The world of design and creative technology is constantly changing, and with it, the need for fresh, innovative talent to grow the future of Australian design. Recognising this, Billy Blue College of Design at Torrens University Australia is taking action by nurturing the next generation of creative talent with the Bright Awards Design and Creative Technology competition.

The Bright Awards are a celebration of creativity among Year 10, 11, and 12 students across Australia. This competition recognises emerging designers and tech enthusiasts who are already practising their art, supporting the future of the arts in high schools around the country. Whether you or your child are just discovering their talent or seeking to showcase well-honed skills, the Bright Awards provide a platform for that work to be recognised by industry experts.

The competition is not just about winning, it’s about the process. It’s about taking that first step towards a career in design and creative technology. The Bright Awards are looking for original ideas, demonstrated research and planning which results in a quality submission. They encourage submissions that have been considered from a social, environmental or economic perspective.

Categories and Prizes

What’s on offer? By entering the Bright Awards competition, you could win:

● A Category Finalist spot, earning yourself $1,000 plus a complimentary Creative Cloud licence* from Adobe (valued at $1,055).
● All Category Finalists are then put forward, where one could win the Pinnacle Award in Creativity & Innovation Excellence earning a 50% scholarship* to study design and creative technology, and $5,000 for your school.

The Bright Awards competition offers a range of categories, each designed to highlight a specific area of design and creative technology. These categories include:

Architecture & Interiors

This category seeks work that represents you as a future Interior Designer or Architectural Technologist.This could include interior or exterior spaces, furniture, artefacts, digital or physical environment concepts. Work completed as part of your Y10, 11 or 12 studies can be submitted.

Digital Technology

This category is for those who see themselves as future IT specialists, network designers, or software developers.Entries can be anything from the concept of a robot, a working robot or component of code, game logic, or visualizations of a scenario and outcome. Work completed as part of your Y10, 11 or 12 studies can be submitted.

Fashion Design, Marketing & Textiles

This category is for future fashion leaders, designers, entrepreneurs, or marketers.This could include business concepts, garments, accessories, textiles, merchandising, digital or physical fashion. Work completed as part of your Y10, 11 or 12 studies can be submitted

Media Arts & Gaming

This category is open to all aspects of digital media, interaction design, animation, and gaming.You may wish to design a media campaign, a website, an app, a game character, a game environment, a 2D or 3D animation, or even develop an entire game demo or film. Work completed as part of your Y10, 11 or 12 studies can be submitted.

Photography

This category is for images that showcase your photography skills.Photographs can show anything: architecture, landscape, nature, portrait, still-life, street photography… you name it, we’ll accept it. Work completed as part of your Y10, 11 or 12 studies can be submitted.

Visual Arts

This category is open to all aspects of graphic and communication design.You may wish to design a poster, an illustration, a logo, a magazine concept, a font or typeface, packaging concept, a merchandising idea, web design, or a marketing campaign idea. Work completed as part of your Y10, 11 or 12 studies can be submitted.

By entering the Bright Awards competition, you could win a Category Finalist spot, earning yourself $1,000 plus a complimentary Creative Cloud licence* from Adobe (valued at $1,055). All Category Finalists are then put forward, where one could win the Pinnacle Award in Creativity & Innovation Excellence earning a 50% scholarship* to study design and creative technology, and $5,000 for your school.

Design Thinking Workshop

In order to kick-start your entry process, Billy Blue College of Design have put together a handy guide on how to craft your submission taking into account the Design Thinking framework. You can use these worksheets at home, or in class as a guide to prepare your entry, or simply to practice the art of Design Thinking.

You can find the link to the guide here.

Meet some of the judges - 2024

Melissa O'Brien
Architecture & Interiors

Melissa is an interior architect, designer, decorator, stylist, researcher, and educator with 15 years' experience across these fields.

Russell Ponting
Fashion Design, Marketing & Textiles

Specialising in fashion marketing and branding, Russell has spent more than 20 years in the fashion industry, using his skills as a designer and educator to empower individuals and organisations to achieve results.

Daniel Coelho
Photography

Daniel has been a professional photographer for over 20 years, working with DDB, BBDO, Leo Burnett advertising agencies, and clients such NAB, Coles, Luxottica, Manly Council, University of NSW, and Blackmores.

Associate Professor Tony Jan

Digital Technology

Tony holds a PhD in machine learning in network security and a bachelor’s in computer engineering and has been responsible for the accreditation of prominent IT education.

Design and Creative Technology careers

Darren Melrose, Chief Marketing Officer at Torrens University Australia, said: “Design is a unique industry, and provides the opportunity to work from anywhere, which sets students up for a truly global career option. The creative application to technology is changing how we create and design systems, homes and solve challenges, including environmental issues. Now is the perfect time to take your first step towards a career in design and creative technology. If you're a teacher, there are 5000 reasons to have your entire class submit an entry.”

The Bright Awards Design and Creative Technology competition is a fantastic opportunity for young, creative minds to shine. It’s not just about winning prizes; it’s about being part of a community that values creativity and innovation. So, if you’re a Year 10, 11, or 12 student in Australia with a passion for design and creative technology, this is your chance to take action, submit your work and be recognised and rewarded.

What are you waiting for? Find out more and start your application on the Torrens University website here.