The Future Pathways Art and Design Tour is a hands-on experience for students embarking on Year 12 Art or Design subjects in 2026. It gives them the opportunity to discover the next steps in their education and career options in a practical way. The tour seeks to explore possibilities beyond Carey and in the tertiary sector in Melbourne.
We began the study tour at Swinburne University, where we met Dr Jo Kuys, Course Director of Industrial Design. Dr Jo took us on a tour of the Industrial Design building and explained exciting new initiatives like a wearable technologies workshop. In this unit, students explore new sensor-based wearable technologies used in Sport. It was advised, people expect clothing to not only look good, but to perform, adapt, communicate and respond to new and emerging technologies.
We then headed to Monash University, specifically MUMA – the Monash University Museum of Arts. They hold four exhibitions a year, showing collaborative, contemporary artworks from an extensive range of artists each time. We experienced the gallery using a visual thinking strategies conversation. This consisted of a process of analysing a series of artworks within the gallery to create a conversation around it as well as discussing motifs and materials that help to explain the main ideas behind it. These were beautifully emotive artworks that showed an amalgamation of the intergenerational trauma of racism in Australia, while simultaneously implementing modern shapes and ideas seamlessly. We then took our lunch break and moved into the hands-on activity with Dion, one of the Communication Design lectures. In groups, we created artwork with coloured tapes, using a combination of the first letters of our names.
The University of Melbourne’s Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) was our next stop. We explored the various art studios and practices of the university and watched a number of animation films from the school of Film and Television. The VR-LED screen and virtual production initiative was a fascinating aspect of how film and television has changed using this new technology. The screens have the highest resolution in Australia for immersive filming and production. We were all blown away by the facilities and new approaches in a fast-changing industry. Gaming and immersive technologies are now considered a growth industry and VCA is leading the way in supporting these future career paths for their students.
That evening, we attended the Comedy Theatre to see Here You Come Again – a tribute to Dolly Parton and her amazing stage presence. With front row tickets and an extravaganza of colour and performance, it ended our first day with students enthusiastically singing along.
On our final day of the tour, we had breakfast at the café connected to the hotel and we headed to Blender Studios in West Melbourne. Many students said it was their favourite workshop. Each student was able to design their own stencil and learn new techniques about spray painting, composition and design. The energy and hands-on approach by the artists working at Blender supported a collaborative learning environment.
Finally, we trammed to LCI. The building was originally a clothing factory, while the university itself started in Canada, Montreal. We completed a Textiles workshop with Lecturer Darren Arabin-Gander from London and his extensive experience working at Central Saint Martins, a world-renowned London school of art and design. A quote that stuck with many students from the LCI workshops was, ‘If you find something you like, you don’t have to be perfect, that’s why we are here to help you and support you in your future career’. The workshops at LCI were very student-focussed and immersive.
A big thank you to Mr Matt Scupin and Ms Fenja Johnson for supporting all students over the two-day tour. The students all gained an extensive understanding of their subject choices for Year 12 and possible pathways beyond school. Overall, this experience has opened many students’ eyes to a whole world of creativity and immersive learning opportunities they can explore beyond Carey.
Simon Carver
Leader of Learning – Art and Design
