The theme for this years AGDA Poster Annual was “Inspired by Music”.

Diploma students undertook this as a class assignment and were invited to be inspired and interpret this theme however they wish. The results (collated below) showcase these outstanding responses to the brief. And with a fantastic Jury lined up to judge this years competition, fingers crossed Central students will be as rewarded as they were last year (previously, 5 out of 30 nationally selected students were from Central! View the 2010 gallery here.)

Music is perhaps the oldest of humanity’s creative endeavours. It is both an art form as well as a type of communication. The world over music is a source of entertainment, celebration, worship and expression. The diversity of music reflects the soul of the world and binds us all. We all experience music at emotional and cultural levels. It offers us our finest moments and records our trials and our joys. This is the power that we hope you can capture. AGDA POSTER ANNUAL

Emily Tenzer Santoro, Adjunct Instructor at Pratt Institute, Queens College and New York University and SUN/FIT, brought her background in anthropology (BA, Barnard College, 1984) to the culture of graphic design to Central Institute of Technology in Perth last week for an fantastic interactive workshop. Made possible by Swinburne, AGDA and Central’s generosity, it was a real treat to spend some time with a talented design lecturer from New York.

As a group we explored concepts for a Op-Ed response. Using key words, matrix systems, creative thinking and visualisation techniques the group enjoyed this most basic of task to produce a quick series of solutions – which are never as easy as it looks or sounds!

Plus, AGDA WA put on a ‘free for members’  casual evening at the Oxford afterwards with a fun presentation and informal walk through Emily’s neighbourhood in Queens.

The Australian Graphic Design Association’s 2011 Education Policy is a document started by former AGDA National president Fiona Brine and then further developed and refined by  myself and several other AGDA National stakeholder team members to better inform educational institutions and students of graphic design of AGDA’s stance and position on graphic design training and education.

This policy is for education institutions, policy makers and students entering the graphic design industry in Australia.

The AGDA Education policy is available to all for download at education.agda.com.au.

Amanda Hay was pivotal in the success of ‘bringing the policy to life’ and some of here fantastic folio images are below. Her stunning rationale explains:

The final design for this EDUCATION POLICY was based on the popular woodblock puzzles which use letters, numbers and basic shapes as a way of teaching young children basic problem solving. As well as the obvious educational parallels ‘the shape of things to come’ can be interpreted as a literal play on words of the body copy and the visual content of the booklet and also metaphorically as the future of the graphic design industry in Australia. Woodblock shapes were laser cut to mount on the publication in keeping with the theme and to create dimension and interest.

• All photos © Amanda Hay.

Stephen Castledine, Perth’s favourite award-winning artist and graphic designer, who has been working in the design industry in WA for over 27 years and the talented, Isabel Kruger, named PADC’s ‘Designer of the Year 2009′, who has worked in boutique design studios in Hamburg, Munich, Sydney and Perth gave a fantastically concise, entertaining and honest talk today at Central Institute of Technology.

Isabel’s final comments towards the end of the session (regarding mining jobs vs graphic design jobs and associated pay scale) was resonate and sincere. I hope if students think of anything from today, it is that “quality” aesthetic and genuine love, passion, skill and intuition are essentially the key ingredients needed for a long, worthwhile design career and a life well lived.

Great work Steve and Izzi. Fantastic role models and true ‘local legends!’.

Ting designed the Talk Poster.

Had a great evening listening to the inspiration words, thinking and process of Blair Enns at the Oxford Hotel in Perth last night.

Blair’s book is actually available for free online here, so if you have a moment, you should certainly take a look. The reviews are glowing and the logic is unquestionable.

Sean Mckay took some great snaps of the evening, capturing the space and atmosphere perfectly.

The AGDA WA quiz night was a huge success thanks to all those who attended and some very generous sponsors.

We also can now release the AGDA Graphic Design Quiz Sheets (with answers) for you to brush up on your skills for next year.

Click here to download the QUIZ Sheets.

The AGDA poster Annual is now calling for submissions from designers Australia wide. This is a great opportunity for all professionals and students to get their work seen by a huge audience.

See the site for all the details.

Get organised and get busy.