Student Profile

Kristen King

Graduate 2011
Bachelor of Arts (Design) Illustration

Overall I've been really impressed at the quality of teaching from many of the lecturers and tutors, and just the general encouragement and support I've received. It's a friendly and pleasant environment, where over the years I've made many friends who all share the same passion as I have, and it is through meeting these people that I've grown both as an illustrator and also as a person. Curtin is definitely a place to go if you want to build on your skills and gain a sense of professionalism.

Some of the highlights for me, personally, are the illustration projects I've worked on, where I've had the chance to create concept art and even comics. Though another highlight for me was the opportunity to make your own book on any topic you wanted, and in my case I made a picture book, which was a fantastic opportunity. It's the overall learning process of topics I find interesting that have led me to have a great experience at Curtin.

I feel that this course has enabled me to grow as a person and has given me the confidence to pursue a career in the industry. Currently I am working on a self-project in the form of a comic, which I aim to publish in the near future. This degree has honed my skills tenfold, where I've learned to explore different ideas and techniques. On a personal level, being a shy person, I have found the degree has helped my communication skills and boosted my self-confidence. The Curtin academics have been absolutely great, though by far Justin Randall has been a standout where he has supported my learning of illustration, and has helped me to develop my skills as an illustrator, especially in terms of narrative. Overall he has been a big source of inspiration for me.

I would definitely recommend this degree as it gives you the essential building blocks for learning design and also there is a nice balance of theory and practice.