With another successful year ticked off, The Gordon Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design students are in the process of putting the finishing touches on their portfolios. From corporate branding, product packaging, great digital media and illustrations, the folios are brimming with eye-catching and attention to detail pieces.
In a win-win situation, the students collaborate each year with industry to develop printed collateral from annual reports to a broad range of promotional collateral.
Medimime Productions Incorporated is a non-profit organisation made up of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers who present a pantomime each year, to which The Gordon design students pitched their concepts for this year’s production of Cinderella. The brief included; posters, t-shirts, colouring competitions, programs, illustrations and flyers. This gave students a real work project to work on with deadlines and client expectations to deal with. The winner of the pitch Michael Sanford has his artwork attached.
Barwon Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) also gave the students an opportunity to design and layout their annual report. Each student pitches for the tender and then works collaboratively to bring the annual report together once the final design was chosen. This builds key skills of working within a team and working to deadlines.
Currently students and staff are on a study tour to Singapore, attending design schools, visiting a touring exhibition and international advertising agencies. This gives students face-to-face contact to the global design community and an ability to view design from an international perspective. The tour continues onto Malacca, a traditional Malaysian cultural precinct, broadening their cultural diversity and international perspective on art and design.
As part of the Gordon’s Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design, students are given the opportunity to go on industry placement. Local design agencies including Circle Media and Ivy Street Design are some of the many agencies who continue to support The Gordon.
Andy Worland, Director of Circle Media, is impressed by the broadness of subjects students cover. “The fact that they work closely with industry and learn in a “hands on” environment ensures they are ready made for the design industry. The environment in which they learn promotes maturity and that is what we are always looking for in a designer,” Andy says.
Students from The Gordon’s design courses have had many global opportunities presented to them. There is a graduate working as a junior graphic designer for Goodfolk, an independent creative agency in Auckland, New Zealand. “We even have a past student in Dubai in a lead design role for Etihad Airways,” said Ant Zavaglia, graphic design teacher at The Gordon. “With dedication and motivation the sky is the limit for our graduates.”
For more information on the design course at The Gordon head to thegordon.edu.au or call 5225 0500 as they are taking applications now for 2015.
Pictured: Poster for Cinderella production by Graphic Design student Michael Sanford