Our Queensland design students win coveted GOTYA State Finalist spots

The awards were announced Thursday 28 July, at Stylecraft showrooms in capital cities across the country.

At the Queensland award ceremony, Natalie, who studied Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration, won the Queensland Interior Decoration Graduate of the Year category, and Rachel, who studied Bachelor of Branded fashion, won the Queensland Fashion Design Graduate of the Year category.

“I’m feeling so happy! It’s incredible to have my work seen and appreciated by such wonderful and talented industry professionals and am ever so grateful to have been able to receive the award,” said Rachel.

“I’m over the moon - it’s a huge achievement and I cannot wait to show the world EEYO,” adds Rachel.

Alycia Simule, who also studied Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration, received a Commendation for Queensland’s Interior Decoration section.

The National Category finals take place 3 August. Billy Blue College of Design wishes our State finalists all the best.

From left, Sue Chen, Learning Facilitator, Nicole Dann (with Natalie's award), Learning Facilitator, Alycia Simule, Rachel Johnston, and Jaki Walker, Learning Facilitator

Celebrating our design graduates' incredible haul of 2022 State GOTYA finalist spots

We proudly announced our State finalists in the Awards when the shortlist was revealed in July featuring a mighty twelve state finalists from Billy Blue across various disciplines including Fashion Design, Visual Communication Design, Interior Decoration and Interior Design.

It was an incredible number of finalists across the country vying for highly competitive industry recognition. The esteemed program supports and celebrates exceptional designers as they embark on the early stages of their journey into industry.

“Billy Blue College of Design at Torrens University has 12 GOTYA finalists which is more than any other university in the country,” said Professor Scott Thompson-Whiteside, Executive Dean, Design and Creative Technology.

Mentoring recent graduates from across Australia since 2005, GOTYA is a unique awards program instrumental in providing both design graduates and higher education institutions with vital, real-life feedback from experienced designers and industry figures.

“The Design Institute of Australia is the peak industry body for design in Australia so for our graduates to be recognised as the top finalists in the country is strong recognition for the quality of our courses and our focus on industry-ready graduates,” said Professor Scott Thompson-Whiteside.