Overview
A celebration of creative Year 10, 11 and 12 students, the Bright Awards recognise up-and-coming designers and support the future of the arts in high schools across Australia. Whether you’re just tapping into your talent or keen to show off your well-developed skills, Billy Blue College of Design’s Bright Awards give you the chance to have your work recognised by industry experts. Plus, monetary prizes for both students and schools go towards kick-starting creative dreams.
Meet our winners
Hear from our 2021 and 2022 winners and learn the inspiration behind their winning Bright Awards entry.
Categories and prizes
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3D Animation
Evaluation Criteria About this Category This category is open to anyone who has created anything from a concept for a 3D character, right through to an animated short film. Concept A submission for this category should showcase your talents as either a 3D modeller, sculptor, animator, rigger, environment, or character artist. Entries for this category can be any image or video work that you've created from scratch - we're looking for innovation, high concepts, big ideas, slick motion and beautiful aesthetics. Show us your creative maturity and the best you've got.
Entry Requirements Images We are looking for between three and 10 images that represent your breadth of work as a graphic designer. Ideally, we’d like your images to be in JPEG or PNG format in RGB colour mode.
Videos The easiest way to submit a video is to upload it to a video-sharing website such as Vimeo or YouTube. If you want to make your video private, you’ll need to send us the password to view your video. Alternatively, if you want to send us the original file, you will need to compress the video and submit it as full HD (1080p) or HD (720p).
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Fashion
Evaluation Criteria About this Category We’re looking for pieces that represent you as a fashion/textile designer. These can be in traditional or digital art forms and can include illustrations, textiles and garments. Submissions can be in one, two or all three mediums. Concept We’re looking for work that is all your own – that is, work based off original thoughts, concepts and ideas. Judges will look at the aesthetics of your design ideas (what it looks like visually), the development process, technique, creativity and presentation (layout).
Entry Requirements Images We are looking for between three and 10 images that represent your breadth of work as a fashion designer. Ideally, we’d like your images to be presented as JPEG files or as a multi-page PDF (with each image or concept presented on a separate page) in RGB colour mode. Videos
(Optional/Preferred)The easiest way to submit a video is to upload it to a video-sharing website such as Vimeo or YouTube. If you want to make your video private, you’ll need to send us the password to view your video. -
Film and Video
Evaluation Criteria About this Category We’re looking for pieces that represent you as a video or film creator. Entries can create a short film or video, just be creative and show us what you got. Concept A submission for this category should showcase your talents as either a cinematographer, editor, motion designer, director, sound designer or drone operator. Entries for this category can be any video work that you've created from scratch - we're looking for innovation, high concepts, fluid timing, big ideas and beautiful aesthetics. Show us your creative maturity and the best you've got.
Entry Requirements Video The easiest way to submit a video is to upload it to a video-sharing website such as Vimeo or YouTube. If you want to make your video private, you’ll need to send us the password to view your video.
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Games
Evaluation Criteria About this Category This category is open to all aspects of gaming. You may wish to design a character and outline their characteristics and powers, design or concept a game environment in sketch form, 2D or 3D, outline the rules of a game, or even develop an entire game demo. Concept We’re looking for work that is all your own – that is, work based off original thoughts, concepts and ideas. Judges will look at both the aesthetics of your design ideas (what it looks like visually) and the user friendliness and functionality of your concept.
Entry Requirements Images We are looking for between three and 10 images that represent your game concepts. Ideally, we’d like your images to be presented as JPEG files or as a multi-page PDF (with each image or concept presented on a separate page) in RGB colour mode. Videos
(Optional/Preferred)The easiest way to submit a video is to upload it to a video-sharing website such as Vimeo or YouTube. If you want to make your video private, you’ll need to send us the password to view your video. -
Graphic Design
Evaluation Criteria About this Category We’re looking for pieces that represent you as a graphic designer. These can be traditional or digital art forms and can span anything from works that create a visual identity for a person or organisation (such as logos, typefaces, letterheads or posters), magazine covers or layouts, product packaging and design, designs for T-shirts or apparel, or illustrations. Concept We’re looking for work that is all your own – that is, work based off original thoughts, concepts and ideas. Judges will look at both the aesthetics of your design ideas (what it looks like visually) and the user friendliness and functionality of your concept.
Entry Requirements Images We’re looking for between three and 10 images that represent your breadth of work as a graphic designer. Ideally, we’d like your images to be in JPEG or PNG format in RGB colour mode. Videos
(Optional/Preferred)The easiest way to submit a video is to upload it to a video-sharing website such as Vimeo or YouTube. If you want to make your video private, you’ll need to send us the password to view your video. -
Interior Design
Evaluation Criteria About this Category We’re looking for pieces that represent you as an interior designer. These can be hand-drawn/made or digital, and can include drawings, models, pictures or conceptual renders. Submissions will be accepted in one or a combination of these formats. Concept We’re looking for work that is all your own – that is, work based off original thoughts, concepts and ideas. Judges will look at the aesthetics of your design ideas (what it looks like visually), the development process, techniques used, creativity, 3D spatial awareness, an understanding of the elements and principles of design, and presentation (layout).
Entry Requirements Images We are looking for between three and 10 images that represent your breadth of work as a game designer. Ideally, we’d like your images to be presented as JPEG files or as a multi-page PDF (with each image or concept presented on a separate page) in RGB colour mode. Videos
(Optional/Preferred)The easiest way to submit a video is to upload it to a video-sharing website such as Vimeo or YouTube. If you want to make your video private, you’ll need to send us the password to view your video. -
Photography
Evaluation Criteria About this Category We’re looking for images that showcase your photography skills. Photographs can show anything: architecture, landscape, nature, portrait, still-life, street photography… you name it, we’ll accept it. Concept We’ll be judging your work based on your creativity, the composition of the shots and the story or narrative behind them.
Entry Requirements Images We’re looking for between three to five images. The smallest image size we recommend you submit is 1MB and the largest size 5MB. Ideally, we’d like your images to be in JPEG or PNG format in RGB colour mode. -
UX and Web Design
Evaluation Criteria About this Category We’re looking for pieces that represent you as a web or interactive designer. Entries can plan anything from functional websites or mobile apps to interactive installations and UX projects – or even concepts for any of the above. Concept A submission for this category should showcase your talents as either a web, mobile or interactive coder or designer. Entries for this category could be any design or coding work for websites, UX design or interactive installations. Entries for this category can be any image or video work that you've created from scratch - we're looking for innovation, high concepts, big ideas, digital relevancy, and beautiful aesthetics. Show us your creative maturity and the best you've got.
Entry Requirements Video The easiest way to submit a video is to upload it to a video-sharing website such as Vimeo or YouTube. If you want to make your video private, you’ll need to send us the password to view your video.
URLs If you have created a website to display your interactive projects on, you can send us a link to your page – just make sure it’s live so we can see it!
Meet our judges
Head Judge
Darryn joined Torrens University as General Manager Design and Creative Technology in January 2021, having previously served as GM Design and Creative Technology for Torrens University from 2016 - 2019 and Chief Executive of Media Design School (MDS) from 2013 – 2019. MDS is Torren University’s sister institution in New Zealand. Darryn has a strong background in the tertiary education sector in Australia, New Zealand and globally, previously serving as CEO of Whitecliffe College of Arts Design, Fashion and Technology and as a Board Director for Santa Fe University of Art and Design. Outside of education, his breadth of experience spans financial services, FMCG, retail, marketing, telecommunications, and digital sectors. His accomplishments include founding the Digital Leadership Group, elevating AIM Proximity as the second best direct/digital marketing agency in the world in 2009, and leading the world’s first entry by a bank into the energy and telecommunications retail markets. He was also the creator and leader of GlobalPlus, the triple-alliance of Air New Zealand, Bank of New Zealand and Telecom.
Fashion
Specialising in fashion marketing and branding, Russell has spent more than 20 years in the fashion industry, using his skills as a designer and educator to empower individuals and organisations to achieve results. Along the way, he has worked with companies such as Globe International and Pacific Brands, managing marketing for an array of youth fashion brands including Stussy, Superdry, Mossimo and Mooks. Russell is passionate about fashion brand development and strategically aligning product and brand to meet consumer need. He is keenly interested in the impact that technology and questions of ethical production and sustainable practice will have for emerging fashion designers as they enter and transform the industry.
Games
Trent is a co-founder of Sydney-based games studio Pygmy Tyrant. He has designed and created gaming content for more than 20 years and has worked with high-school and university students for nearly 12. He is currently the Senior Lecturer in Games for Media Design School Sydney and he hopes to see games grow as a medium for art and storytelling.
Animation
Ivan has worked in the 3D industry for more than 15 years as a VFX, 3D and games artist. He has numerous film, TV and game credits for working on projects with 2K Games, Tacx, Saatchi & Saatchi, Buick and more. Ivan is a 3D lecturer for Digital Media at Billy Blue College of Design.
UX and Web Design
Liam has freelanced in industry for the past 10 years, working with clients such as ABC and Queensland Government. Liam also works as an experimental digital artist producing award winning projects in fields such as post-production, 3D animation, virtual reality, interaction design, robotics, projection mapping, VJing, interactive public installation and is currently focusing on laser light installations.
Film and Video
Andy Marsh is an education professional with over twenty years of experience within the international private education sector. He has lectured in a range of topics including documentary production, digital media research, print design and publishing, film and video, media production, web development, 3D design and animation, computer games, photography, and communication design.
Andy is an active independent media producer and has a wealth of experience in planning, filming, and post-production for TV factual, news, motor sports, events, and unscripted documentary.
Photography
Daniel has been a professional photographer for over 20 years, working with DDB, BBDO, Leo Burnett advertising agencies, and clients such NAB, Coles, Luxottica, Manly Council, University of NSW, and Blackmores. His education journey started in 2013 when he joined the Photo Imaging department to manage the online program nationally. Daniel is a passionate and innovative educator who believes in student-centred approaches to teaching.
Interior Design
Melissa is an interior architect, designer, decorator, stylist, researcher, and educator with 15 years' experience across these fields. She has a Bachelor of Interior Architecture from UNSW and a Masters of Design from Torrens University. With a background predominantly in large-scale commercial projects, Melissa is now a Director with Maxwell + Shirley, an interior design practice working primarily in residential architecture and interior design, and is also a senior academic in Interior Design and Decoration at Torrens University.
Graphic Design
The power of collaborative creativity is what drives Nathan and how he uses 20 years of experience in communication, design and education sectors to help empower individuals and organisations to achieve results. Former designer, creative and art director for prominent design and advertising agencies including XOU, Pearshop and Jack Watts Currie, Nathan leads a team of industry-focused educators in the discipline area of Graphic and Communication Design.