By Amanda Andlee Poland, Head of Creative Arts
The Design Canberra Festival was launched by Chief Minister Andrew Barr MLA on Sunday but was preceded at Radford College on 2 November by the Design Canberra Creative Careers event and the announcement of the winners of the Design Canberra Photographic prize.
Principal Fiona Godfrey announced the winner of the Student section and Ann Cleary, Lecturer in Architecture at the University of Canberra, announced the winner of the Open section.
The tertiary displays from Academy of Interactive Entertainment, ANU, CIT, Charles Sturt University and UC attracted interest from many younger students and those on the verge of leaving College.
The speakers were generous in sharing their stories and advice, at times reflecting on what they wish they had been told while they were at school. Being brave and entering competitions was promoted by René Linssen, an industrial designer who won the 2017 Alessi award with his Pearla oyster shucker, a weighty object, full of curves and intriguing lines that invites you to pick it up.
‘A year ago I wouldn’t have thought that I would be starting a business and building a brand,’ Linssen admitted.
Mentorships and gaining experience working with professionals was also reinforced as a valuable part of the career journey.
Huw Smith (Year 12), who generously and confidently acted as MC for event, said he did not expect to be so influenced by the speakers and the event has given him a lot to think about. Huw says he is reconsidering his creative career options.
The final speaker, collegian Ben Landau, spoke about the richness of a creative life and being part of the creative community, which has taken him across the world to study.
The Mary Featherston Masterclass on 18 November is the next Design Canberra Festival event to be held at Radford College. Mary is an interior designer and was one of the inaugural inductees into the Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame. As the life and design partner of Grant Featherston, Mary collaborated with iconic Australian mid-century architects Robin Boyd and Roy Grounds.
Source: Radford College Website