As part of Design Canberra Festival, on 10 November, the DIA hosted its Design Days Canberra program titled Student Crash Course: University to Employment.

Our industry is built upon community and collaboration, and one thing we thought we could do was to partner with some of our favourite designers from various disciplines and introduce them to the next wave of designers from the ANU’s School of Art and Design and University of Canberra.

Moderated by Tom Skeehan, our ACT Chair and founder of Skeehan Studio, the program offered advice for students preparing to enter the next phase of their design journey. Speakers included Lisa Copeland, Director (Capezio Copeland); Sarah Gibson, Director (Design By Them); Dan Armstrong, Director (Formswell); Colin Haining, Director (Inklab); and Mark Brook, Director (MYMYMY).

The student portfolio review engaged students to immerse in conversation and exchange. The DIA aims to continue delivering these community-based events, and hopefully, we’ll see you at the next one. For all who missed out, we filmed it and will soon be releasing an online learning resource for all to access.

Thanking Tom and all the speakers involved. In collaboration, the DIA presented the event with Kambri ANU and Design Canberra Festival.

Photography: Davey Barber