Nellie's story

Small start, big potential

Nellie is a graphic design student with a Diploma of Graphic Design and an Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design from Swinburne under her belt.

Through these courses, she has been able to hone her skills from the ground up. Starting at the foundations has also enabled Nellie to explore different avenues of design.

Vocational education at Swinburne – such as certificate and diploma courses – are taught in small classes. This allows for tailored support from teachers and better connections with fellow students, which Nellie has experienced.

Winning on a national stage

While completing her diploma, Nellie was approached to take part in Australia's largest skills and trades competition – WorldSkills Australia. She applied and competed in the Graphic Design Technology division.

Nellie was given design briefs, including packaging graphics, logos, posters and social media assets, to complete within a time limit. At the end of the three-day competition, Nellie became a champion for 2023 and took home gold for first place.

Competing with global talents

With first place in the national competition on her resume, Nellie then took part in the 2024 WorldSkills International Championships while also preparing to progress into a bachelor degree.

At the international competition, Nellie managed to impress the judges with her innovative approach to materials and packaging and was awarded a Medallion for Excellence in Graphic Design Technology. 

"Swinburne has provided me with comprehensive knowledge of the technical and practical elements of design, including industry knowledge. The teachers are there to help and engage with you," says Nellie.