Design Partnership with Hornsby Shire Council

Mount St Benedict College is committed to innovative projects that promote authentic learning.

With this in mind, The College’s Head of Technology Faculty, Dr Mary Southall approached Hornsby Shire Council with a proposal for students to engage in design projects with ‘real life’ context. The Council were receptive to the concept and for the first time worked directly with a school on design briefs for their projects.

As a result, Mount St Benedict College Year 10 and 11 Design and Technology students were challenged with two design industry standard briefs from Hornsby Shire Council, to redesign the Shire entry signs, and to create a new look for the Council’s waste truck graphics to encourage recycling.

Dr Mary Southall and Mr Kevin Jones, Design and Technology teachers at the College, were extremely proud to be able to showcase the work of their students to an external audience.

Year 11 student, Eliza Hayman chose to work on the Shire entry sign design concept, commenting that it opened her eyes to what design work is like outside of school.

“The Hornsby Council briefs drove us to be more flexible with our designs as the parameters were not as strict as they would be for a school project. Knowing that our designs could be seen by the local community and Council staff motivated us to make our designs as articulate as possible.”

Emma Georgeson, a graphic designer with Hornsby Shire Council commented on the high quality of design thinking and design concepts, noting “the girls managed to design outcomes that were bang ‘on trend’ within the design industry currently.”

In recognition of the girls’ outstanding work, the College recently welcomed the Mayor of Hornsby Shire Council, Mr Philip Ruddock to present awards to the students. The girls were excited to hear that the Council is considering some of the designs for production and use.