Thinking of a design career? And a giveaway!

Sponsored by Nuffnang

I love this quote by Finnish architect, Eliel Saarinen (father of Eero): 

Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context—a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan.

Good design: there should be more of it. The world would be a far better place (at least aesthetically), if a more holistic approach was taken to the design of our spaces and objects. Design affects us in more ways than we realise; from the coffee cup we use in the morning and the cars we drive, to the layout of the work office and the design of our homes to suit our lifestyles.

When I visited CATC Design School to view the graduate exhibition, I was heartened to see the quality of the students’ work – the next generation of ‘creatives’. The exhibition featured the amazing work of its current intake of Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration, Diploma of Graphic Design and Diploma of Photo Imaging students.

Examples of the quality of the students' work

I focused mainly on the Interior Design and Decoration students, who as part of their assessment were asked to design a new hotel development.

Detailed mood boards

It was quite impressive the extent of detail which was displayed in their very professionally-presented exhibits - 3D models, drawn renders and meticulous mood boards. Inspiring.

Models and renders

The CATC Design School Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration is a 12-month full-time course or two-year part-time/or online course. Course content is developed in consultation with the industry and gives students the skills they need to do well in their field.

After completing the Interior Design course students will then be qualified to work as interior designers for decoration consultancies; furniture, furnishing and fabric suppliers; furnishing department of retail stores; and shop fitters. They can even obtain work as stylists and colour consultants or set up their own business.

Apparently there is a good mix of young and mature age students doing the course. CATC is a good platform from which mature age students, wanting a change, can gain the confidence to make that next career move.

I know so many of my friends are returning to further study after a career break and generally in fields which are so far removed from their first career!

While I was at the exhibition, I was given a quick tour of the school and teaching rooms. It’s a great creative precinct and there is a genuinely warm and friendly feel about the place. I kind of felt like enrolling into something, because the school had such great energy!

There is nothing nicer for a design junkie than stroking the fabric swatches and colour samples which were stored in one of the teaching rooms.

The CATC Brisbane campus is located at 10 Costin Street in Fortitude Valley, which is easily accessible by public transport. CATC Design School also has campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. 

To learn more about the CATC Design School Interior Design and Decoration Diploma or any of their other courses, visit their website HERE. The next CATC Design School intake starts on 14 October 2013.

I’m also very excited to be giving away 10 CATC ‘goodie bags’ to my readers. The packs contain a sketchbook and art materials for the budding interior designer. To be in the running, all you have to do is answer this question:

How could an interior design course at CATC change your life?

Just leave your comment in this blog post, entries close at 5pm Monday 14 October 2013 and is only open to Australian readers (sorry international readers L). Please make sure to leave your email address with your comment, so that we contact you if you win. Click here for the terms and conditions. Jason will pick the winners. 

Good Luck!