Tag: international school of colour and design

Three successful iscd grads: Where are they now?

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date November 7, 2019
No Comments on Three successful iscd grads: Where are they now?

Sponsored by iscd (International School of Colour and Design)

If you’re looking to become an interior designer, there’s no denying that the International School of Colour and Design (iscd) is one of Australia’s pre-eminent places to study. From colour theory to technical skills (including AutoCAD and Sketch Up), and exposure to industry professionals, its Diploma in Interior Design (MSF50218), offers everything you need to launch your career.

But rather than get into the nitty gritty of course specifics, we thought it would be much more interesting to catch up with some successful iscd alumni to see how the experience prepared them for their careers in design.

From working for one of Australia’s most celebrated interior designers to running one of Instagram’s favourite (and always booked out) holiday houses, to changing careers from the Air Force to design, these alumni prove there are many ways an iscd qualification can help you create your dream job.

Caine Hodder
With a background in finance and logistics for the Royal Australian Defence Force, Caine Hodder is an unlikely interior designer. “I had always had an interest in design and followed design pages and magazines,” says Caine who has completed three courses with iscd including the Certificate IV in Design (CUV40311), Industry Diploma of Interior Styling and Industry Diploma of Colour Design.

“My experience at iscd left me feeling confident and well equipped to move into the industry,” says Caine who believes the qualifications were pivotal in securing initial employment. “Having trained through iscd was definitely an advantage in applying for jobs. It’s highly regarded in the design industry.”

Since graduating, Caine has assisted Crystal Bailey & Co on activewear queen Lorna Jane Clarkson’s Byron Bay beach house, and recently started his own company, Caine Anthony Design. He offers design and colour solutions, for clients wanting to update their homes, as well as property styling for sale and Airbnb renovations. “One career highlight was when my Bondi bachelor pad project was featured on Interiors Addict earlier this year,” says Caine.

Caine's Bondi bachelor pad project — Caine’s Bondi bachelor pad project

Lisa Dingelmaier
Long-time readers may remember the talented Lisa Dingelmaier. She was the recipient of an Interiors Addict/iscd scholarship some years ago – a win that gave her invaluable exposure to the industry and ultimately a job with Greg Natale, one of the judges.

Kicking off with a styling course at iscd, Lisa then completed interior design studies (via a partial scholarship) while working for Greg on a part-time basis. She now works full-time for the high end Sydney designer. “My time at iscd definitely prepared me for the industry. We worked on real-life briefs, from start to finish, and the experience was very practical,” says Lisa who has enjoyed an exciting career since graduating.

“As for career highlights, we brought out a book last year and I worked on that for a few years which was really exciting. We’re also opening a store in Potts Point which I’ve been a big part of. I’ve also been lucky enough to meet loads of well-known designers and obviously the projects I get to work on are amazing!”

You can get a video glimpse into a day in the life of Lisa here.

Simone Mathews
Simone Mathews’ design career evolved in reverse – she worked in real estate and the building industry before undertaking design studies at iscd to consolidate her skill set. “You could say I started the opposite way around. I learnt on the job and then studied to further develop my skills and knowledge,” says Simone who found being taught by industry professionals was an invaluable experience.

“What I love about my iscd qualifications is that I was not just textbook ready, I was industry ready. I left with my business systems set up, procedures in place, and a database of suppliers and materials. Without iscd I wouldn’t have had the confidence to launch straight into my career as a designer,” says Simone who completed a Certificate IV in Interior Decoration (MSF40113) before moving onto the Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration (MSF50213), juggling her studies around work and family life.

Her studies ultimately culminated in the establishment of her boutique accommodation business, SOUL of Gerringong. The property has been the subject of much design buzz and has featured in QANTAS magazine and on the cover of Country Style.

“My goal with SOUL was to create a place that I could share with everyone. So, each and every time guests tell me that they love being in the space, that is success to me. And of course, seeing SOUL on the front cover of Country Style magazine and featured by QANTAS was a huge moment for me personally,” says Simone.

For more information about iscd’s Interior Design courses and alumni stories

*Delivered on behalf of Academy of Information Technology ABN 35 094 133 641; RTO 90511; CRICOS 02155J

Tags design, education, interior design, interior designer, interiors, international school of colour and design, iscd, online study

Design Designers Interviews

This recent iscd grad now runs her own design business

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date January 23, 2019
No Comments on This recent iscd grad now runs her own design business

Sponsored by iscd (International School of Colour and Design)

Melbourne’s Jessica Farfan ran her own hair and beauty salon for 15 years before pursuing an interior design career at the age of 38, kickstarting it with a course at iscd while caring for her young family. “It was an unnerving decision to make, but it was worth taking the leap and I’m now reaping the rewards of my new career. I encourage anyone who is thinking of a career change at any age, to make the decision, take that step and follow your passion. It’s never too late,” says Jessica who completed a Diploma in Interior Design and Decoration (MSF50213) at iscd while managing the demands of family life.

Jessica Farfan magazine feature — Jessica in a recent magazine feature

“I studied on campus full-time from Tuesday to Friday. This timetable suited me well and was another reason why I chose to study with iscd,” says Jessica.

A recent bathroom project — One of Jessica’s recent bathroom projects

“The structure of the course was excellent. The course is quite intense and fast paced and it did require many extra hours to complete assignments. I had to put in about 40 hours a week for homework on top of the campus hours,” says Jessica who felt well equipped for a career in design upon graduation. “The educators at iscd are current industry-based designers which helps students receive up to date information on interior design and decoration. The excursions to stores and designers were extremely valuable in creating network connections and also in building rapport with suppliers.”

And all that hard work certainly paid off with Jessica working on a variety of projects, before graduation. “Whilst I was studying I was blessed to pick up a few projects such as a bathroom renovation, a beach shack renovation and a baby nursery decoration project. I also worked on a cottage renovation through my husband’s business – he has a building company called La Casa Constructions,” says Jessica who set up her own interior design studio, La Casa Interiors, soon after graduating. “At first I thought I may want to obtain more experience working for a firm or another interior designer but the projects seemingly fell in my lap! It can be difficult and tiring to run an owner operated interior design business, as it requires many hours beyond the standard 9-to-5 job. But being able to create new spaces from concept to completion, for amazing clients, far outweighs the cons,” says Jessica.

One of Jessica's mood boards — One of Jessica’s mood boards

And as for a typical working day, it’s a mixed bag of emails, scheduling, mood boards and more. “My work day often begins by answering client, trade and supplier emails, calls and texts messages. Then I work on research, design concepts, mood boards, schedules and preparing documents, depending on which stage of the design process each project is at. Interior design involves about 80 percent research, paperwork, design and concept drawing with about 20 percent of my time spent on site at meetings or making purchases. A lot of the time is spent in front of a computer, frequently into the night! As with any job, you must love what you do, to spend so much time on it and I love been an interior designer!”

You can study the iscd Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration (MSF50213) in 12 months on campus (Sydney or Melbourne) or over 24 months from anywhere, online. The next iscd online intake is scheduled for February while the on campus options begin in March this year. If you’re interested in finding out more about the course, the school has open days coming up soon in Sydney (Saturday 2 February at 10am) and Melbourne (Tuesday 5 February at 6pm). For more.

*The iscd courses are delivered on behalf of Academy of Information Technology ABN 35 094 133 641; RTO 90511; CRICOS 02155J; iscd RTO91439.

Tags design, education, interior design, interior designer, international school of colour and design, iscd, jessica farfan, la casa interiors, styling

Design Designers Interviews

Online study key for this interior designer & young mum

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date November 14, 2018
No Comments on Online study key for this interior designer & young mum

Kiera Sehmish mood board — One of Kiera Sehmish's mood boards

Sponsored by iscd (International School of Colour and Design)

When Melbourne’s Kiera Sehmish became a little jaded with the fashion industry, after working for many years as a fashion designer, she felt a career change was afoot. “I worked for local apparel companies in Geelong and Torquay but I was exhausted by the fashion industry and found that when I was travelling I was more drawn to interiors. I needed a change – I wanted to do something that was still creative but different to fashion,” says Kiera who, after some rumination, enrolled in an online iscd course.

“My husband is an electrician, so is in the building industry. I went and meet with architects and designers when he was on site, just to get a feel for the industry,” says Kiera who looked at many interior design study options before choosing the online study option with iscd as it fit neatly around her family.

“I have a four year old who was two at the time so flexibility was key. If I hadn’t been able to study online I would have had to put my son into full-time daycare which would have been too expensive,” says Kiera who studied over two years while working part-time in fashion design too. “I had my son in childcare two days so I did two days of study, one day of fashion freelance work and one day at home,” says Kiera of the juggle.

Kiera Sehmish living room concept — A living room concept by Kiera

“My online study experience was fantastic. Everything was broken down by study period and subject and there were discussion boards that allowed me to seek feedback from teachers and fellow online students. I found the personalised feedback so helpful and invaluable in preparing me for the industry,” says Kiera.

“I also liked how I could chat online with people ahead or behind me in the curriculum. I was inspired by students ahead of me and enjoyed helping those coming through after. It felt like a positive platform to showcase my work and get feedback too,” says Kiera of the iscd online community.

One of Kiera's completed kitchens — One of Kiera’s completed kitchens

The designer subsequently started her own business, before graduation. “I completed a small project for a library and a student services building for a private girls school while studying and I have two residential projects in progress at the moment,” says Kiera who recently welcomed another baby and is enjoying being able to schedule work around her family commitments. “I’m taking until Christmas off and then I will get back to meeting clients and wrapping those two projects up,” says Kiera.

Kiera's recently completed library project — Kiera’s recently completed library project

With the next iscd student intake slated for November 21, perhaps now is the time for you to set your interior design career aspirations in motion like Kiera. For more information.

*The iscd courses are delivered on behalf of Academy of Information Technology ABN 35 094 133 641; RTO 90511; CRICOS 02155J; iscd RTO91439.

Tags interior design, interior designer, interiors, international school of colour and design, iscd

Design

iscd: Online interior design courses with a difference

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date November 6, 2018
No Comments on iscd: Online interior design courses with a difference

Sponsored by iscd (International School of Colour and Design)

While there are plenty of online study options in the design space, quality can vary greatly. I remember my own experience of remote learning at university when the technology was in its infancy and the whole process felt rather disconnected (the irony!) but online learning has come a very long way which is great news for budding interior designers.

Whether you’d simply like to learn more about design, you’re after a career change or you’re already a design industry professional, iscd’s (International School of Colour and Design) online offering got a makeover recently and is now one of the best around.

“iscd has been educating in the interior design space for 35 years, having pioneered courses in interior design and training before there was a real demand for it,” says Cherie Karlsson, design educator at iscd. The company currently has two bricks and mortar campuses in North Sydney and Melbourne CBD. Its primary specialty is in interior design (its interior design courses are approved by the Design Institute of Australia) and it offers a Certificate IV in Interior Decoration and a Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration, both of which are available to study online.

“In exciting news, we have completely refreshed our Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration to have the latest content and technology, more video and personalised video feedback for every student on every assessment so it is an exciting, engaged and personal online study experience. In fact the online experience is so good our last group of graduates had a strong presence in the recent industry awards!” says Cherie.

Whether you work part-time, full-time or are considering a return to the workforce, the convenience of online study cannot be overstated. Iscd’s offering allows you to study when it suits you, on any device, moving at your own pace. There’s an easy to follow study calendar and you have 24 months to complete, working slower or faster in some weeks, depending on your other commitments.

Personal
Where some online courses literally leave you to your own devices, iscd believes that personalised feedback is key to optimum learning. “Our online courses are a genuinely personal experience. We offer individual video feedback on assessments for all of our students who are mentored by experienced educators every week,” adds Cherie.

Collaboration
The courses also encourage collaboration with fellow students – good training in something that is ultimately a vocational necessity. “The courses offer daily discussion boards where you can share and connect with fellow students. You can be as active or passive as you like within these communities,” says Cherie. I personally found online discussion boards very useful when studying my degree.

Connection
“We have a long history with select partners and it is key to our offering linking students to the design world. Real Living magazine, Dulux, Resene, DiLorenzo Tiles and James Treble are just some of our design industry connections,” says Cherie. And as you’re no doubt aware, networking is often central to securing a job in design (as it with most professions) and I can personally attest to this. While I obviously had the requisite skills, most of my jobs have been sought through networking.

“We also ensure that you remain connected in a digital sense by offering an easy to follow study calendar, engaging online content, training in the latest programs and apps, industry designed briefs plus incursions, excursions and job alerts,” says Cherie, who explains that there is a student services team designed to support you throughout your entire study journey too.

With the next iscd student intake slated for November 21, perhaps now is the time for you to set your interior design career aspirations in motion. For more.

*The iscd courses are delivered on behalf of Academy of Information Technology ABN 35 094 133 641; RTO 90511; CRICOS 02155J; iscd RTO91439.

Tags interior design, interior design course, international school of colour and design, iscd, study interior design

Designers Interviews

The first Interiors Addict + inSTUDIO Scholarship winner

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date July 29, 2015
2 Comments on The first Interiors Addict + inSTUDIO Scholarship winner

Introducing the Interiors Addict + inSTUDIO Scholarship

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date April 21, 2015
No Comments on Introducing the Interiors Addict + inSTUDIO Scholarship

Today is a very exciting day as I’ve been wanting to offer an Interiors Addict scholarship to a promising young designer for years. I’m delighted to announce that we have partnered with iscd’s brand new inSTUDIO campus to offer one lucky reader a full-time design course worth more than $18,000 as well as money can’t buy mentoring and work experience with interior designer of the year Greg Natale and The Block judge Darren Palmer!

inSTUDIO is a new design school in North Sydney which opened its doors last month for its first intake. Run by iscd, who have been teaching colour and design in Sydney for over three decades, this new campus caters to school leavers who wish to study interior design or for those who are wanting to study full-time or part-time and access VET FEE-HELP. Graduates can choose from exciting career opportunities such as styling, residential or commercial interior design and stage and set design just to name a few.

We are so excited to be able to be able to offer someone this opportunity in partnership with such an established and respected school. We know we have countless aspiring designers, decorators and stylists among our readership and love offering them inspiration through interviews with the best in the business and how-to advice articles. We also give them a free place to advertise their availability for internships and entry level industry positions via our jobs board. But this scholarship really does enable us to go one further!

Greg Natale and Jen Bishop — Greg Natale and I

iscd general manager Lucy Sutherland, says: “We are so thrilled and excited to be offering this wonderful scholarship opportunity in partnership with Interiors Addict. It is such a great program of study with the additional benefit of hands on mentors Greg Natale and Darren Palmer and the industry briefs. What a perfect way to kick start your dream career in the design industry? We can’t wait to welcome the winner to our inSTUDIO campus.”

DarrenPalmer_JTurk-4 — Darren Palmer. Photo by Jacqui Turk

The new course, nationally accredited MSF50213 Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration, is focused strongly on ensuring that graduates are readily equipped to enter the world of design. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a number of industry briefs and assignments with companies such as Designer Rugs, Temple and Webster and Scentre Group (owners of Westfield). Each class is taught by robustly experienced educators who are all still practicing industry professionals with a wealth of knowledge to share. This is combined with industry excursions and internships to ensure that each student is fully equipped to embark on an exciting new career once they graduate.

inSTUDIO is offering one lucky Interiors Addict reader an exclusive scholarship opportunity. The scholarship includes the Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration (full-time study from August 2015 to July 2016), the opportunity to be an inSTUDIO ambassador, one-on-one mentoring from Greg and Darren and the chance to see their work featured here on Interiors Addict.

APPLY ONLINE and read the full terms & conditions. Applications close 5 June. Winner will be announced 26 June. Classes start 3 August 2015.

Tags darren palmer, design, designer rugs, diploma of interior design and decoration, education, full time study, greg natale, instudio, interior design, interior designer, interiors, interiors addict, international school of colour and design, iscd, lucy sutherland, scholarship, study interior design, temple and webster, win

Interiors Addict

Guest post: Learn the business side of interiors

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date August 25, 2012

Donna Allen is teaching ISCD's course about managing a design business

Although the allure of a career in interiors can often seem glamorous (with The Block and Million Dollar Decorators inspiring us to either start sketching or grab a hammer), in reality it can be a tough game if you don’t have a head for possibly the most important part: managing the business. Donna Allen, educator of a newly revamped Business Mentoring Program run by the ISCD (International School of Colour & Design), explains the pros and pitfalls of a life in design, and how to forge ahead with the right take on getting the numbers right.

“Starting a business in any industry is tough and requires a lot of hard work,” explains Donna. “The statistics for small business start-ups aren’t always inspiring but, with the right information, support and planning, it is definitely possible to improve the odds of success.” One of the things Donna makes a point to cover is the actual time spent on design as opposed to managing the essentials of a business. “I always clarify to students that, on average, only 20% of your time will be in the creative space actually designing. The remaining 80% will be managing the business with all that that entails – sales, marketing, finance, planning, technology etc. The aim of the Business Mentoring Program is to provide students with the skills, knowledge and resources to successfully manage the business side of a new creative venture.”

Tags college, education, interior design, interior design courses, international school of colour and design, iscd