The Design Institute of Australia has announced the Australian national winners for its flagship program for emerging designers – the Graduate of the Year Awards (GOTYA) 2021.
From 173 impressive nominations and 27 State winners, seven designers have been awarded the prestigious Australian prize, with a student also named the Madeline Lester Award Recipient.
This year, an enormous undertaking the DIA collaborated with 16 institutions and 40 design departments from around the country.
The GOTYA program mentoring students since 2005 is a unique awards program created to support and celebrate exceptional designers from around Australia in the early stages of their careers.
The program is instrumental in providing tertiary institutions and design graduates with vital, real-life feedback from experienced designers and industry figures.
Internationally renowned Australian designers and previous GOTYA winners include Tom Skeehan, Cassie Byrnes, Scott Van Tull, Edward Linacre and Tristan Brega.
This year the graduates were able to develop and make work showcasing a responsibility to the industry, especially new ways around sustainability and repurposing. They were able to design and create products that benefit people and the planet.
By presenting a mix of concept developments, technical drawings and prototypes, the winners displayed a clear understanding of the skills required in the commercial marketplace.
There were 24 leading jurors taking part in the judging process, including Mark Berlangieri, Jane Valentine, Dave Bickmore, Tim Phillips, Gustavo Ruckman and Nancy Beka.
“GOTYA is a critical program as it brings together Australia’s emerging designers and connects them to our most respected educators and designers from leading design practices,” said Jo-Ann Kellock, juror and DIA CEO.
“This year, we had a remarkable 173 nominations and worked closely with over 40 university design departments—the graduates’ proposed human-centred design solutions like never before.”
“Using innovative ways to utilise natural materials, they promoted sustainable development. It was wonderful to also see design and technology delivering thoughtful solutions to affect social and environmental causes,” said Kellock.
Established in 1948, the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) is the only national member body that champions the value of all design and the impact of our designers. Its purpose is to help designers prosper by providing knowledge, thought leadership, access and inclusivity.
The DIA is the leading advocate for design with the most extensive design professional network, champions design excellence, progressive change, and is a trusted voice in the national conversation.
It engages with and educates designers, the government, and our broader society and fosters collaborations for designers to engage across the industry and community.
Since 1984 DIA has recognised the accomplishment of students and in 2005, the program was transformed into the Graduate of the Year Awards referred to as GOTYA. The GOTYA program mentoring students for almost two decades is a unique awards program created to support and celebrate exceptional designers from around Australia in the early stages of their careers.
Educational institutions are invited to submit six nominations per category per state based not only on their Graduate’s work but also their Graduate’s work ethic and perceived ability to transfer their skills to the workplace. Previous GOTYA winners include Tom Skeehan, Cassie Byrnes, Scott Van Tull, Edward Linacre and Tristan Brega.
For more information about the Design Institute of Australia and the Graduate of the Year Awards, visit: www.design.org.au for details.
Image: Design Institute of Australia Graduate of the Year Awards Composite (supplied)
The Australian and State winners include:
Australian Graduate of the Year 2021 Winners:
Madeline Lester Award
Isabelle Kleijn, UNSW
Australian Textile Design Graduate of the Year
Sophie Yencken, RMIT University
Australian Fashion Design Graduate of the Year
Gisella Candi, University of Technology Sydney
Australia Furniture Design Graduate of the Year
Bolaji Teniola, RMIT University
Australian Interior Decoration Graduate of the Year
Joanne Odisho, RMIT University
Australian Interior Design Graduate of the Year
Isabelle Kleijn, UNSW
Australian Industrial / Product Design Graduate of the Year
Tim Lutton, RMIT University
Australian Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year
Madison Chan, University of Technology Sydney (Joint Winner) | Erin McConnell, Swinburne University of Technology (Joint Winner)
New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory
NSW / ACT Interior Design Graduate of the Year
Isabelle Kleijn, UNSW
NSW / ACT Interior Decoration Graduate of the Year
Ike Sonder, TAFE NSW
NSW / ACT Industrial / Product Design Graduate of the Year
Anthony Franco, UNSW
NSW / ACT Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year
Madison Chan, University of Technology Sydney
NSW / ACT Fashion Design Graduate of the Year
Gisella Candi, University of Technology Sydney
NSW / ACT Textile Design Graduate of the Year
David Ward, TAFE NSW
Queensland
QLD Interior Design Graduate of the Year
Nadia Dubreuil, QUT
QLD Interior Decoration Graduate of the Year
Elicia Muratoglu, Torrens University Australia
QLD Industrial / Product Design Graduate of the Year
Alexander Eviston, QUT
QLD Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year
Hannah Bryce, Griffith University
QLD Fashion Design Graduate of the Year
Lily Mergard, QUT
QLD Textile Design Graduate of the Year
Hannah Nam, QUT
South Australia
SA / NT Interior Design Graduate of the Year
Brooke Bartolic, University of South Australia
SA / NT Industrial / Product Design Graduate of the Year
Shu Yun Lam, University of South Australia
SA / NT Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year
Brian Bolado, University of South Australia
Western Australia
WA Interior Design Graduate of the Year
Angela Scarano, North Metropolitan TAFE
WA Industrial / Product Design Graduate of the Year
Simon Lockwood, North Metropolitan TAFE
WA Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year
Anabel Cressie, North Metropolitan TAFE
WA Fashion Design Graduate of the Year
Hannah Altinier, North Metropolitan TAFE (Joint Winner) | Emily Cooper, Curtin University (Joint Winner)
Victoria / Tasmania
VIC / TAS Interior Design Graduate of the Year
Madeleine Day, Swinburne University of Technology
VIC / TAS Interior Decoration Graduate of the Year
Joanne Odisho, RMIT University
VIC / TAS Industrial / Product Design Graduate of the Year
Tim Lutton, RMIT University
VIC / TAS Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year
Erin McConnell, Swinburne University of Technology
VIC / TAS Fashion Design Graduate of the Year
Liam Ramirez, RMIT University
VIC / TAS Textile Design Graduate of the Year
Sophie Yencken, RMIT University
VIC / TAS Furniture Design Graduate of the Year
Bolaji Teniola, RMIT University