GOTYA 2021 winners announced
Graduates of the Year Awards
The Design Institute of Australia announced the Australian national winners for its flagship program for emerging designers—the Graduate of the Year Awards (GOTYA) 2021. From 173 impressive nominations and 27 State winners, seven designers have been awarded the prestigious Australian prize, with a student also named the Madeline Lester Award Recipient.
Australian Graduates of the Year 2021
• Madeline Lester Award
Isabelle Kleijn, UNSW
• Australian Textile Design Graduate of the Year
Sophie Yencken, RMIT University
• Australian Fashion Design Graduate of the Year
Gisella Candi, University of Technology Sydney
• Australian Furniture Design Graduate of the Year
Bolaji Teniola, RMIT University
• Australian Interior Decoration Graduate of the Year
Joanne Odisho, RMIT University
• Australian Interior Design Graduate of the Year
Isabelle Kleijn, UNSW
• Australian Industrial / Product Design Graduate of the Year
Tim Lutton, RMIT University
• Australian Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year
Madison Chan, University of Technology Sydney (Joint Winner)
Erin McConnell, Swinburne University of Technology (Joint Winner)
• Australian Textile Design Graduate of the Year Sophie Yencken, RMIT University
The GOTYA program mentoring students since 2005 is a unique awards program created to support and celebrate exceptional designers from around Australia in the early stages of their careers. The program is instrumental in providing tertiary institutions and design graduates with vital, real-life feedback from experienced designers and industry figures. Internationally renowned Australian designers and previous GOTYA winners include Tom Skeehan, Cassie Byrnes, Scott Van Tull, Edward Linacre and Tristan Brega.
This year the graduates were able to develop and make work showcasing a responsibility to the industry, especially new ways around sustainability and repurposing. They were able to design and create products that benefit people and the planet. By presenting a mix of concept developments, technical drawings and prototypes, the winners displayed a clear understanding of the skills required in the commercial marketplace. There were 24 leading jurors taking part in the judging process, including Mark Berlangieri, Jane Valentine, Dave Bickmore, Tim Phillips, Gustavo Ruckman and Nancy Beka.
• Australian Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year Erin McConnell, Swinburne University of Technology
New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory
• NSW / ACT Interior Design Graduate of the Year
Isabelle Kleijn, UNSW
• NSW / ACT Interior Decoration Graduate of the Year
Ike Sonder, TAFE NSW
• NSW / ACT Industrial / Product Design Graduate of the Year
Anthony Franco, UNSW
• NSW / ACT Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year
Madison Chan, University of Technology Sydney
• NSW / ACT Fashion Design Graduate of the Year
Gisella Candi, University of Technology Sydney
• NSW / ACT Textile Design Graduate of the Year
David Ward, TAFE NSW
• NSW / ACT Interior Design Graduate of the Year Isabelle Kleijn, UNSW
Queensland
• QLD Interior Design Graduate of the Year
Nadia Dubreuil, QUT
• QLD Interior Decoration Graduate of the Year
Elicia Muratoglu, Torrens University Australia
• QLD Industrial / Product Design Graduate of the Year
Alexander Eviston, QUT
• QLD Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year
Hannah Bryce, Griffith University
• QLD Fashion Design Graduate of the Year
Lily Mergard, QUT
• QLD Textile Design Graduate of the Year
Hannah Nam, QUT
• Australian Interior Decoration Graduate of the Year Joanne Odisho, RMIT University
South Australia
• SA / NT Interior Design Graduate of the Year
Brooke Bartolic, University of South Australia
• SA / NT Industrial / Product Design Graduate of the Year
Shu Yun Lam, University of South Australia
• SA / NT Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year
Brian Bolado, University of South Australia
• Australian Industrial / Product Design Graduate of the Year Tim Lutton, RMIT University
Victoria / Tasmania
• VIC / TAS Interior Design Graduate of the Year
Madeleine Day, Swinburne University of Technology
• VIC / TAS Interior Decoration Graduate of the Year
Joanne Odisho, RMIT University
• VIC / TAS Industrial / Product Design Graduate of the Year
Tim Lutton, RMIT University
• VIC / TAS Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year
Erin McConnell, Swinburne University of Technology
• VIC / TAS Fashion Design Graduate of the Year
Liam Ramirez, RMIT University
• VIC / TAS Textile Design Graduate of the Year
Sophie Yencken, RMIT University
• VIC / TAS Furniture Design Graduate of the Year
Bolaji Teniola, RMIT University
• NSW / ACT Fashion Design Graduate of the Year Gisella Candi, University of Technology Sydney
Western Australia
• WA Interior Design Graduate of the Year
Angela Scarano, North Metropolitan TAFE
• WA Industrial / Product Design Graduate of the Year
Simon Lockwood, North Metropolitan TAFE
• WA Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year
Anabel Cressie, North Metropolitan TAFE
• WA Fashion Design Graduate of the Year
Hannah Altinier, North Metropolitan TAFE (Joint Winner)
Emily Cooper, Curtin University (Joint Winner)
