Media Releases - 2003
VCE Students Show Innovation and Design Skills
24 March 2003
A bright-yellow pineapple dress, a coin-operated rocking ride and Japanese-inspired jewellery will be on display as part of an exhibition of works by VCE design students at Melbourne Museum.
Top Designs - part of VCE Season of Excellence 2003 - will open today at Melbourne Museum.
The exhibition presents 114 works by 111 VCE students who completed studies in Media, Design and Technology, Food and Technology, Systems and Technology and Visual Communication and Design in 2002.
Minister for Education and Training, Lynne Kosky, said the exhibition was a tribute to the depth of knowledge embraced by Victoria’s future architects, communication specialists, engineers, website and fashion designers.
"Top Designs is not just an exhibition about technology, media and visual communication and design – it is a showcase of the skills, ingenuity and creativity of young Victorians," Ms Kosky said.
"Fellow students, family, friends and teachers should all be rightly proud of the technical and artistic competence of our students."
Works range from furniture, clothing, short film, photography, multimedia, design applications, photography, architectural models, electrical and mechanical projects, with students’ developmental folios on display beside each piece.
Ms Kosky said the Government had invested $10.2 million to develop Victoria’s design potential. The funding aims to:
- Strengthen design education and training in higher education and schools.
- Establish Design Centres of Excellence, the first of which was launched at RMIT last year.
- Establish a showcase event, promoting the importance of design and recognising the best of Victorian design through a new Premier’s Design Award.
- Conduct research into Victoria’s current design capabilities and future industry needs.
"The sharing of ideas and the showcasing of design excellence is an important part of the government’s strategy," Ms Kosky said.
Top Designs is a major component of the VCE Season of Excellence, managed by the VCAA.
The season runs March 6 to July 13 and comprises two exhibitions, nine concerts and six screening of short films created by a representative sample of VCE students who have achieved a very high assessment score.
Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) Chair, professor Kwong Lee Dow said the exhibition would inspire current design students to master new skills and take their ideas to new heights.
"Top Designs shows what young people can achieve with the benefit of a world-class curriculum, sound teaching practices, adequate resources and encouragement," Professor Lee Dow said.
Museum Victoria chief executive officer Dr. J Patrick Greene, said the Museum was delighted to host the event for the third year.
"In addition to promoting Victoria's technology and arts curriculum, the Top Designs exhibition acts as a valuable professional development resource for senior school students and teachers," he said.
"We encourage everyone to visit this fascinating exhibition, showcasing exemplary works from Victoria's future artistic talents.
Melbourne designer Nicola Cerini, who helped open the exhibition, said design offered a whole world of opportunities for students.
"The world is your oyster with design," Ms Cerini said.
"This exhibition explores the range of opportunities for design students - whose work in the exhibition is certainly world-class."
Ms Cerini, who launched her label Nicola Cerini Australia in 1995, has made a name for herself here and overseas through her highly individual, functional, and innovative designs for the body and the home.
