Interior Design Students
Student Experience
Olivia Kurec
Bachelor of Design (Interior Design)
"I chose to study at Swinburne due to the creative environment that is Prahran but primarily because of the opportunity to partake in the Industry Placement program.
I enjoy Swinburne Design’s ‘learning by doing’ philosophy as it encourages practical thinking and craftsmanship.
I am currently undertaking a six-month placement at a multi-disciplinary design practice as part of the Industry Placement program. Working for a global practice has presented numerous opportunities including meeting top industry contacts, both designers and suppliers, and working on projects of varying sizes. My confidence and communication levels have improved dramatically having been rewarded the role of materials librarian and work experience mentor. I am learning a great deal about soft and hard furnishings and the seemingly endless possibilities of design. I am eager to impart this new found knowledge when I return to full-time study and am equally excited to see the results."
Samuel Johnson
Bachelor of Design (Interior Design)
"I chose Swinburne due to its reputation of having strong links to industry, which sets it apart from other universities. I was also attracted by the option to undertake a minor or co-major in a foreign language as I really wanted to learn Japanese.
The breadth of studies means that we are always engaged with something new and worthwhile with a real-world focus. Swinburne is incredibly proactive in sourcing opportunities and helping you to seize them. The course has given me such a clearer picture of what interior designers really do and the Japanese language skills I’ve learnt allowed me to spend a month travelling solo around Japan scoping out the architecture.
The course has really opened my eyes to the possibilities for a more sustainable engagement with the existing urban environment, and the responsibility we have to as designers to achieve better outcomes for all."
Cara Gabriel
Bachelor of Design (Interior Design) (Honours)
"I chose Swinburne primarily because of their Industry Placement program. As it was my second time around at university it was very important to be able to get a job after finishing the course. I participated in the Industry Placement program for 8 months in my third year. I learnt so much in that time and after coming back to university I had a whole new set of skills to apply to my work. My Industry Placement experience led to a part time job during my final year and now to a graduate position with the same studio. Being employable was so important to me, the Industry Placement program gave me the experience I needed to walk straight into a job after completing my studies.
Design is not easy and it requires lots of hard work but if you’re passionate about it then you can end up getting paid to do something that you love. What’s better than that?"
Jade Baldwin
Bachelor of Design (Interior Design)
"I have really enjoyed my time here and would definitely recommend the Interior Design course at Swinburne. It covers all areas of the interior design industry with an even focus across practical, technical and conceptual subject matter. The studio classes really get you thinking about use of space and environment; be it retail, residential or commercial. One project I especially enjoyed was were we had to use tools like CAD software, 3D modelling, and interior rendering to design a retail store for the CBD of Melbourne. It really taught me to think about how people interact within a particular space.
I also just got accepted for the Industry Placement Program, starting next year. I am really looking forward to this opportunity to experience working and learning out in the design industry."
Lauren Hepner
Bachelor of Design (Interior Design) (Honours)
"With such diverse subjects and access to different design disciplines, I learnt that my course could essentially take me into many areas of design. I studied Interior design, but I now have an interest in other areas such as furniture design or interior decoration.
I undertook an honours year, this was the best decision I made. I had the opportunity to develop the conceptual ideas I had studied in the previous three years and become even closer to my teachers and classmates. These are contacts that I will hopefully have in the design industry forever.
I have been nominated for the Australasian Student Design Awards 2011 and been awarded both the Design Institute of Australia’s Professional Encouragement Award and Graduate of the Year Award for 2010. It is extremely rewarding when your efforts are recognised by not only your University, but external companies also."
