Study and work exchange program develops future design careers

Forty undergraduate students from Australia and the European Union (EU) will take part in INTERACT, a full study and mobility program based in four locations: Melbourne, Brisbane, London and Copenhagen.

The program comprises studio-based teaching with an emphasis on applied projects in creative industry settings, and aims to develop better graduate outcomes.

The program is led by RMIT in Australia, along with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

In the EU, it is led by the University of the Arts London (UAL) with the Danish School of Media and Journalism (DMJX) and 16 associate industry partners. INTERACT combines elements of the undergraduate programs of four university partners, covering the fields of Interactive Design, Communication Design, Visual Communication and Games and Interactive Entertainment.

All four institutions will provide mutual recognition of credit for the mobility period, including internships and work integrated learning.

Dr Jeremy Yuille, who teaches in the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) program at RMIT, said the four participating institutions supported “learning by doing”, which lends itself to studio-based teaching methods.

“In the INTERACT program, students will have the opportunity to experience a diverse range of studio models and themes, and will work with industry in the four locations, Yuille said.

“Engaging in the program will provide students with a unique opportunity to expand their understanding of future Interaction Design practice through an embedded learning experience in diverse industry contexts.”

INTERACT started in March when staff from the four institutions visited RMIT and QUT to understand how the different courses complement each other and plan how the program would roll out over the next three years.

The first students from Europe will arrive in Australia this July, in September RMIT students Jessica Tomasino and Miren Urdampilleta are going to UAL in London while Adrian Sala and Veronica Tran are going to DMJX in Denmark.

Student Jessica Tomasino said that being offered the opportunity to study abroad in such a culturally and historically rich environment was extremely exciting.

“I know it will redefine the course of my life and career in the most exciting and unpredictable way." Tomasino said.

The program will conclude with an international exhibition of student and staff works at the London Design Festival in September 2017.