale. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? My current boss is online savvy and has built her business from a two-person enterprise to a small company that employs five people and takes in over $100,000.00 a month. As a result, I am learning a lot about online business and advertising, social media, and making the business work.

BROOKE WILLIAMS ROLE

Founder | Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Graphic Design Brooke is the founder and director of Fourfold Studio. What are the best aspects of your current role? I love seeing public places brought to life by locals. There is something incredible about helping stakeholders at all levels connect over the common goal of improving places they love. When we empower these stakeholders with skills and resources, they will draw on their local community’s interests, creativity, and culture to create a unique place. This can’t be fabricated by experts sitting in the office. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? My career has been shaped by my tertiary education, but notably by my other life experiences, opportunities and extracurricular activities. Most notably, I cofounded a not-for-profit organisation called U.R.BNE Collective and co-hosted the international Diner en Blanc event in Brisbane for seven years. Through the U.R.BNE Collective, we experimented with tactical urbanism and public space activations to draw attention to our City’s underutilised places. I also value learning on the job.

What are the top three skills you regularly use? 1. Communication, both written, speaking and graphic. 2. Leadership, including leading a team and building client relationships 3. Innovation, including thinking outside the box to develop innovative approaches to solve complex urban issues. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? As an in-house graphic designer within an urban design team, I quickly specialised in map and infographic production. It wasn’t long, though, before curiosity got the better of me, and I wanted to be more involved in the process of designing the places my graphics featured. This led to my first career path change. The second occurred as I realised that despite good urban design thinking and the best intentions, the places we were building did not have the vibrant social life we had intended. It is only within the last five years that I have been able to align my multidisciplinary career pathway with my other personal interests. I now love to bridge the gap between the creative and built environment industries and bring communities together around events and engagement. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Good question! Probably that creative thinking will be the foundation for your success regardless of where life’s journey takes you. I put so much pressure on creating the output or product. Graphic design skills are still incredibly valuable to me, and I use them daily. Still, any success I have had has come down to my ability to approach every situation with a creative process. 201

CLAUDIA HUSBAND ROLE

Artist | Registrar

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Printmaking Claudia is a practising artist, registrar at the Museum of Brisbane, and co-director of Grey Hand Press. Who do you currently work for? I work for the Museum of Brisbane as a registrar, and I am also self-employed as co-director of my printmaking studio and as a practising artist. Within my business, I work with other artists and educators and anybody in the community interested in learning about printmaking. How did you arrive at your current position? Grey Hand Press evolved out of the artistic practices of my co-founder (Chris Hagen) and myself. We had always been interested in providing printing services to the community and collaborating with other artists. The studio grew from a small, dusty space under our Queenslander home in Windsor to its current location in Northgate. I initially applied for a front of house role working on the gallery floor as a tour guide and invigilator in my role at the Museum. I worked in this position for two years before moving into the collections and programming teams as collections assistant, exhibition assistant, assistant registrar, and now acting registrar.

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Have you done any further study? I went to the Tamarind Institute of Lithography, New Mexico, USA, to undertake lithography printer training in 2013. I am also currently enrolled in a Master of Cultural Materials Conservation at the University of Melbourne. What does a typical day look like for you? My day at the museum can be very varied—I work closely with the collections, curatorial and exhibition staff to prepare objects for display. This includes preparatory paperwork for loans and transport and object mounting, framing, preservation/conservation, and installation. On any typical day, I could facilitate transport, install artwork, liaise with lenders and curators, or prepare a frame or object mount. At the studio, my days are equally varied. We work closely with artists to help bring prints into the world. This may involve artist consultation, providing assistance or mentorship, teaching workshops and classes, printing at the press to produce an edition, or preparing prints for sale and exhibition. What are the top three skills you regularly use? The ability to problem solve and troubleshoot; strong attention to detail; having an avid curiosity, which includes a willingness to grow, adapt and learn from mistakes. What are the best aspects of your current role? Being around artists and like-minded people passionate about the creation, collection and preservation of artworks and objects. I am incredibly fortunate to do what I love and work alongside people who share the same values.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? My career is multi-faceted, and I have taken several pathways along the way. Although I consider myself as having multiple careers, they do intersect in many ways. For example, my pathway as a museum/gallery worker has involved internships and volunteer roles in community organisations, private galleries and institutions, which eventually led to a causal role at the Griffith University Art Museum as a gallery attendant, where I remained for many years in addition to working as a printmaking floor tutor in the QCA print studios. I was then the manager of QCA Galleries before commencing at the Museum of Brisbane, working in various roles before reaching my current position as registrar. I am now a museum worker, printer, artist and conservator-in-training. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? The most significant turning point to date has been my time at the Tamarind Institute of Lithography in New Mexico. In addition to the rigorous technical printmaking training, I was introduced to the world of professional printing and the opportunities this may entail. I also met my business and life partner, Chris, who operates Grey Hand Press with me. When I returned from my time in New Mexico, I undertook an internship with the Griffith University Art Museum. This internship exposed me to the vital work of collection management, registration and the various roles of gallery and museum workers.

What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Learning is a lifelong endeavour. Be prepared to be constantly learning and up-skilling—your degree is just a stepping-stone, and you will never learn all you need to know in three years of art school. Take as many opportunities as possible to work in all corners of your chosen industry and be open to the possibility that your pathway will deviate towards other interests. Take as many different roles as possible, even the ones you think you won’t like. When it comes to making, it’s okay for your practice to fluctuate. There will be times where you will find it challenging to create or find inspiration, and that’s okay. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? Friends, family, and nature. Did you do an internship of any sort? I did the Student and Alumni Internship with the Griffith University Art Museum in 2015. This allowed me to explore multiple facets of museum/gallery operation, which gave me preparatory experience and training in collection management and registration and allowed me to understand which areas I was most interested in.

This reinforced a strong interest in collecting, caring, and preserving cultural objects and the vital role that museums and galleries have within their communities. 203

EMMA KATE PATTERSON ROLE

WordPress Mentor

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design Emma Kate made the switch from graphic design to web design and now coaches designers how to build websites. How did you arrive at your current position? After about eight years of freelancing as a designer, I decided to pursue mentoring after some designer friends whom I’d helped suggested I do it. What are the best aspects of your current role? Being able to design pretty things every day fills my creative cup. I also get so much joy and fulfilment from helping others and seeing their confidence and businesses grow. Talking shop with designers is super fun too! Being my own boss offers me so much freedom and flexibility not only in my work hours but also in choosing what creative endeavours I pursue and designing my business around my lifestyle, interests, skills and personality. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Yes, there were a couple of pivotal moments: The first was hiring a designer to work part-time in my business to take on a lot of the work I couldn’t keep up with. After a few months, we increased her hours from 20 to 30 hours per week, and she was soon earning more money from me than I was drawing from the business.

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On top of this, I was no longer doing the fun design stuff I enjoyed, and instead, I spent most of my time doing things I didn’t enjoy, like quoting, networking and quality assurance. This experience made me realise scaling my business in this way wasn’t something I wanted. The second pivotal moment I credit to the same designer friend I hired. I had mentored her so much in her business that she suggested I should do it as a career. Helping her and my other design friends warmed my heart, so this idea got me so excited. This sparked my move into mentoring and working with other designers rather than focusing on design work for clients. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? My Designer Boss collab partner, Anna Dower, is a huge inspiration and role model for me. I know I wouldn’t be where I am without her. When I first looked into mentoring, I found Anna and knew I needed her brain. After years of working together, I’m still a little blown away we’ve become partners. My students and other designers inspire me a lot too. There is so much talent out there I’m just in awe of.

SANCINTYA M SIMPSON ROLE

Artist

STUDY Bachelor of Photography; Honours; PhD Sancintya is an exhibiting artist. Her work is held in private and public collections. Who are your typical clients? I am fortunate to be represented by Milani Gallery who take care of my clients on my behalf. My primary income is through artwork sales, exhibitions, and commissions. How did you arrive at your current position? I have been working on my art practice for a decade now. I have slowly grown to be able to focus solely on my artwork. It was a lot of hard work, but I am grateful to be where I am. Have you done any further study? I completed a Graduate Certificate Writing, Editing, and Publishing at UQ in 2016. What are the best aspects of your current role?

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? In 2019 I was represented by Milani Gallery. This was a pivotal moment in my career, and they have connected me with museums and curators nationally and internationally. In 2021 my work was featured in ‘The National: New Australian art’ at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. Since then, I have been invited to exhibit in a number of national and international museums and galleries. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? Judy Watson and D Harding. They approach their familial histories and culture with a high level of respect, ethics, and sensitivity. Did you do an internship of any sort? I volunteered at Queensland Centre of Photography and Ipswich Art Gallery during my undergrad. This provided valuable insight into how different types of galleries operate.

I enjoy working self-directed, doing work that I am passionate about, and telling important stories about my familial history. I am honoured to consistently research and grow my knowledge to make valuable contributions to narratives on migrant histories. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I have consistently been exhibiting and producing work since I was in my undergrad at Queensland College of Art. The networks I built through the art community and at QCA were a launchpad for my career. I have worked a number of jobs in the arts, which grew my knowledge and enabled me to work professionally as an artist.

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CHARLIE DE DEYNE ROLE

Ceramicist

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Jewellery and Small Objects Charlie opened Mas and Miek Ceramic House in 2017 after realising there was a general interest in learning ceramics but not many opportunities. Who are your typical clients? My typical clients are anyone (adult) who wishes to learn ceramics! We have a range of people attending our workshops from different walks of life. What form does your folio take? I create work under the collaborative name Mas and Miek with my mother, Mieke. We create work in our studio and sell directly from our gallery store in the studio. We also exhibit and promote our work on social media platforms. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Opening the business has changed my practice in many ways. For one, I make most of my work for Mas and Miek Ceramics in collaboration with my mum, which I love. I also make work for myself, but it can be hard to find the time and space to allow ideas to develop. However, it is a long life, and I plan on playing with clay the whole way through. I look forward to how that path will flow throughout the years.

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What are the best aspects of your current role? The best thing by far about my role is the people I work with. Not only is everyone creative with their thriving practises, but they also are complete clay nerds, and we get to talk about our favourite thing all the time. I can’t believe how fortunate I am to work with people who are not only interesting and great to be around; they genuinely care about the studio and the community we have all created together. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? After my studies, I moved to Spain and opened a (very) small business organising events. I feel like I made a lot of mistakes doing this, which was great! I learned so much. I still felt a little bit in the deep end with the business side of things when we first opened Mas and Miek Ceramic House in 2017. That is where I am fortunate to have my mother, Mieke as my business partner. Not only is she a great ceramicist with a lot of knowledge of the craft, but she also has a lot of experience running small business’s over the years. I was able to learn a lot from her and my dad. What does a typical day look like for you? Every day changes! But my week consists mainly of managerial work, especially since we opened our second studio in April of this year. Our team has expanded to over 20 people across both studio’s, eight of those are ceramic teachers. I also teach two classes a week and try to lock in some solo time at the wheel to create some of my work (if I have time).

What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Continue to LOOK and THINK about art constantly. Look at what you like, what you don’t like, what makes it good, what makes it bad in your opinion. Constantly critiquing will help you develop your ideas and sense of individuality and help you evaluate your work to improve constantly. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I wish I were Peggy Guggenheim, but she isn’t really a career role model as I’m not an heiress (damn). However, I am inspired by people like her, who constantly collect. Even before, they were ‘art collectors’. I can’t afford to buy much art, but I love doing ‘swaps’ or supporting friends in any way. The studio is on its own path, I don’t look to others to see how they did it, but I do love to see how other people have amassed a collection of sentimental artworks that narrate their life and who was in it. I find those people very inspiring, and I hope to one day have a collection that reflects a creative life well lived.

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ASHLEY GLEESON ROLE

Cake Maker

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design

What does a typical day look like for you?

Ashley started Two Little Bakers with her mother and is supplying the Gold Coast with beautiful cakes.

Each day varies depending on what orders we have and what those orders involve, but generally, the day for me starts early! Usually, I’m up and in the kitchen by 4am; the first thing I do would be to bake anything for that day, or that needs to be decorated for the following day.

Who are your typical clients? I’m self-employed—my mum Kris and I are partners in the business. We cater for all special occasions, so our typical clients are those wanting custom celebration cakes for birthdays, baby showers, christenings, engagement parties, weddings and anniversaries. We also do corporate work and catering. How did you arrive at your current position? After working as a graphic designer for a couple of years, I decided to leave my job and pursue something new in the cake world. I have been selfemployed ever since! Have you done any further study? No further formal study; I’m entirely self-taught when it comes to the baking/caking side of things. I watch many decorating videos and tutorials from other bakers to learn new skills and techniques. Still, a lot of it is trial and error and seeing what works best with the ingredients and materials we use.

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Some items like macarons and cookies have a longer shelf life. So we make and decorate earlier in the week, and then cakes and cupcakes are usually baked only the day of or day before collection depending on the level of decoration they are going to have. After the morning’s baking, I would generally make any decorations, design cake toppers, sourcing fresh flowers, and so on. Then we would trim, fill and ice any cakes and start the decoration process. This can involve anything from palette knife painting with buttercream, adding handmade modelling chocolate figurines, arranging florals, hand painting with edible paints and so on. The days usually end with a big cleanup of the kitchen, and then admin work like answering emails, locking in orders, sending invoices, updating the website with our availability and so on. Generally, we may have wedding cakes to deliver towards the end of the week and on the weekends. So we schedule into the day around the timing of the wedding and the location we have to deliver. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I had a part-time job in hospitality while at university, so I’ve always been comfortable being in kitchens. I think this helped when we took the leap to buy the cafe. I felt comfortable with the kitchen as my new office and confident to run it.

What are the best aspects of your current role? One of my absolute favourite parts of the job is seeing peoples reactions when they first see their cakes! We have had people cry before because they are so happy with the outcome, which is a great feeling! It’s especially great when the customer has given you creative freedom over the design of the cake. They have put their trust in you to create something amazing for them, and to know that you have managed to make the cake of their dreams and come up with a design that they love is just the best feeling! Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Yes! One in particular. I worked for a couple of years as a graphic designer for a company that made promotional merchandise and product. During this time, my baking hobby became another creative outlet, and as well as baking cakes for friends and family, I became the official baker for all the office birthdays! They would give me the $20 from petty cash they used to take down to The Cheesecake Shop, and I got to be creative with designs and flavours; it was great for recipe testing! We started to take more orders, even our first wedding, and set up social media accounts for our “side hustle”. Before Christmas of 2013, we headed out to grab supplies to make some orders we had taken and decided to stop for breakfast at a local cafe in Mudgeeraba. As we were walking up to the door, we saw a sign on the front window that said, “Would you like to own this business?!”, two months later, we opened the doors to the cafe, and the start of the Two Little Bakers adventure began! What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? What are the top three skills you regularly use? Communication and attention to detail are probably the main two. When working with a customer, it’s essential to understand what they are after and communicate what you can provide for them. Sometimes this is using example photos of past work or sketches of new designs. I also mix colours a lot, so I find that my knowledge and skills regarding colours and how to make them come in handy when I colour match buttercream, ganaches and chocolate to images of bouquets, invitations, and swatches and so on.

To try everything when it comes to electives/ classes/subjects, don’t just stick to your major. I did classes in photography, life drawing, colour theory, screenprinting and so on. and all of these skills and techniques I still use even after the change into cakes! Working now more in a 3D medium than the twodimensionality of print graphic design, I’m so happy that I took these classes, and if I were to do it all again, I would definitely do more.

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VANGHOUA ANTHONY VUE ROLE

Visual Artist | Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Painting, PhD Vue’s practice harnesses the frictions and tensions of cultural difference from his transcultural Hmong Australian experience. What is your current role or job title? I am currently a visual arts teacher, graphic designer, and visual artist.

I completed my BFA in 2009 and then had a few years off from artmaking and study. However, I eventually came back and completed my BFA (Honours) in 2014 before completing my PhD in 2019. Have you done any further study? After my PhD at the QCA, I continued with a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment to teach at vocational education and training institutions. I am also currently undertaking a Diploma of Graphic Design to improve my design skills, capabilities, and employability.

Who do you currently work for?

What does a typical day look like for you?

I’m teaching at TAFE Queensland and am also selfemployed as a graphic designer and visual artist.

I usually arrive well before class to prepare studio equipment, print resources and obtain the required paperwork for teaching.

As a graphic designer, my clients include commercial businesses, arts organisations, and individuals. With my visual art, I’ve held exhibitions in a range of art spaces and have also been commissioned by city councils and art institutions. How did you arrive at your current position? My teaching position was through Seek, whereas my graphic design started through design work for different art projects, including those at QCA with project catalogues and exhibition promotions. But, of course, my visual art practise started when I was young and developed further through the years, including tertiary studies and professional practices.

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What year did you graduate from QCA?

My classes start at 9am and usually last for three hours. The afternoon session starts at 1pm and continues until 4pm. Graphic design is a little less structured as I do this from my office space at home. I am very much a morning person, so I could be up and working from 6, or 7am. I work right until 11am before having lunch and then getting back into work. I tend to work again from 12 to 4pm before going for an hour walk to clear the mind and give my eyes a break from the computer screen. If I have no plans for the evening, I tend to continue working right up until 9 or 10pm. During the days I do make art, I don’t have a structure as well. It’s usually high intense artmaking where I could be in the studio from sunrise through to midnight, depending on how motivated and obsessed I am about the work. Or conversely, I could be in and out of the studio and avoiding and procrastinating about the work if something isn’t going very well.

For graphic design, it involves finding solutions that satisfy the client’s needs, which involves a fair amount of collaboration and negotiation. However, as much as I do like these aspects of teaching and graphic design, nothing beats being engaged in my visual art practice, exploring my ideas, and materialising them with the skills and resources at my disposal. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? Yes, in terms of my visual art practice. I’ve come full circle a few times with it—it’s not the easiest thing to pursue. But I’ve come to accept it now that I need to make art to be content with myself, even if I will always doubt the work. This acceptance has come from failing to give up on my art practice several times and feeling deeply disgruntled whilst pursuing other careers and lifestyles. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Just to be patient with myself, the work, and trust the entire artmaking and learning process. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? Patricia Hoffie, who was my supervisor from my Honours right through to the completion of my PhD. Additionally, she has always been a great supporter and friend, and I admire her passion and dedication to her work and those of others. I aspire to be able to make art, support and contribute to the lives of others the way Pat has over her life. Additionally, an artist who I have long admired is the late Gordon Bennett. I remember being in high school and coming across an image of The Outsider in a tattered book and just being shocked by what I saw. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Communication skills and being prepared with teaching, being proficient with software, understanding technical limitations with graphic design, taking risks and making mistakes with my visual art practice.

Before then, the visual art I was most accustomed to and drawn to while growing up in Cairns was popular culture, Western art history, and kitsch touristic art. Since then, Bennett, his work and his life has always been a source of great inspiration.

What are the best aspects of your current role? The best thing is trying to solve problems. When it comes to teaching, that includes developing lessons and activities that engage students enough for them to learn.

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SHARNA HUPFELD ROLE

Fashion Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Photojournalism Sharna is a designer with her own Australian made retro-inspired fashion label, Salté Designs. What is your current role or job title? I am the owner and designer of my retro inspired fashion label, Salté Designs Who do you currently work for? Or, if you are self-employed, who are your typical clients? Salté was created for the sunshine souls of the world. The barefoot girls with salt-stained skin and sparkling eyes. They have a wild love for adventure and taking care of our earth (while still looking cute). These girls will never be seen wearing a little black dress. Instead, they express their authentic selves by rocking our vibrant colours and retro inspired prints. How did you arrive at your current position? I started Salté two years after graduating at QCA. After university I had many jobs in the design, e-commerce, marketing, and retail world. I continued to work these jobs for five whole years after launching my website. It wasn’t until February this year that I took the plunge and went full-time Salté. YAY What does a typical day look like for you? Being a one-woman show usually means every day is completely different. One day I could be on a photoshoot for a new collection and print designing and then the next I could be counting inventory and slugging away at my emails doing admin. I wear all the hats!

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However, almost everyday consists of planning my social media marketing, packing online orders and many post office visits. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Photography, graphic design and marketing. Wow, I just realised they are literally all the subjects that I studied at QCA. What are the best things about your current role/or the things you get to do every day? The best thing about my job is the freedom. The freedom to create pieces that make me and other women all over the world feel beautiful and confident. I also have complete creative freedom, allowing me to design whenever I feel inspired—with no briefs or deadlines. Flexibility is another bonus—I get to go for a morning beach walks with my puppy most days and not have to rush home. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I have worked in the industry ever since I graduated QCA. I extended my skills in photography, graphic design, social media managing, e-commerce, and marketing a lot over the years. I was a sponge in all my previous workplaces, and because of that I was able to understand what it takes to run a small business. Have there been any pivotal moments that changed the direction of your career path? There have been many moments that have helped me grow and become stronger, but nothing has changed the direction of my career path this far.

What advice would you give yourself when you were starting first year at QCA? 1. Creative blocks are normal, don’t beat yourself up about it. 2. Make the most of the equipment provided. That shizzzz is expensive in the real world! 3. Back up your back up files... this would have saved me a lot of time and tears haha. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I adore Samantha Wills. I have always been inspired by her journey with business and also spirituality. She is an Aussie jewellery designer who grew up in Port Macquarie, worked her butt off and made some serious big moves for her bizz! She is now going down a new path of helping entrepreneurs and women in business. She has also just released a book “Of Gold and Dust” which ignited my creative flame again. Highly recommend.

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MICHAEL ZAVROS ROLE

Artist

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Printmaking Since graduating from the QCA in 1996, Michael has established himself as a leading Australian artist. His work has been exhibited in major museums throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe. What is your current role? I am a self-employed artist. How did you arrive at your current position? Early success in critical and commercial fields enabled me to pursue art full-time. What does a typical day look like for you in your current role? I work from home in a large stand-alone studio and constantly work towards shows with commercial galleries or museum galleries. What are the top three skills you regularly use? Realistic rendering, problem-solving, diplomacy. What are the best aspects of your current role? Critical and commercial success allows me the creative freedom to do largely what I want when I want to. I live on a small property on the outskirts of the city. I like being on land with my family and animals. I like that my work both connects with this and affords it.

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What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I was fortunate that following a few small artist-run exhibitions post-QCA study, my work was curated into more significant museums and galleries interstate. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? There have been many pivotal moments, but the first and perhaps most important was my inclusion in Primavera 2000 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. I met Stephen Mori at the opening, who would go on to represent my work in Sydney for some years, and within a few months of Primavera, I was awarded my first overseas residency based on the work I had made for that show. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Stick to your guns—be authentic to you always and pay little attention to what is happening in the broader art world. My work attracted attention and continued to do so because it runs counter to contemporary practice in many respects. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? I probably look outside the art world for career model inspiration. However, I think less about having a career than vocation and longevity in my practice.

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DOMENICA HOARE ROLE

Visual Artist

STUDY Bachelor of Fine Art, Major in Drawing and Printmaking, Honours; MVA Domenica is an artist who focuses on how humans and nature interact, particularly in urban environments. Who are your typical clients? I am self-employed as I have my own art practice. My clients are typically private individuals who buy exhibition works and commission works from me. In addition, I am moving into freelance illustration and design work for small business entities. How did you arrive at your current position? Since completing post-graduate studies eighteen months ago, I have focussed on developing my art practice. What year did you graduate from QCA? I graduated from QCA with a BFA with Class One Honours in 2015, and between July 2017 and March 2020, I completed a Master of Visual Art programme at QCA. What does a typical day look like for you? In my art practice, I divide my time between creating newly commissioned works, preparing for exhibitions in which I have been invited to participate, adding new work to my portfolio, and preparing sample patterns and illustrations for designers and publishers.

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What are the top three skills you regularly use? Drawing, creativity, and critical analysis and decisionmaking are three key skills I rely upon in my role. What are the best aspects of your current role? As a visual artist, I enjoy bringing an idea that I have to life on the page and sharing this with others. I enjoy experimenting with different materials to achieve the feeling I wish the artwork to have. The freedom to choose the subjects for my work is enlivening and very important to me. What pathway did you take to get to your current role? I consider that I am on the pathway now to establishing my practice more firmly. Since completing my MVA, I believe that the impetus has been building in my art practice, and I have become more secure in my identity as a visual artist. I recently completed a short illustration course called “Drawing Nature, Science and Culture: Natural History Illustration” at the University of Newcastle. I seek out other tertiary-level courses and practical, art-based short courses to maintain, enhance and extend my knowledge and skills in various art media. My aim is to pursue nature illustration, figurative drawing, and narrative illustration further. I am fortunate to have some very experienced artists and others whose advice is invaluable. The pathway I have taken, then, is one of taking opportunities as they arise, developing further and deeper skills as an artist, and diversifying my folio.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? When I first left school, I began a degree at the University of Queensland but found I missed art so much that I moved to QCA. Being a visual artist is how I see myself; it is also how I can contribute to society somehow. Deciding to do my MVA over doing another post-grad qualification and making the decision, after that, to pursue a career in art rather than go into teaching are the pivotal moments to date in choosing my career path. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? I would advise a beginning student to try as many different things as possible; take advantage of the facilities and quality of teaching, and enjoy being an artist. Be happy about it. Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? Three contemporary artists I particularly admire are Lisbeth Zwerger, Shaun Tan and Erik Bruun. Although Lisbeth Zwerger illustrates fairytales, fables, opera and ballet stories and others, she gets to the heart of the matter in her charming, whimsical style and, in doing so, injects immediacy and relevance to these old tales and reveals their universal application. Shaun Tan mixes the fantastical and the ordinary in the settings and figures he creates. His allegorical works enable him to express ideas about social issues and our modern world. Erik Bruun’s long career has been driven by making the ordinary “visible”. He champions nature conservancy and the natural environment in joyful, direct ways.

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PER OLAV HALVORSEN ROLE

Graphic Designer

STUDY Bachelor of Digital Media, Major in Graphic Design, Master of Marketing

Since graduating from QCA in 2011, Per returned home to Norway and started his own design studio.

What does a typical day look like for you? A typical day at work usually consists of problemsolving, designing a new website, logo, advertising and visual identity—or outlining the launch strategy for a new company, company rebrand or new line of products. And, of course, the usual review of emails and phone calls to clients to keep track of current and ongoing projects. What are the top three skills you regularly use?

Who are your typical clients? My client range varies from small family-run businesses to larger companies.

What are the best aspects of your current role?

It is difficult to define a “typical” client, as this is constantly changing. But as it is now, my customers are primarily based in the IT and industrial sectors.

The freedom to hunt down and take on projects that I believe in and the chance and opportunity to make a positive impact.

How did you arrive at your current position?

Being a freelancer also greatly varies between projects and clients—I have learned and experienced a lot from that.

I decided to go solo and start up my own business back in 2016 after working as a graphic designer in another company for over two years. What form does your folio take? My folio is primarily based on my website. As for right now, I am currently working on a new website for my business, scheduled to launch mid-November. Have you done any further study? In 2013 I graduated with a Master of Marketing from Griffith Business School.

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Graphic design, brand/marketing strategy, and web design.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? My pathway to freelancing was straightforward. I always had the idea in my mind as I started studying that I wanted to start my own business one day—but I had to learn and experience how clients work, what they expect, how to build up a network and how to manage projects successfully. In the years since graduating, I have been fortunate to learn a lot from my days as a graphic designer in two small advertising agencies—in which I had the opportunity to take on large projects, engage in lecturing and business mentoring.

Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? In my final year of my Bachelor in Digital Media, I did my industry-based project back home in Norway. This turned out to be one of the most important choices for my career, as it ended up landing me my first job, got me in contact with a lot of great people and trained me for what was to come. I still, to this day, have weekly calls with the man who first hired me as a graphic designer at his company. What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Learn and engage with the people around you, and don’t be afraid of sharing thoughts and ideas. Don’t be afraid of failure—but if you are, use that fear to push yourself. Go out of your comfort zone from time to time—you will learn from it either way. Ask questions—about everything—curiosity is a friend. And last but not least, value your work! Who do you look to for inspiration or as a career role model? There are so many! As far as inspiration goes, I see new work done almost every day that inspires me to push further. But if I have to choose a company in particular that has inspired me and continues to do so, it is the people of Heydays—a brand and digital product agency based in Olso, Norway. I have always admired their work and their approach to design and brand building. Did you do an internship of any sort? I have never done any internships outside of my time at University. But I enjoyed spending time working on some projects in the Liveworm studio at the Gold Coast campus. My time there was very valuable as you are taking on some real-life projects, giving you a glimpse of the real world awaiting you after your time at university.

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PAUL SHAKHOVSKOY ROLE

Head of Design | Co-Founder

STUDY Bachelor of Design, Major in Visual Communication Paul runs a variety of businesses, including Escape Hunt escape rooms, Extraordinary corporate team-building and an immersive design studio.

I love my role because it’s full of different things, so I don’t really have a typical day. It could involve anything from graphic design, bookkeeping/admin, staff management, designing a new escape room, fixing things in an escape room, facilitating a corporate workshop or laser cutting props.

Who are your typical clients?

What are the top three skills you regularly use?

Self-employed. I own three businesses with my siblings—Escape Hunt Brisbane (escape rooms), Directors of the Extraordinary (corporate team building) and Making Immersive (immersive/ interactive design studio). Each has a different client base with a mix of B2C, B2B and B2B2C.

1. Creative problem-solving—I am faced with so many tasks and challenges I haven’t faced before, so being able to problem solve unusual scenarios is something I use every day.

How did you arrive at your current position? We started our first company (Escape Hunt Brisbane) in 2014 after having the idea of sitting in a jacuzzi drinking Gin and Tonics. Since then, we have had new ideas and made them into new companies. I have headed up the design arm across the businesses. Have you done any further study? I have not done any further formal study. Though running my own businesses over several years, I feel like I’ve got an informal degree in business. I have also expanded my expertise from graphic design into immersive/interactive design.

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What does a typical day look like for you?

2. Stress regulation—with constant change, I need to be able to regulate my emotional state to perform under differing conditions. 3. Adaptability—the business world, and increasingly our society, is throwing new scenarios at me constantly, so adapting to changing conditions quickly is key. What are the best aspects of your current role? We bring lots of fun and joy to our customers through our experiences. Seeing that reaction in our customers is so fulfilling.

What pathway did you take to get to your current role? Post-study, I took some time away from the design world and worked in a non-profit, which was a great way to develop interpersonal and managerial skills. Then after a few months overseas got started in my own businesses. From there, it has been constant upskilling to grow myself and the businesses. Working for yourself is a considerable challenge and requires persistence and willingness to teach yourself new skills. Have any pivotal moments changed the direction of your career path? The moment we decided to start our first business fundamentally changed my path. I had never thought about owning a business before, so it was quite a change, but one I’m so grateful for. The second would be securing an immersive adventure game at Brisbane Powerhouse called Containment in 2017. Transforming half the Powerhouse into a zombie apocalypse game was one of the best things I’ve done in my life! What advice would you give yourself when you were starting your first year at QCA? Put yourself in the way of opportunity—keep an eye out for what’s going on and turn up to things. If you’re not out there, opportunity won’t present itself. Did you do an internship of any sort? I did an internship in a graphic design studio which was incredibly valuable. Stepping into a workplace made me realise that technical skill is only part of successful employability. The soft skills of communication, time management, interpersonal relationship building, group work, and so on, are just as essential.

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INDUSTRY MENTORING PROGRAM The Griffith Industry Mentoring Program connects students with industry mentors for career guidance, coaching, confidence building and professional networking. Launched over 25 years ago the Industry Mentoring Program is an excellent opportunity for students to gain insight and advice on the industries that they are hoping to join following graduation.

What are some typical learning objectives?

Our mentors participate in transformational experiences that motivate, inspire and guide students in their career paths after university.

• Networking opportunities

Our mission

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• Building career confidence • Expanding professional networks • Offering career clarity • Work-place learning (on-site or online)

To create mentoring relationships that enable students to overcome barriers to industry engagement.

• Assistance with job searches

To ensure quality engagement through thoughtful program structure and encouraging openness, sincerity, and appreciation in all mentoring interactions—fostering a connected community of mentorship.

• Interview tips

To provide support and guidance through the ups and downs of the mentorship experience, supporting personal growth for mentors and mentees alike.

It is a student-led program where we encourage students to drive the process rather than expecting the mentor to be the one to take control. It is important and helps students to work on time management and communication skills.

• Resume review • Sharing career experience. Who takes the lead?

About the Industry Mentoring Program

Who is eligible?

Each year the Griffith Industry Mentoring Program team connects students from a variety of disciplines with experienced industry professionals based in Southeast Queensland—and beyond! Our community of mentors are committed to assisting students to clarify their career objectives, and supporting them in their transition from study to graduate employment.

To be eligible, students must have completed at least 80 credit points of their undergraduate degree or be a postgraduate student in any stage of completion, have a GPA of 4.0 or greater, and submit a current resume with at least two professional referees.

Through participation in the Program, students have the opportunity to broaden their professional networks and begin preparing for work and life after graduation. Students are encouraged to seek information and guidance from their mentor, and utilise the insight gained from learning about their mentor’s skills, experience and knowledge to inform decisions about their future. Mentoring works best when the student and the mentor put in the time and effort to make the relationship successful, as well as being open-minded, respectful and sincere. How it works The Program has two mentoring sessions annually, in Trimesters 1 and 2. Each session lasts for three months. Participation includes specialised Program training, a structured mentoring arrangement with your chosen mentor, and attendance at a large networking function in October where you will engage with fellow Program participants, Griffith University senior leadership and key industry partners.

Once accepted into the cohort, students will be given access to search our database of over 750 mentors. Students request the mentor who best matches their learning goals, and can begin collaborating with the mentor as soon as the mentor agrees to the match. Other IMP Initiatives: Digital Badges: There are a series of digital badges available to both our mentors and mentees to acknowledge their participation in the Program. Industry Insights: A monthly webinar series where we invite mentors from different backgrounds to discuss topics relevant to their industries Mentoring on the Move: A short morning of mentoring held on both the Gold Coast and Nathan campuses to provide a different way to experience the power of mentoring. Registration process https://griffithmentoring.xinspire.com/programs/imp

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