Commendations for our 2023 DIA's Graduate of the Year Awards finalists

The Graduates of the Year Awards (GOTYA), Design Institute of Australia’s (DIA) flagship program for emerging designers, was created to support and celebrate exceptional Australian designers as they embark on their careers, and we couldn’t be prouder of our Billy Blue College of Design at Torrens University Australia showcased and named among the best of the best for 2023.

Of Billy Blue College of Design at Torrens University’s 11 finalist spots, four received commendations.

Heena Chauhan and Sarah Robertson, received Commendations in the Queensland State finals for Australian Interior Decoration Graduate of the Year. Bonnie Rae McCormick, received a Commendation for Queensland’s Australian Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year. In New South Wales, Rebecca Bartlett received a commendation in the Australian Interior Design Graduate of the Year category.

State and National category winners were announced at the state finals awards night at Stylecraft Showrooms across Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne on Thursday 7 September 2023.

GOTYA provides instrumental feedback from experienced designers and industry figures.

This year, traditional design disciplines, including product design, interior design, jewellery design, textile design, visual communication design, furniture design and interior decoration, were incorporated into three new multidisciplinary categories - Place, Use and Interact, to reflect the changing industry trends towards multidisciplinary thinking, technological advancements, and shifting consumer preferences.

The Graduates of the Year Awards 2023 (GOTYA) shortlist was announced Tuesday 15 August featuring 11 of our student designers from New South Wales and Queensland, across four categories; Australian Fashion Design Graduate of the Year, Australian Interior Decoration Graduate of the Year, Australian Interior Design Graduate of the Year, and Australian Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year.

“This is high praise,” said Professor Scott Thompson-Whiteside, Executive Dean, Design and Creative Technology at Torrens University Australia. “Recognition at a national level, for these highly competitive awards, is testament to our emerging designers being ready for the Australian industry, and a nod to our incredible faculty for creating industry ready graduates.”

The 2023 Billy Blue College of Design GOTYA finalists

Australian Fashion Design Graduate of the Year

• Holly Villagra, Torrens University, NSW
• Fiona Waller, Torrens University, QLD
• Tanaka Magoche, Torrens University, QLD

Holly Villagra's graduate collection 'ARTYST'

Fiona Waller's graduate collection 'FIONNE'

Tanaka Magoche's graduate collection showcased at Brisbane Fashion Month

Australian Interior Decoration Graduate of the Year

• Erin Easton, Torrens University Australia, QLD
• Hannah Cooper, Torrens University, NSW
• Heena Chauhan, Torrens University Australia, QLD - Commendation
• Sarah Robertson, Torrens University Australia, QLD - Commendation

Australian Interior Design Graduate of the Year

• Rebecca Bartlett, Torrens University, NSW - Commendation

Rebecca Bartlett's project 'Gurrugal House'

Australian Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year

• Allanah Deluca, Torrens University, NSW
• Bonnie Rae McCormick, Torrens University, QLD - Commendation
• Michela Maiolo, Torrens University, Sydney

Each of our finalists took part in online interviews with a panel of judges and presented their work, discussed their methodology, goals, aspirations, academic and practical achievements, to determine their transferable workplace skills and predict impact on the Australian design industry.