Top Design and NGV  

In Term 1, we had the opportunity to attend a Top Design forum on environmental design field (architecture) at the Melbourne Museum. 

We were very privileged to be given an insight of how the industry works and operates by Matthew Borg, a Senior Adviser in architecture and urban design at the Office of the Victorian Government Architect who provides project design advice and advocates for good design outcomes. This talk was followed by Unit 4 Outcome overview by the head of VCAA Arts and VCD, Kathryn Hender-Eckers.  

We proceeded to the Top Design exhibition which showcased the best works by students from 2022 including VCD, Media Studies, Product Design, Systems and Engineering, just to name a few. We got to view all the presentations which were accompanied by some very comprehensive digital folios. The exhibition hall was crowded with students from many other schools, and everyone looked excited and fascinated by the wonderful design works.  

Even though the weather was quite unforgiving at times, we braved the unrelenting rain and made our way to the National Gallery of Victoria. There, we walked through a wonderful installation in the garden called the Temple of Boom. This installation replicates The Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens which was originally built as a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. The building remains a global symbol of civilisation, democracy, beauty, and perfection. The Temple of Boom celebrates these interpretations, while simultaneously expanding our understanding of The Parthenon as an enduring architectural and cultural beacon. The likeness of The Parthenon will evolve and change as it is painted with overlapping large-scale artworks by Melbourne-based artists. It looked like a roman ruin structure and had colourful and modern graphic motives all over.  From there, we proceeded inside to the Freedom of Movement: Contemporary Art and Design from the NGV collection. 

We walked through the room and were greeted with a series of shiny metal chairs which are in line with what our Year 12 students were designing in the Industrial Design Field. This was followed by over 60 works from the NGV Collection in the proceeding rooms. The exhibition includes furniture, lighting, painting, film, sculpture and installation for us to gather inspirations from for our folios.   

We had a wonderful day exploring art and design in the two most comprehensive creative spaces in Melbourne. We feel blessed to have the opportunity to enjoy and learn about Art and Design from the past to now in this ever-changing world. We will be looking forward to enjoying this again as part of our ongoing learning journey.  

Khairi Razaai 

Visual and Performing Arts  

Leader Areas Leader