Billy Blue students earn honourable mention at Cumulus Green 2024

Cumulus Green 2024 is the Global Association of Art and Design Education and Research’s signature biennial student competition that aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s theme focused on SDG 3: Health and Well-being, the goal aiming to ensure healthy lives, promote well-being for all at all ages, and to encourage healthy lifestyles, fight diseases and improve access to healthcare.

‘SUNLAB’ from students Fiona Roach, Abbey Taylor, Sophie Forster, and Jazmyn Barnes, truly hit the mark, landing one of the 31 awarded honourable mentions from the international jury for their social enterprise dedicated to raising awareness about the harmful effects of UV radiation and advocating for proactive sun protection measures.

The project was recognised for its innovative approach to tackling a global health issue and standing out for its potential to drive meaningful change.

Global recognition in competitions sets our students apart

Cumulus Green is one of the most fiercely competitive international competitions, with 270 submissions from 89 universities across 39 countries this year. Torrens University was the only Australian university to be recognised.

In 2020, our students Stine Marie Damsgaard and Britney Williames both received honourable mentions. Stine’s project ‘Amazebalz’ was a series of dissolvable shampoo balls representing an alternative to plastic shampoo bottles, and Britney’s project aimed to provide a fair go for youth ‘aging out’ of state care, with a cross-compensation model social enterprise called the We Build Foundation.

“This is an outstanding accomplishment, and it truly reflects the exceptional quality of their work,” said Mark O’Dwyer, Program Director, Design Common Core, Torrens University. “This honour speaks to the high standard of design education at Torrens University, and it reflects our commitment to fostering talent that can drive positive, sustainable change.”

Students were invited to ‘take a proactive role in using the magic of design wisdom to create innovative ideas for desirable and absolute necessary change’ whilst considering their entries. Their solutions were judged on desirability, feasibility, evidence of a rigorous research process, and degree of innovation.

“Earning recognition among such strong global talent is a remarkable achievement that puts their work at the very highest level,” said Mark. “Our students should be incredibly proud of this result, and I hope it inspires each of them to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation.”

Mentors reflect on Cumulus Green 2024

Academic mentors, Nina Hillenberg, Senior Interior Design Lecturer, and Lecturer Kuen Kam, guided students through the brief and were in awe of the power of collaboration showcased in the final outcome.

“The students’ work on SUNLAB exemplifies how design can contribute to global health challenges, and their recognition at Cumulus Green is well deserved,” said Nina. “The added importance of running these interdisciplinary subjects and opportunities like Cumulus Green is that they mimic a studio in real life, but in a classroom situation, better preparing our students for industry.”

“The team demonstrated creativity and a strong commitment to addressing the brief,” said Kuen. “It was inspiring to see them grow throughout the project, applying rigorous research and innovative thinking to develop a solution that has real-world impact.”

Students benefit from interdisciplinary design

Mark O’Dwyer, Program Director, Design Common Core, says interdisciplinary design projects like the Cumulus Green 2024 brief encourage creativity and innovation while empowering students to collaborate across various fields. As a result, students gain a broader understanding of design challenges, learn to communicate complex ideas effectively and develop adaptable entrepreneurial skills.

The students working on this project came from a range of study programs, Jazmyn and Sophie - Bachelor of Communication Design, Fiona - Bachelor of Interior Design (Residential), and Abbey - Bachelor of Interior Design (Commercial), each brought their unique knowledge and experience to the collaborative project.

“Such projects provide valuable opportunities for students to develop a holistic approach to problem-solving,” said Mark. “The value of students working on projects extends beyond merely combining diverse skills and perspectives.”

Additionally, this interdisciplinary experience builds creative confidence, fosters an understanding of real-world contexts, and equips students to address the complexities of contemporary design challenges.

Images credit: ‘SUNLAB’ by Fiona Roach, Abbey Taylor, Sophie Forster, Jazmyn Barnes