Tag: iscd

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

Designers

This iscd grad left banking for a career in design

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date January 16, 2019
No Comments on This iscd grad left banking for a career in design

Sponsored by iscd (International School of Colour and Design)

Interior designer Romain Dossou-Yovo was in his late thirties and longing for a career change when he enrolled at iscd while juggling a full time job in investment banking. And with the corporate world a distant memory, Romain is now a successful interior designer and we caught up with him recently to get the skinny on his unconventional career path.

Interior designer Romain Dossou-Yovo

“I decided to enrol at iscd as it allowed me to discover many areas of the design industry. It’s also a very hands-on program with instructors that are highly regarded in the industry – I always felt anything was possible thanks to their support and knowledge. And most importantly for me, the school offered great flexibility with its time table,” says Romain who worked while studying towards a career in interior design.

Powder room concept — Romain’s powder room concept for an upcoming Sydney project. Image courtesy of Greta Unkuri Interiors.

A far cry from a career in design, Romain started out his working life in media and advertising before working for an investment bank. “None of those jobs were satisfying. I knew from the very first classes at iscd that I was supposed to be working in the design industry. For the first time I felt alive and as if I could be myself,” says Romain who graduated from his interior design course in July 2017 with top honours.

“Everything went so fast after graduating. I snapped up an internship at Inside Out magazine the following month and right after that I became an interior designer for two studios,” says Romain who now works on residential projects at Greta Unkuri Interiors and commercial ones at Kelly Ross. “I am blessed to have such talented, inspiring and clever directors. These two women have had a huge impact on my life and I will be forever grateful for the amazing opportunities they have given me,” says Romain.

A kitchen concept by Romain. Image courtesy of Greta Unkuri Interiors.

But while Romain’s journey sounds rather charmed, he is careful to remind me that it’s the result of plenty of hard work. “Let’s not forget that many people want to become interior designers. You are competing with a huge number of graduates to get a job at a studio or design firm.” Recent statistics do suggest however that it’s a growth industry which will provide increasing job opportunities by 2020. Romain adds: “I believe iscd did a great job at giving me the foundation and an understanding of the design industry. However, like any industry, you must be curious and strive to push your boundaries, and put yourself out there. This is key if you want to be ahead of the game. Aspiring designers should beware that the industry requires hard work, dedication and perseverance.”

You can study the iscd Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration 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 February 2 at 10am) and Melbourne (Tuesday February 5 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 education, interior design, interior design study, interior designer, iscd, online study

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 Styling

Interview: We catch up with the latest iscd graduates

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date February 1, 2016
No Comments on Interview: We catch up with the latest iscd graduates

The International School of Colour and Design is fertile ground for Australian interior design talent and recently we chatted with styling, interior decoration and surface design graduates about life after study.

The interior design work of Alix Helps

“I’m working full time as a decorator on Sydney’s north shore and I currently have an exciting project in Brisbane too,” says interior decoration graduate Alix Helps who was just selected for the Best of Houzz Australia 2016 in two categories – design and service. “It was a lovely way to kick off my year,” says Alix who credits the school with preparing her for the workforce.

“It was a smooth transition from student to professional as part of the course takes you through all the necessary steps to establishing your own business. I felt confident in my very first presentation, as we had role played so many client situations that it actually felt quite natural,” says Alix.

The styling work of Emma Say

Styling graduate Emma Say has taken on a role in the Axolotl design and sales team whilst working as a freelance stylist in her spare time. “Completing small jobs for friends and family enables me to engage even more in my creative side,” says Emma who is relishing her time at Axolotl too. “The exposure to sales, marketing and innovative design is something I love and it has been an incredible learning curve,” says Emma.

For surface design graduates Sally Cahalan and Sally Palmer, it was their joint prize win of 2014 Graduate of the Year, whilst studying at iscd, that kickstarted their careers. “It gave us the opportunity to collaborate on a textile range through the Emily Ziz Style Studio,” says Sally Cahalan of the collection titled ‘La Paradiso.’

Textiles from Sally Cahalan and Sally Palmer’s collaboration with Emily Ziz

“Our textile collection is inspired by our love of exotic travel destinations, handcrafted silver jewellery, textures, bold colours and patterns from everyday life,” says Sally Palmer of the range that has Moroccan, Mexican, boho, tribal and gypsy influences.

“The textile collaboration with Emily Ziz was very timely for me as I have lived in three states in the past 14 months and it has allowed me to work from anywhere with my laptop and an Internet connection, all while raising my young family,” says Palmer who has since set up her own design company, Indigo Salsa.

Sally Cahalan’s styling work

Inspired by her travels to Morocco, Sally Cahalan has also launched her launch her own company, Souk & Co. “I was seduced by the warmth of the Moroccan people, its amazing landscape and of course the saturation of colour and artisanal design on every surface,” says Sally who travels to Morocco several times a year to source homewares – a process that allows her to meld her love of travel with design. “I source unique and authentic homeware pieces such as beautifully embellished Berber wedding blankets, handmade with love by the Berber women for their daughters,” says Sally who hosts small-group trips to Morocco from Australia too.

Sally Cahalan’s styling work

It’s not too late to enrol for the next intake. Go here for more.

Tags alix helps, design, emily ziz, Emily Ziz style studio, emma say, graduates, houzz, indigo salsa, interior design, interior designer, interiors, iscd, iscd graduates, sally cahalan, sally palmer, souk & co, styling

Expert Tips Interviews Styling

Dani Butchart on how she became a stylist and how you can too!

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date October 8, 2015
No Comments on Dani Butchart on how she became a stylist and how you can too!

iscd graduate Manel Daetz on why you should apply for the Interiors Addict + inSTUDIO Scholarship

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date May 19, 2015
No Comments on iscd graduate Manel Daetz on why you should apply for the Interiors Addict + inSTUDIO Scholarship

Real reno: dated and termite damaged property to bright and airy home

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date April 22, 2015
No Comments on Real reno: dated and termite damaged property to bright and airy home

I’ll be the first to admit I romanticise the idea of renovating. Conceptually it sounds so fun and creative but in practice it is a lot of blood, sweat and tears; which Carlie Spiteri quickly found out!

hGbrQtFKYRFf4hOu9GiWSl7UqDkB5vpn99EXA5bf0uQ,w-AdYkGnZW6_hd_bO2N7yMkeijtxLs6KCpIjKhK7utI — After

“I have to say that I had a romantic notion of what renovating would be like, but about halfway though painting we almost had a nervous breakdown and found the money to get it finished professionally! There are so many things to consider every day and on top of that, we were working full-time and I was pregnant, so it was extremely exhausting!”

Renovating their Thornleigh property in Sydney’s north-west, Carlie and her fiancé Matt took on an extremely challenging project, what with the house being infested with termites! “We specifically wanted high ceilings, north facing living areas and a garden, and this place ticked all those boxes. The only thing was, it had significant termite damage. It was also dated inside and had lots of different work done over the years so needed a consistent look to be applied. We almost didn’t buy it but got convinced by Matt’s dad who had renovated a lot and felt convinced we could easily repair the damage and add value to it.”

Buying the home for $745,000 in 2013, they spent approximately $85,000 renovating the property in a three-month period. And with a bit of a design flair between them — Carlie having recently undertaken a ISCD course and Matt being the co-director of Exquisite Solutions (a curtains, blinds, shutter and soft furnishing company) – they were able to do much of the work themselves. To add to this, Matt’s brother-in-law is a carpenter and kindly used his long service leave to repair all the main termite damage (after all, what are family for?).

The main changes to the home saw them replace the floor, add insulation, repair all the termite damaged beams (and there were a lot of them!), paint the whole interior, add a new kitchen and do significant work to the garden. But for Carlie, the biggest change has actually been one of the simplest. “The new floor and simply painting everything white has just lifted the home so much. We had whitewashed Oak engineered floors laid throughout the living/kitchen area and we just love these!”

cIWjpWDAW37veOsNTgYgV7U7E-HG9Mt-OugvpUaBOOY — Before

With the property now valued in the early $900,000s, Carlie is happy to stay for some time, though the question is: has the first-time renovator caught the renovating bug? “At the time, when renovating we said: ‘No way would we do it again!’ But since we’ve finished we have said we would consider it!”

tCU_J4ZoRkv_ZEiQ5QMokbk7LyQ3P_ul6CNPczxXZ7o,UA2ItZ2gE1jW9s3WHFkZMoAGo0_vt6CuIb_bKybXq5Q — After

But if (or maybe more likely when) she begins her next project, she’ll have some key learnings remembered. “Document every expense and constantly reassess your budget; find the money for a painter — it’s really time-consuming and difficult when you have cathedral ceilings — and finally, the reality is that half of Sydney’s homes probably have termite damage. We now pay an annual fee for termite checks and I would say to people: ‘Monitor your home because you never want it to get to a stage where there is no turning back.’”

Tags building, design, Exquisite Solutions, home reno, interiors, iscd, real reno, reno, renovating, renovation, termite damage

Competitions Designers Styling

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

What to give someone who has everything? Nothing!

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date December 6, 2014
No Comments on What to give someone who has everything? Nothing!

By Caitlin Davis

Because, somewhere out there, is a little green tree. On that green tree is a little golden star. On that golden star it is written, “Female, Aged 17”.

That was my tag. Once I got over the incredible shock, the wholehearted pity and the overwhelming feeling of “I’m one of those children”, I felt immense gratitude and compassion. I received a $40 voucher with a bath and body gift set and I felt on top of the world walking into the department store to buy a brand new pair of jeans with an abundant “just stepped off the resort” smell of fresh coconut. I hand washed my new jeans for months as if they were Gucci and boy, did I ration out that body lotion! At 17, I was old enough to not believe in Santa…but he truly visited that year.

So how can you make a difference? Here are my top local gifting destinations.

1) Your local family and children’s services office, outreach centre, church group or crisis accommodation desk.

If you contact your local council, they will be able to help you find your local crisis centres and family and child service offices who are in need of donations or gifts. These are often the most in need as they do not advertise and do not have the pull that other retail giants have. Often, there will be a donation box at reception.

2) Department stores

The Kmart Wishing Tree, partnered with the Salvation Army, has a long and loyal reputation for Christmas gift giving. Just pick up a tag, hunt down the present, wrap or leave unwrapped and attach the tag to the present for placement under the tree.

Target has teamed up with Uniting Care Australia this year with the Target Giving Box. The same principles apply here as Kmart. Uniting care also accept unwrapped gifts at local offices. (http://www.givingbox.com.au/)

3) Online local charities

Purchase a gift online from Simply Giving and they will deliver it to your charity of choice! Twenty charities to choose from.

4) My Cause

This website is dedicated to helping anyone in need of anything and the donations are directly linked with no middle man. You can randomly select a cause from helping to pay for cancer treatments to emergency funds for widows and their families or even school tuition. The campaigns are heartbreakingly endless.

So don’t buy something useless for someone who has everything. Instead, buy something for someone who has nothing. It will make a much bigger difference in their lives and you can give the “has-it-all” person a nice card that reads, “I compassionately gave your present to…”

–Caitlin Davis is a qualified colour consultant, an interior design student with the ISCD Sydney and a new mother on the brink of a blogging adventure. She believes everyone should be able to afford a stylist to take their ordinary house to an extraordinary family home. Follow her on Twitter.

Tags caitlin davis, charity, christmas, gift, giving, iscd

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