About me
Hi there! I’m Skye, a passionate graphic designer, tutor, lecturer, researcher and yoga teacher. My passion for design stems from the fact that design has the power to shape the world we live in. The ubiquity of design in our everyday life is vast and inescapable. The objects, services and systems that we bring into existence not only shape our physical surroundings but also our inner thoughts, feelings and beliefs.
Through my research and practice I am driven by a desire to use design to create a better world. While design was born into systems of environmental degradation, it has been evolving as a tool for rehabilitation by shifting to practices attuned to a new level of environmental sensitivity.
My approach to design aims to take into consideration the complex and interconnected nature of contemporary challenges like climate change, the proliferation of waste and escalating mental and physical health conditions. Complexity poses a challenge to traditional design processes by asserting that creating a solution is secondary to understanding the problem. For this reason, my design process focuses on the importance of deep and collective understanding in the face of complex problems.
When I am not researching, I love to practice my illustration skills and create fun and meaningful projects that promote positive mental health behaviours. My company Yoga On Cards is an outlet for these side projects.
Background
Growing up in a family of accountants, design was an obscure occupation for me to pursue. Driven by a love of designs ability to communicate powerful messages, there was no doubt in my mind that visual communication was where I belonged.
After completing a Bachelor of Design in 2008, I worked in the design & advertising industry for 4 years. During this time, I became acutely aware of the role design plays in encouraging mass consumption. Determined to uncover more sustainable applications of design I went back to university and completed a Master of Digital Design in 2013. In-line with my interests I used my research to explore link between current technological advancements and declining social networks. After completing my masters, I embarked on a career tutoring and lecturing at Griffith University. This position has further enhanced my communication skills along with illuminating a variety of design methodologies.
Griffith University is renowned for its Design Futures curriculum, which has been amalgamated into its Bachelor of Design. Design Futures serves to critically respond to emerging social and environmental challenges through the use of transformative design praxis. Exposure to Design Futures and influential practitioners like philosopher Dr Tony Fry, Dr Eleni Kalantidou and Dr Tristan Schultz has been an invaluable and life changing experience.
These connections have compelled me to further my research and explore systemic design. Systemic design is a process used within Design Futures and has been noted as a promising tool to approach complex social and environmental challenges. Systemic Design attempts to integrate systems thinking methods that explore complexity, with practical design thinking methods that support transition. This research is currently underway as part of an honours year and will be further developed in a PhD next year.
If you would like a copy of my CV, please contact me!