Hi, my name is Jaime, and I am a final semester Bachelor of Interaction Design student at QUT. My desire to delve deeper into the tech field and pivot from my previous career inspired me to enroll in QUT. I did this so I could future-proof my career and learn from the ground-up how to create intuitive and meaningful experiences for our community.
I genuinely enjoyed every step of completing this degree. Coming back to university in my early 30s meant that I had quite a clear focus of what I wanted to achieve, and the determination to give it my all. The foundation units did a fantastic job of exposing me to different avenues in which I could take interaction design. Additionally, they exposed me to the kinds of software and technologies that I could be using in this field, and acted as a fantastic springboard to allow myself to take my career in whichever way I felt passionate about.
QUT academic support
Despite the common misconception about group assignments, I found them to be immensely beneficial, especially when working with design students from other disciplines. The collaboration aspect provided a more holistic approach to design challenges. QUT's academic staff were always available to offer feedback and advice, and their motivation and support were crucial in achieving my grades.
We were always encouraged to collaborate on design projects with students from other disciplines. This multidisciplinary approach allowed me to learn from interior, industrial, visual communications and fashion students who brought a different set of knowledge to the table. In particular, the practical units were a great source for student and industry collaboration. I was recently involved in a work-integrated learning unit at the Herston Biofabrication Institute, where I designed and programmed a prototype of a 3D model interface for urologists. Another recent work placement enabled me to create visual media and motion graphic assets that would be shown on an international stage at The Hague in Holland. Next month I will also start a 6-month paid internship at a major tech company in Sydney.
Real world teaching
One of the highlights of my degree was the capstone project in Interaction Design. My supervisor, Dr Heather McKinnon, was an amazing source of inspiration and encouragement. She was always there every step of the way, which allowed me to put in 110% effort into my project. I couldn't have achieved the level of output that I did without the support of the academic staff.
Through my involvement in student clubs such as QUT Reality Labs, I was able to network with a broader range of students, industry professionals, and academics. This was incredibly helpful for collaborating on projects, gaining internship placements, and finding general support for my studies, not to mention a great way to socialise with like-minded people. QUT's tutors and lecturers were also relatable and approachable, and their professional journeys and experiences outside of academia made it less intimidating to tackle job and placement applications.
The support I received during this course from QUT’s academics was second-to-none. They were always available to offer feedback and advice, and I really feel as though I achieved the grades I did because of their motivation and support throughout. As a result, I feel confident and ready to pursue my career in the tech industry.
