Industry and education combine to create next gen of UX talent

User experience design skills are in demand and RMIT is leading the way in teaching them with industry partners like Adobe.

Student Jordan Rendevski was among the winners at the inaugural RMIT Adobe XD Awards last week.

The next generation of professionals showcased their work to design industry leaders at the inaugural RMIT Adobe XD Awards last week.

More than 100 students from programs including Bachelor of Design (Digital Media), Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) and Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours) entered their work in the awards, held at the newly-revamped Capitol and alongside the Digital Media graduate showcase.

Second year Bachelor of Communication Design student Jordan Rendevski won the Best Creative Use of Adobe XD category for his work which took a type specimen booklet that he designed, inspired by a nostalgic arcade gaming font, and turned it into a webpage.

Rendevski said he was surprised to win given he had little previous experience with Adobe XD.

“To get recognition for the hours put into your work is something really satisfying,” he said.

“I never really thought digital design was something that could be a possible career for me as I could never really grasp the coding side of things, but software today means you don’t need to be an expert at it.

“During my time at RMIT, my skills in industry standard software have grown dramatically and winning an award like this could open up work opportunities down the track.”

The mature age student said he hoped to combine his skills as a designer with his interest in education.

“Through my work as an education support worker at various primary schools, I have found that creativity is really on the decline,” he said.

“I hope to change that current trajectory and use my skills as a designer to both create a more visually and fun experience in the classroom, but also engage and improve learning outcomes through design.”

Rendevski’s award-winning work took a type specimen booklet that he designed, inspired by a nostalgic arcade gaming font, and turned it into a webpage.

The awards covered user experience (UX) design, which focused on digital product design, as well as experience design (XD), which combined both the physical and digital environments.

Adobe’s Director of Strategic Business Development APAC Michael Stoddart said the partnership to establish the awards underscored that UX design was one of the fastest growing segments in design.

“It’s truly inspiring to see how RMIT’s students have embraced the rapidly exploding field of Experience Design to showcase their creativity,” he said.

“I’m excited to see how these students continue to cultivate and apply their design skills in the future

Bachelor of Design (Digital Media) Program Manager Dr Li Ping Thong said the awards were part of Adobe and RMIT's ongoing partnership, which aimed to arm students with the skills required to succeed in today's digital workforce and help profile students’ UX expertise within the sector.

“UX skills are taught in depth in the School of Design,” she said.

“In the Bachelor of Design (Digital Media), our students develop expertise in human-centred design approaches, UX research and UX design and development.

“The RMIT Adobe XD Awards are a great way to profile some of our achievements in UX and to create direct pathways for student internships and graduate roles with our industry partners."

School of Design Dean, Professor Laurene Vaughan, said the awards brought together design and industry, both of which had been in RMIT’s DNA since the University was established in 1887.

“We’re committed to delivering relevant education that meets the needs of the industry, while preparing students for the future of life and work,” she said.

“For some, it’s a field of study RMIT is globally known for, such as design, for others it’s re-skilling for a new career or fulfilling a dream to start their own venture.”

Story: Amelia Harris

Art, Design and Culture

24 June 2019

Art, Design and Culture

24 June 2019

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Industry and education combine to create next gen of UX talent