From creative concepts to real-world opportunities

When Aref enrolled in the Diploma of Graphic Design at Chisholm, he was looking to build on his existing industry experience, challenge himself and continue developing as a designer. Through hands-on learning, real-world projects and support from his teachers, he developed new skills, built confidence and expanded his professional network. His studies have created opportunities to work on industry-connected campaigns, present to professional audiences and see his creative work installed in public spaces.

With some industry experience already behind him, Aref was driven by a strong curiosity and passion for continuous learning. He wanted to build on his experience, hear different perspectives and challenge the way he approached his work. He was looking for a course where he could put his ideas into practice and continue developing through projects and feedback. Chisholm felt like a good fit.

“Something I've found with design is that the more you learn, the more you realise how much you didn't know," Aref says. "That makes me curious about how much more there is to explore.”

One of the highlights during Aref's studies at Chisholm came through the internationally recognised Re:act road safety program. The program challenges students to create campaigns aimed at encouraging safer driving behaviours among young people. As part of the project, Aref developed Give it Rooooom, a campaign encouraging drivers aged 17 to 25 to leave a safe distance between vehicles.

Being selected was exciting, but taking the project through to completion made the experience especially meaningful, bringing months of creative development, feedback and refinement to life.

“It was rewarding to follow the idea all the way through, from the research and early concepts to the finished artwork, animation and website,” he says.

Beyond the campaign itself, the experience also helped Aref to enhance his professional capabilities in an area he once found challenging: public speaking. “Presenting wasn't my strongest skill,” he says. “Going into the unit, it was probably the part I felt most nervous about.”

However, through regular presentations and feedback from his teachers and Re:act partners, Aref developed stronger communication skills and became increasingly comfortable sharing his ideas. He went on to present his award-winning Give it Rooooom campaign to industry audiences, including at Transurban's offices and through national road safety forums, gaining valuable industry exposure and building professional connections along the way.

The Re:act campaign was not Aref's only opportunity to see his work brought to life. Another of his projects, Printed Presence, was selected for installation on the windows of Chisholm's Art, Design and Environment Print Space at the Frankston campus. The design uses a flower bloom made from halftone dots and represents an idea growing into something real. Seeing his work selected for both a public campaign and a permanent campus installation reinforced the value of turning creative concepts into outcomes that reach real audiences.

Throughout his studies, Aref has strengthened his research, presentation and time management skills while learning to balance multiple assignments and deadlines. Research projects encouraged him to make decisions based on a deeper understanding of the audience, strengthening his ability to solve communication problems through design. Working across static artwork, animation and web design also gave him experience adapting ideas across different formats, building skills he can take into future projects.

Combined with opportunities to showcase his work publicly, these experiences have helped him prepare for the next stage of his career. “It's made me want to keep working on projects where I can be involved in the thinking behind the idea as well as the final design,” he says.

Looking ahead, Aref hopes to continue building on his experience, working alongside other designers and contributing to projects where he can be involved in both the development of ideas and the final design outcomes.

His advice to future Graphic Design students is simple: “Stay open to feedback and embrace opportunities, even if they feel outside your comfort zone,” he says. “Take opportunities to present your work and meet people in the industry, even if you don't feel completely confident yet.”

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