Griffith University emerged as a standout performer at the recent Graduate of the Year Awards (GOTYA) hosted by the Design Institute of Australia, scooping up a total of five titles.
The prestigious awards, established in 2003, recognise outstanding Australian designers at the beginning of their careers, celebrating not only their creative work but also their work ethic and readiness for the professional world.
Three graduates from Griffith’s Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication Design) program achieved remarkable success, leading to Griffith being the most awarded university in Queensland, and tied with Monash University for most awarded in Australia.
- Rhianna Pearce: Commendation Award, Queensland — Interact Category
- Jan Pimping: Commendation Award, Queensland — Interact Category
- Kyla Little:
- Graduate of the Year Award, Queensland — Interact Category
- Graduate of the Year Award, Australia — Interact Category
- Graduate of the Year Award, Queensland Overall
Kyla Little’s achievements stood out as she took home three awards, which progresses her to the national GOTYA later this year.
Visual Communication Design major convenor and Creative Director at Liveworm, Dr David Sargent was filled with pride and said all three graduates deserved every accolade.
“From Kyla Little’s meticulous approach and constant drive for perfection, to Rhianna Pearce’s perseverance in transforming challenges into polished design gems, and Jan Pimping’s versatile artistic range that defies expectations, these designers have shown immense dedication and creativity,” he said.
“Jan’s outcomes were often very darkly themed with beautifully intricate gothic illustrations and great use of texture, but he could so easily jump to bright, bubbly, cute illustrations for a children’s book, plus he’s one of the gentlest and most articulate people you could ever meet.
“Rhianna sets her own bar exceptionally high and I remember one of her Liveworm brand projects where my feedback was just ‘Killer. No notes.’
“Kyla first appeared on my radar when her tutor asked if she was allowed to give a student 100 per cent as she just could not fault her work.
“Her outputs and work ethic are consistently set to 11 with every detail well considered and researched, top notch typographic craft and well-documented iterative development.”
Reflecting on her own achievements, Ms Little said she was humbled, particularly when she was unsure if university was even an option for her as she had struggled academically in high school.
“My path to design wasn’t exactly planned, so being recognised with these titles is incredibly validating,” she said.
“I barely met university entry requirements, and at the time, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but Business seemed like a safe bet, and Design seemed like something fun to explore, so I chose a dual degree.
“Once I began studying design, I realised how much it resonated with me.
“I’m fascinated by how people interact with the world and how those interactions influence emotions and behaviours, and this curiosity continues to inspire me as I explore new ideas in visual communication design.”
Ms Little also credited the Queensland College of Art and Design with helping her realise her potential and dive into something she was genuinely passionate about.
“I came in not really knowing what I was capable of, but the environment and support I found allowed me to explore that fully,” she said.
“The teaching staff played such a crucial role in that process, offering guidance that pushed me beyond what I thought my limits were.”
