MASTER OF DESIGN

The need for design is becoming increasingly evident in industry. Indeed, as our society continues to grapple with increasingly complex problems (e.g., impacts of the Anthropocene) and necessitate rapid responses to global developments (such as COVID), so too does the need for design increase. Industry, more than ever, is looking to and embracing individuals adept at not only problem-solving but also problem-finding. Those that can undertake holistic investigations in a range of contexts, and can identify and balance the often conflicting needs of stakeholders. It is no wonder then that the Master of Design has grown to record numbers following its inception in 2019.

One of the key principles in the Master of Design is the need to tailor design practice to the context in which design is being employed. Despite the plethora of design methods, frameworks, processes and approaches that we discuss and use as designers, there is no one ‘correct’ or single way of designing. In this sense, designers never stop learning. Each of the projects or collaborations we undertake are opportunities for us to evolve our practice and learn from our experiences. Much like this year’s exhibition theme ‘Odyssey’ – which presents the milestone of graduation as a pitstop – the Master of Design is just the beginning of a journey as a designer, and graduating does not mark its end.

With the conclusion of this chapter, a new chapter will now unfold for our graduates. I am proud to welcome our graduates into the workforce and am looking forward to seeing all the amazing things they will accomplish. Congratulations on being the second cohort to complete the Master of Design.

On behalf of the Master of Design teaching team, we wish our graduates all the best in their future endeavours. We hope that what they have learned at the University of Sydney will serve them well, and that their time here will prove to be a strong foundation from which they can begin to shape our discipline.

‘Skin Resin’ is a sustainable skincare start-up. According to our research, the ideal target market is the millennial women living in New South Wales. ‘Skin Resin’ aims to become a global leader in sustainable skincare while being a commanding influence for positive social impact.

Our solution is an app that integrates social networking features and tools, which will help ‘Skin Resin’ to attract more customers and help the company to better connect with its target market.

Drawing inspiration from the vanilla bean, this project is a lamp for industrial production. It explores the roles that light and dark play in creating space, textures and colours. The use of a variety of materials, including copper piping, tea bag papers, timber veneer, linen and Tasmanian oak, developed an awareness of industrial and craft practices, and their impact on the construction processes.

Whilst many adventure sports companies continue to innovate for men, in what has traditionally been a male dominated industry, ‘Their Trails’ is an innovative product ecosystem that not only seeks to capture the attention and hearts of an increasing female customer base, but enable and empower cis and trans females to enjoy the outdoors in whatever capacity that suits their needs and lifestyle.

This project is partnered with Surfrider Foundation Australia, and is briefed with the responsibility of ‘redesigning the Ocean Friendly Program so that more businesses adopt ocean friendly practices.’

The solution links small businesses with suppliers of natural material packaging alternatives, and provides customers with an augmented reality experience that thanks them for supporting an Ocean Friendly restaurant and visualises the individual and collective impact of their plastic related decisions.