Stepping behind the lens at Vogue Codes 2025

Each year, Vogue Codes brings together some of the most exciting voices in fashion and technology. In June 2025, the summit reached a milestone decade of celebrating women in STEM, and once again, Billy Blue College of Design was invited to join as the event’s official education partner.

This year’s theme, Powering Potential: The Tech Shaping Future Horizons, explored how cutting-edge advancements are revolutionising industries and reshaping opportunities for women worldwide.

The trailblazing event ignited dynamic conversations at the intersection of innovation, empowerment, and the future of tech.

And in an exciting opportunity for Billy Blue photography students, five were given the chance for hands-on industry experience at Vogue Codes Summit 2025, running the professional portrait stand and photographing nearly 200 attendees.

Real-life photography work experience at Vogue Codes Summit 2025

On the ground, Diploma of Photography and Photo Imaging students Yunmi Bang, Kevin Cruz, Scott Lawler, and Victor Lobato, as well as alumna Federica Bonelli, were given a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience.

Under the guidance of Daniel Coelho (Photography Course Coordinator) and Peter Collie (Learning Facilitator), the students got behind the lens at one of Australia’s most influential fashion-tech events to capture portraits of event attendees.

The fast-paced environment demanded technical skill, teamwork, and the ability to think on their feet. The students were glad they’d been preparing in the lead-up to the event.

“About one to two months ahead of the event, I began joining Teams meetings… which gave me a lot of clarity and reassurance,” said Yunmi.

Yunmi Bang photographing at Vogue Codes

For Federica, the highlight was developing confidence and communication skills. “Helping the person in front of the camera feel at ease is a key part of the job,” she said.

Photography lecturer Peter Collie, who helped facilitate the activation, praised the team’s professionalism. “The students really stepped up for the early bump-in and then throughout the day, engaging attendees and delivering great results. There was a long queue, but they stayed cool under pressure, producing suitable images while moving things along with professionalism,” he said.

“It was a real-world, high-pressure experience that strengthened both their technical and people skills.”

Billy Blue College of Design student at Vogue Codes 2025

Post-event, students reflected on how the experience shaped their goals.

“Taking part in the Vogue Codes event felt like breaking out of an eggshell… Shooting in a real environment made me fall in love with the energy of the scene,” said Yunmi.

Kevin Cruz added, “Hopefully this is just the beginning for me in my transition into full-time photography.”

Billy Blue Professor joins the conversation on design futures

Among the standout moments of the day was a fireside chat featuring Arianna Vignati, Associate Professor of Design at Billy Blue, who spoke on What’s Next in Human-Centred Design.

Her insights were part of a broader discussion on empathy-driven innovation and the evolving role of design in tech-enabled futures.

The conversation emphasised that every stage of the design process should be human-focused, understanding what people want, what they need, and actively engaging with end users to gain meaningful insights.

Arianna Vignati (Design Associate Professor) – Speaker at Vogue Codes Summit 2025

Billy Blue College of Design’s partnership with Vogue Australia

For the second year running, Billy Blue College of Design, powered by Torrens University, was proud to be the official education partner of the Vogue Codes Summit.

But the Vogue Australia x Billy Blue partnership goes beyond this annual event. This collaboration means our students gain access to exclusive opportunities, including internships, mentoring, scholarships, and invitations to industry events.

Together with Vogue Australia, we’re shaping the next generation of designers to think differently, act boldly, and design without limits.