Last Friday evening I had the pleasure of attending the RMIT Industrial Design graduate show opening and industry night held at the Guildford Lane Gallery in Melbourne. The annual event is a chance for the years graduating students to strut their stuff for the Melbourne Design community and this years graduates did not disappoint.
Entrance to Exhibition
Overall the exhibition has come up several levels in terms of quality and professionalism from previous years, this did not go unnoticed by professionals in the industry including Steve Martinuzzo from Cobalt Niche. Steve commented in the nights key note speech that he is finally looking forward to once again being able to employ an RMIT graduate at Cobalt Niche in the coming years.
Program Director Malte Wagenfeld kicking off the nights speeches
Viewing the show it is obvious that the focus at RMIT Universities’ Industrial Design program is in transition from the Furniture Design, Entrepreneurial Designer/Maker and Craft/Aletrnative Design focus of years past, back toward being focused on producing graduates who will be not only employable in local consultancies but also in overseas consultancies and inhouse design departments. Whether this is the right change in the long term remains to be seen, but from industries point of view, it seems to be a positive change that suits them in the current climate.
Automotive area of Exhibition
Speaking with the students it was clear that energy and passion for design abounded and many are looking forward to the next stage in their design life. There was also the traditional mix of relief and nerves as the graduates relax after the grueling final months of prepration and now begin to fret over the final marks, which on the opening night still had yet to be announced.
Students & Professionals mingle
Make the Cut is RMIT Universities’ Industrial Design Graduate Exhibition for 2009 and will run until Sunday 22nd of November. The exhibition features work from approximately 41 graduates and exhibition is being held at the Guildford Lane Gallery . Make the Cut features furniture, products, interactive design, automotive design and experimental processes.
Venue: Guildford Lane Gallery (20 – 24 Guildford Lane, Melbourne, Australia)
Dates: 11th November – 22nd November 2009
Opening Hours: Wed – Fri 12pm – 9pm, Sat & Sun 12pm – 5pm
Students & Professionals admiring the work on the 2nd Level
More of the exhibition's 2nd Level
