Visual Arts, Design & Technology 

Elise Cope  

My Major Design Project focuses on creating a face mask for use in a range of settings, whether it be during COVID, in a polluted city, or during bushfire season. With 3.4 billion face masks being discarded globally every day, in conjunction with detrimental impacts for mental health from the sustained social isolation brought about by the pandemic, I was motivated to create a solution that would address these crucial issues. In response to the identified brief, I have developed a product that addresses gaps in previous solutions through a reusable, dishwasher safe design. Incorporating a transparent shield that allows expression and body language to be registered, improved interpersonal communication is achieved. A quick-lock strap system supports personalised adjustment, to provide a comfortable fit for a variety of face shapes, sizes and structures. The mask incorporates a range of technologies, including vacuum formed polypropylene,  cast silicon straps and 3D printed filter cases which house the N95 filter paper.  

Millie Hayes  

My Major Design Project is a modular urban bee protection habitat designed to protect and support critically endangered native stingless bee populations across Australia. Bees are at risk of habitat loss as a direct result of natural and human activity including bush fires, deforestation and in particular urbanisation.  Bees are responsible for pollinating 70% of the crops that feed 90% of the world. An extinction event would therefore have direct and immediate impacts on 90% of the world’s population, with food security and production compromised to the point of being unsustainable. My MDP was designed with the purpose of arresting the rate of bee population collapse by providing a habitat suited to use in the urban areas that have contributed to the rate of decline. The modular design can be easily scaled up or down to the location it is being placed into, using tool free 3D printed joiners. Bamboo tubes which allow the bees to live and nest are encased within a contemporary bamboo plywood housing that integrates the product into any landscaped backyard, terrace or rooftop. 

Hannah Starsmeare  

My Major Design Project is a native garden resource kit and website. The source of my problem was identified when uncovering that our Head of Design took over 40 hours of self-directed research to gather information and resources to install the native garden at Queenwood’s art campus. My solution aims to diminish this consuming task by delivering an all-in-one educational resource for use by teachers to address the Australia-wide cross-curriculum priorities of ‘Sustainability’ and ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures’ as well as the new Stage 4 Technology agricultural unit. The resource kit, inspired by the shape of the native Black Bean Tree Pod, is intended for use by a group of 4 students and is comprised of a variety of native Australian seed packets, corresponding signage, forks, spades and a resource booklet. The booklet provides the information needed for students to grow a successful native garden in their school or local community, and to learn about the uses of the plants by our east coast’s First People. The second component of this system is a website that is accessible to teachers, parents and students. It provides further learning resources, a digital resource booklet and an online store and forum for users to post questions or helpful tips, as well as express ideas about growing, lesson plans and recipes using the produce. In practice, my solution could help build a generation of Australians who are more culturally aware, respectful and appreciative of Indigenous peoples contribution to life in this environment. 

Charlotte Mason 

My Major Design Project combines sustainability and modern technologies, in the form of solar power to create an indoor, modular lighting solution that isn’t limited by hardwiring. Using a simplistic, minimalistic aesthetic, the design encourages consumers to make a switch to more sustainable lighting. The base station provides the link to the solar panel, charging each of the six lighting units using a voltage regulation unit. When needed, the internal battery units allow each light to be removed from the base docking points and positioned anywhere in the home, with run times of up to 6 hours achieved by the low voltage LED light strip. Drawing on my interest in modernist industrial design, this solution has enabled me to create a low cost, modular system that makes access to sustainable living a possibility for all consumers.  

Stephanie Preller 

As an avid member of the Queenwood rowing community, my Major Design Project drew directly on my experiences on the water and in particular, the issues faced when bringing the coxswain up to mandatory race weight. Historically solutions to this issue were crude, using gym weights placed into the boat to add the required mass. This presented multiple challenges to crews at race meets, ranging from potential damage to the expensive hulls if a weight were to be dropped, limited control over the final weight added and loss of trim and boat stability. My solution integrates the weights into the boat, through the provision of a kit containing silicone weights in the form of seat cushions. Coxswains simply place the waterproof seat cushions matching the additional weight needed onto their seat before entering the boat. The branded packs allow a flexible solution to an age old problem, whilst keeping the boat balanced and ready to race. 

Isabella D’Andreti  

Focus area: Costume  

Isabella’s costume is composed of a highly intricate corset and a floor-length silk taffeta skirt. The garment was designed for the Annual Hofburg Ball held in Vienna. The design of the costume hints at the theme of narcissism, conveyed through the digitally printed Renaissance paintings on the corset, the feature of which is the central panel depicting the work ‘Narcissus and Echo’ by Joseph Solomon. It is categorised as a costume due to the myriad of decorative techniques applied, including beading to complement the digitally printed fabric. The decorative features chosen represent the decadence and glamour that comes with ball gowns and underpins the idea of narcissism.  

Sarah Ezzy 

Focus Area: Costume.  

Sarah’s dress, inspired by the 1920s, was constructed from gold silk satin, which was bias cut with shoestring straps. Drawing on the flamboyance and style of the Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby, the dress included a wide array of technical skills and decorative techniques to impart aspects of the traditional flapper dress within a contemporary design. The inclusion of French seams, laser cut feathers and intricate sequinned beading on the back panels contributed to a stunning garment that was constructed to a very high standard. 

Lucy Forrest 

Focus Area: Textile Art 

Lucy’s wearable Textile Art is a two-piece set designed to act as a memorial for the 2011 Tsunami in Tohoku, Japan. Intended for display at the Iwate Tsunami Memorial Museum in Rikuzentakata, the heat pressed Japanese Kanji writing that features throughout the design tells stories, messages and statistics from the catastrophe, which killed 15,897 people and devastated the Tohoku region.  Utilising Tyvek, a material commonly used in the construction industry, the work innovatively employs laser-cut detail, pleated pockets and Issey Miyake inspired geometric shapes representative of modern Japanese architecture. The shape of the garment is contemporary and sophisticated, with its contrasting black and white colours drawing attention to the detail and symbolising the harsh reality of Japan’s history.  

Rebecca Winton  

Focus Area: Costume.   

Rebecca’s two-piece comprises of a top and skirt, which were designed for the Hmong New Year Festival, held each December. The garments took inspiration from contemporary designer Ika Butoni and incorporated traditional Hmong techniques, including Batik Dyeing, Indigo Dyeing and Hand Embroidery. The top features hand-painted silk and machine embroidery, while the skirt features hand embroidery of traditional Hmong motifs such as the ‘Elephant Foot’. Both garments coordinate together with the use of blue and red.  

Charlotte Mason 

Focus Area: Apparel  

The growing culture of unisex fashion embodies the ideals of inclusivity, exemplifying bold and meaningful messages whilst using fashion design ‘obnoxiously’. Unisex culture is often celebrated by designers who do not believe fashion to be gender binding and choose to challenge the social constructs and expectations of masculinity and femininity. Charlotte’s Major Textiles Project comprises a two pieced garment embodying the concept  ‘UNIVERSAL UNISEX, WEAR PINK’, embracing non-binary culture, whilst taking direct inspiration from a range of historical, contemporary, and cultural influences.  

Jamaica Sanders  

Focus Area: Apparel  

Having found great inspiration from designer Antonio Grimaldi, Jamaica adapted his style to craft a haute couture set, consisting of a silk cape, dress and pants. Jamaica's cape draws upon the evolution of capes throughout history, combining aspects such as the mandarin collar, sleeve and floor length drape to impart a modern style. The magnificent Australian coastline further enhanced Jamaica's design and was reflected through the detailed beading, cool colour scheme and organic flow of the hemlines and materials chosen. This expensive apparel is designed to be worn at the 2022 Fashion Awards, reflecting the theme of celebrating nature.

Lilly Still  

Focus Area: Costume.   

Lilly’s highly decorated red dress was inspired by Viktor and Rolf's 2017 Summer/Spring collection, 'Boulevard of 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams.' The dress, inspired by Japanese culture, was designed to be worn by Zendaya at the 2022 Met Gala. The dress features gathered tulle, asymmetrically layered to create shape and emphasis. Decorative techniques include hand-painted silk, ice dyeing, machine embroidery and beading. 

Chelsea Proutt​

Pupdemic​
DRAWING, WATERCOLOUR, LASER ETCHING​

My artwork is inspired by the connection and love which we hold for our pets. Their personalities make indispensable contributions to our lives, hence increasing demand for the companions during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the same invaluable connection which makes them so desirable, has also caused our society to commodify these animals, pricing their lives on popularity of breed or colouring.

I was inspired by Lucy Culliton’s painting of her farmyard family and her unconventional use of traditional portrait composition. I utilized this same bust framing to suggest a humanized personality and utilize watercolour pencils to detail fur texture, depicting the tactile relationship an owner shares with their dog. ​

The composition is reminiscent of a family photo wall, once more speaking to this deep connection between owner and pet, and how once we adopt these dogs, their breed or appearance becomes insignificant, giving way to the value of their personalities. In the context of today’s worked, this also ignites ideas as to how if this same love was extended to humans, regardless of race, gender, religion etc., we could form a global family. It makes us stop to think that perhaps dogs could teach us a thing or two.​

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Jemima Close​

Extremities​
DRAWING COLOUR PENCIL​

Extremity: ​

1. The furthest point or limit of something. ​

2. The hands and feet. ​

3. The degree to which something is extreme.​ ​

Inspired by the many definitions of this word, I portrayed this layered meaning by using a spectrum of coloured pencils to saturate the paper, reaching paramount colour vibrancy.​​

Furthermore, inspired by the material practice of pencil artists such as Wanjin Gim and CJ Hendry, I aimed to capture anatomical correctness through my depiction of the outermost part of the human form - hands. I explored the ways in which we use our hands expressively, portraying the physical manifestations of extreme emotions, as well as the limits of movement, depicting contorted and unnatural positions in my work.​​

Through my refined material practice and focus on the complex form of the human hand, multiple layers of meaning can be found within my work with connotations to the word Extremities.​​

Saskia Emery​

Rhapsody: On a Windy Night​
TIME BASED FORM – DIGITAL MEDIA​

My Body of Work explores memory and human existence which transcends a moment in time. ​ ​

As a circular, continuous triptych, each frame provides insight into the never-ending cycle of Birth, Life and Death with the use of symbology, compositional elements and editing to portray these ideas. ​

The rhapsodic piece is captured in a single fleeting moment over a few seconds in time, I have sculpted and extended these moments by shooting at 250 fps with further post-production editing, to submerge the viewer in a contemplative universe, imbued with mysticism, in which the human figure occupies a central place. ​ ​

While taking inspiration from Bill Viola I use water as a metaphor to depict the slow, yet destructive impact time has on memory. ​

The soundscape has been created with an original composition and extracts from T.S. Eliot’s poem in order to enhance an atmosphere of self-reflection and transcendence. I intend to present the film as an immersive experience in a room where the audience is surrounded by the work. With the aim of inspiring the viewer to bring their own life experiences to further the meaning. ​