TAFE SA’s graphic design students have been making the most of opportunities to show their talents at local industry events.

Recent graduates Carly Staszuk (pictured) and Fumie Barnett dominated the student category of last month’s Adelaide Advertising and Design Club (AADC) annual awards.

Both received awards under the ‘craft’ category for their designs responding to different hypothetical briefs.

Carly’s brief was to promote the graphic design industry to a young adult audience, incorporating two current graphic design trends, while Fumie’s project had to appeal to Adelaide’s foodies.

Carly produced a 12-panel A3 guide to the graphic design industry, while Fumie presented a poster and 3D design for Tasting Australia.

Fumie has a background in dietetics and was looking for a more creative career option when she enrolled in the Diploma of Graphic Design at TAFE SA.

She says she has enjoyed all her subjects and attributes her award win to the skills she has gained in the course.

Fumie is interested in branding and campaign design, editorial design and illustration, and is currently building up her portfolio.

Carly has completed the Certificate IV and Diploma of Graphic Design and has recently won a position as a junior graphic designer at Adelaide design studio MAD Cartel, where she is looking forward to working on a variety of creative projects.

She is also honing her skills and creating and selling digital illustrations.

“I have always been into art and graphic design. I had amazing art and digital communications teachers in Year 11 and 12, which really made me take an interest in it,” she says.

“My Oma was an incredible painter as well, so I think I have to thank her for passing some of the creative genes down.”

The AADC also held an Ad Crawl with TAFE and university students competing for one of 12 invitations by producing the most creative applications.

TAFE SA student Liam Mountstephen secured his place with a poster entry which was judged equal first with a student from Adelaide University.

Liam and another three TAFE SA students took part in the three-day event, which involved a design project, plus networking opportunities.

Participants visited a media agency, creative agency, production house and design company where they were able to ask questions and get advice on meeting a brief before they worked in pairs to complete their own design.

“The whole experience was really fun and it was cool to meet like-minded peers who I'll hopefully keep in touch with throughout our respective careers,” Liam says.

In his final semester of the Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design, Liam says he enjoys the challenge of solving problems using creative methods.

“Everything I’ve learnt and experienced in my course has helped me on the road to growing into a fully fledged and capable designer,” he says.

“This has also positively affected my confidence in other aspects of my life.”

The graphic design students will be presenting their graduating collections in a multimedia exhibition at The Lab on Light Square on December 1.

Winning designs in the student category of the AADC awards by Carly Staszuk (left) and Fumie Barnett (right).