Student Profiles

Holly Pepper

Freelance Designer/ Art Technician
BA Arts (Design)

I chose Curtin because it was the only university design course offered in WA. I wasn’t particularly satisfied with studying at Curtin. I don’t think there were enough contact hours and critical staff feedback on work. The degree fostered an interest in design. It gave me the basic skills to undertake design projects. The highlight was probably my final year project creating a large glass light installation was the highlight of studying at Curtin.

The most passionate tutor I had was Wilma Van Boxtel. She is a sessional tutor and she remains a mentor in my current design projects. She has gone on to introduce the sustainable design unit at Curtin, which sounds like a very interesting unit.

Since graduating, I spent a year volunteering in a design role working in Samoa as a product design developer and a graphic designer with the Australian Youth Ambassador program. I since returned home and have worked as a freelance designer over the past couple of years. In March 2010 I exhibited in Cottesloe Sculpture by the Sea and then later in the year I will be holding my first solo exhibition.

No, I wouldn’t recommend the degree. There is little-to-no industrial design industry in Perth. It is a very difficult area to work in, in Western Australia.