FRIDAY, 13 NOVEMBER, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
Media release
Designing Our Future: How does Victoria’s tertiary design education
measure up?
A new report, Designing Our Future: A Report on Tertiary Design Education in Victoria,
launched on 12 November 2009 at the Cumulus International Design Conference,
examines tertiary design education in Victoria to ensure the finest design graduates for
the industry are being developed.
In 2008, Design Victoria commissioned Wallis Consulting Group to research and build a
bank of knowledge on Victoria’s design sector. The findings, launched in December 2008
in the publication Five Years On, painted a picture of a thriving and competitive design
industry. From this research, knowledge gaps were identified and subsequently the
Victorian Government through RMIT University’s Design Victoria unit, commissioned
Wallis Consulting Group to undertake research into the tertiary design education sector.
The findings, captured in Designing Our Future, offer valuable insight for government, the
education sector and the design industry in the ongoing process of tailoring training and
education of Victoria’s design students:
Victoria’s tertiary design education sector has continued to grow strongly over the past
five years. Despite this growth, the report identifies a range of deterrents to entering
tertiary design education, from course selection during VCE to a lack of understanding
of what a career in design entails.
Students indicated a high level of satisfaction with course content and teaching,
however Victoria’s design education falls short of the criteria that define the leading
design schools around the world.
There is scope for improvement including increased opportunities for workplace
experience, and greater interdisciplinary work between design and other faculties,
particularly with business and commerce.
The report is available online at designvic.com/knowledge/publications/designingourfuture.aspx
Designing Our Future updates the dandolo partners research on the sector undertaken in
2003. It provides an opportunity for discussion around teaching practices, course planning
and interdisciplinary learning.
Speaking at the launch Michele Azzopardi, Director, Design Victoria, emphasised the
importance of world class design education and training. “Victoria’s design industry is
currently thriving but we need to ensure that we are developing the next generation of
design graduates who can maintain the momentum and advance and renew the sector in
the future,” said Ms Azzopardi.
Tertiary design education is delivered in Victoria through nine universities, 17 TAFE schools
and 11 private colleges. “Within this framework a spectrum of design education and training
is offered from one year private courses to Masters Degrees and postgraduate
qualifications,” said Dr John Fidler, Director and General Manager, Wallis Consulting Group.
Media contact:
Michelle Dall, Communications Coordinator, Design Victoria
michelle.dall@designvic.com T: 03 9925 4071 M: 0412 480 515
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