Graduate design students set the standard. TAFE has a long reputation amongst the Graphic Design and printing industry for helping to produce some of the best designers in Perth. This year's exhibition is no exception with the display of some competent graphic design and multi-media created by the Advanced Diploma students, many of whom will go on to further enhance the industry in Western Australia if not the world!

Jennifer van Niekerk thought so much of the Graphic Design course that she travelled from South Africa just to attend Perth TAFE. Her move paid off as she is the winner of the Woodside Poster Competition which will sit
well in her portfolio. For the other students, their portfolios are also well presented using up to date, industry standard, computer software. Interestingly, the word 'folio' has taken on a new meaning in recent years. The old vinyl zip-up folder is almost defunct as animated, digital presentations take its place. These young designers are actually setting the standard for digital-folio presentation, and the standard is high.

Of equally high standard are the young people themselves. Many of the students on gallery roster the day I visited the exhibition came up to me to introduce themselves, their work, and also to point out their peer's work with humility and professionalism. Quite commendable in the cut-throat world of advertising. One charming young graduate, Gemma, also offered me some helpful insights into their three year education.

Drawing is an integral part of the TAFE course for the first two years but only available to third year illustration major students. Gemma expressed concerned that without the practical drawing classes in the final year, many of the students who did not major in illustration were consequently losing out on the creative aspect of drawing and moreover spending too much time in front of a screen. The computer is not only a radical and brilliant tool but it can also be a curse when too many long hours are spent on it. Perhaps TAFE, and employers alike, should be insistent on warm-up exercises before and during the work day, as instigated by those at the famous Bauhaus?

Gemma also had the honour, or unfortunate privilege, of making up the graduate catalogue booklet. I say unfortunate because during the process of preparing the job for printing, she encountered pre-press problems caused by students supplying her with images created in 'rgb (red, green and blue), because the images 'looked better' than in the mandatory 'cmyk' (cyan, magenta, yellow and black). Many a printer or pre-press operator in Perth can attest to the anxiety caused by so called professional designers doing the very same thing for the very same reasons.

There is still a long way to go before many of these young designers can say they know it all. And just when they might be in that position, technology will change the game yet again. However, there is one feature on their computers that was slightly under utilized - the good old dictionary. Whilst it may seem trite, it is crucial for designers to be fully adept at using this facility as they are in the communication game on behalf of their
customers who invariably cannot spell themselves.

Out of approximately 80 students who started the Graphic Design course three years ago, 28 crossed the finishing line this year with flying colours. They all demonstrate the most desirable combination of competent media use with real artistic talent. I personally think that is the strength of a TAFE design education: it goes a long way to preserve and foster individual talent in conjunction with teaching the technical fundamentals.

Finally, for those 28 graduates, they can be proud of not only being a part of a great course, but finishing something they started - a quality that employers are always looking for.