Anastasia Anastassiou is a recent graduate of Deakin University and a passionate freelance designer. Impressively she has been selected to be one of the five Australians displaying their artwork in the BDAK (Brand Design Association of Korea) 21st International Exhibition. ‘I had to do a double-take when I received the email [For exhibition selection]. I was absolutely ecstatic and couldn’t believe I was offered such an opportunity.’
‘In light of recent events and challenges the world has been facing due to the pandemic, BDAK (Brand Design Association of Korea) chose “Brand Design for Hope, Unity and Safety” as their theme for their 21st International Exhibition. Their brief outlined the need for a poster that promoted solace amid these difficult times. I was invited to take part in the exhibition by Dr Russell Kennedy, a Senior Lecturer at Deakin University.’
‘Designing a poster that promotes solace is not an easy task. A synonym for the word ‘solace’ is ‘comfort,’ which prompted me to ask myself, “What would bring me comfort right now?”. For me personally, it would be to catch up with friends and go out for coffees. This is what inspired me to title my design “Let’s Catch Up”, capturing a café that has re-opened to the public and is back for good. Taking part in everyday activities again is something we’re all looking forward to. This design brings comfort to the fact that our normal lifestyles will resume after COVID. This project has definitely been the highlight of my career so far,’ she says.
Among the five Australian exhibitors for the BDAK (Brand Design Association of Korea) 21st International Exhibition are Troy Campbell, another Deakin design graduate, and Dr Russell Kennedy, Head of Screen and Design and Senior Lecturer in Screen and Design at Deakin University.
Artworks featured in the Brand Design Association of Korea 21st International Exhibition by Troy Campbell (left), Dr Russell Kennedy (middle) and Anastasia Anastassiou (right).
For Anastasia artistic inspiration comes from, ‘everywhere. Pinterest, Insta, street graffiti, album cover art or even handwritten posters in retail stores. I tend to save, or photograph designs I find and use them as inspiration or research for future projects.’
‘My creative thinking process is definitely something that has evolved during my time at Deakin. ‘Creative thinking’ is a marked category for all design assignments which involves showing the different thinking techniques that assisted in answering the project brief. I now use creative thinking techniques for every design project without fail. They allow me to completely break down the brief and explore a much wider range of design solutions. Shout out to my lecturer Maria Bates who forced me to write down and sketch everything in my first year of uni.’
‘My teachers have definitely been the biggest influence on my career. As I mentioned earlier, throughout uni and even throughout high school, I have had lecturers who are incredibly passionate about design. They inspire me, challenge me and continuously provide me with opportunities to grow. Without a doubt, they have shaped me into the designer I am today,’ she says.
My experience with the academic staff has been nothing but fantastic. My teachers, with years of design experience up their sleeves, are incredibly passionate and knowledgeable. They have always gone above and beyond to help me throughout my years of study and have always provided me with opportunities to succeed. Without them, I would not have gained the work experience and design knowledge I have today.
While studying a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Communication Design)*, Anastasia embraced every opportunity to adapt both professionally and artistically. ‘In 2018 I was selected to attend the Japan Screen & Design Study Tour in Tokyo and Kyoto. The itinerary included taking part in many workshops and visiting shrines, museums, universities, galleries and seminars. This allowed me to immerse myself into a vastly different art form and learn about Japan’s both modern and traditional culture. That, alongside the fantastic food, made it an unforgettable experience. Another thing I learnt was how advanced their medical system is, which really helped me when I broke my ankle halfway through the trip.’
‘The most beneficial aspect of my course was my final group assessment, working for a real client. This particular client gave us very little time to complete the project, changed our client contacts halfway through the project (resulting in delayed communication from them) and took full creative control which defeated the purpose of bringing us on board for the project. This was by far the most difficult assignment I have ever completed, but it definitely was the most beneficial. This experience brought to light of some the real issues that can occur in the design field but making it an assessment allowed us to handle it with the guide of our lecturers. Experiences like these are vital to ensure success as a designer.’
Anastasia credits her work integrated learning experience at Deakin for preparing her in her career as a freelance designer. ‘During my final year at Deakin, I undertook a one-year internship at DUSA (Deakin University Student Association). I had gained some design experience during my studies, but this internship was an extension of that experience on a much larger scale. It gave me a real understanding of the many restrictions and difficulties a design job can entail, how to overcome those obstacles and how to better prepare for design projects in the future. My role at DUSA acted as the perfect stepping stone to a future career in design and has given me a taste of what’s to come. My experience has also allowed me to be able to personally relate to every design-related meme on the internet, so that’s a plus,’ she says.
‘My internship at DUSA was a fantastic steppingstone. My time there led me to discover the types of projects I enjoy and the design career I would like to pursue. Since completing my internship at DUSA I have been acting as a freelance designer. I’ve done various projects since then, however my most current project is the development of a sales training module to be used by JB HIFI company-wide. Eventually, I would like to work in a studio that focuses on layout and print design, a job that involves finding the perfect balance between text and graphics for a variety of different mediums. A majority of my projects at DUSA focused on this type of design which is what led me to discover my passion for it. I intend to focus on this style in the years to come and aim to work amongst designers who can teach and challenge me on a daily basis.’’
‘The advice I would give to graduates is to do the same and apply for short term design roles to discover the type of designer you aspire to be. There is something incredibly satisfying about providing a solution to a design problem. Seeing a happy client after completing a project is what also drives me to pursue future projects,’ she says.
Anastasia Anastassiou
Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Communication Design)*
*new course titles: Bachelor of Design, or you can do major/minor study in Visual Communication Design in the Bachelor of Arts.
Learn more about studying a visual communication design degree at Deakin University.