‘The Works’ as we refer to ourselves commenced in 1991 with two students. Our program was based at the Bundoora Campus and our studio was a small room with no windows and 4 grey besser brick walls. This did not curb the creative talents of our student designers. The lecturer for the program was Lauren Murray, now head of the School of Applied Communication. One of these first two students, Bronwyn Clarke, is now Program Director of Communication Design. Lorraine Conway was employed as the studio manager on a part time basis.

In 1993 we had 4 students and 2 were international students from Thailand. International students were quite new to the University at this time. Our lecturer/creative director was Niko Spelbrink, an eminent typographer from the Netherlands.

In 1994 our numbers grew to 5 students and again we had two Thai students and the program has continued to have at least two international students each year until the present time. Our lecturer/creative director was Niall Meehan. Niall had arrived in Australia from Ireland with a wonderful folio and was immediately offered this role. This is the year we moved to the city campus, 410 Elizabeth Street. We had a large studio and one whole wall of windows. We were so happy with our studio space. By this time we had established a number of clients within RMIT and a few ongoing commercial clients. Tom Beattie and Giota Vass, students from this year started their own business on graduation - Beattie Vass Design and are still running it successfully specialising in exhibition design. Tom Beattie was awarded Student Designer of the year by the Victorian Government.

1995 was a big year with 8 student designers and one of our ‘iconic’ years. Awards were received, one being for the Melbourne Fringe Festival identity. Adele Smith and Luke Flood, graduates from this year started their own studio the following year -Actual Size and still operate this successful design business. Many of our graduates now run their own studios.

At the end of 1996 Niall returned to Ireland and Alan Scholz was our lecturer/creative director for 1997. Alan’s experience came from working in design studios and brought more business practices to the studio along with community clients.

The beginning of 1998 was very sad for the studio as Alan died suddenly. Alan is remembered fondly by those students he inspired and his colleagues at the university. This year we moved just up the street to 440 Elizabeth Street, a larger studio as we now had 11 student designers. This new space offered a briefing room, office for our creative director and an office for our studio manager. Bronwyn Clarke was recruited to fill Alan’s position. Bronwyn was one of our first students in 1991 so she came with lots of commercial experience and an understanding of the requirements of the program. This year our students won many awards and these graduates have forged businesses of their own, not only as graphic designers. On graduation Kylie Zerbst moved into fashion design and forged her own fashion label Obus. Kylie won the award for Young Fashion Designer of the Year. Certainly an achievement for a Graphic Designer!

2000 was a year to remember, many talented individuals once again. Four students from this year left Australia on graduation and are still practicing design in London.

2002 to 2005 saw a new lecturer/creative director to the studio, Tony Gilevski. Tony was a 1993 graduate from The Works. Tony had been a designer at David Lancashire Design and he was keen to pursue a ‘teaching’ role after being in industry for a period. During these years the studio successfully serviced many clients. Graphic design and printing processes were changing significantly and each designer had their own computer in the studio. Websites were a new area of design and our designers were offering this service to our clients.

Since 2006, Russell Kerr has been our lecturer/creative director. Russell has brought new skills and interests to the studio. Screenprinting being one of those and also a dedicated environmental philosophy along with community based clients.

In 2007 our students went to Wanganui in New Zealand and made a presentation at the Design Survival Camp.

2008 was another successful year for the studio and Luci Everett was awarded an Honorable mention (Graphic Design) at the Design Institute of Australia's inaugural Victoria Graduate of the Year Awards. Hamish Smyth (3rd year student) was awarded Student of the Year. Hamish is undertaking honours in the studio during 2009.

We are very proud of our studio and its graduates. We have ongoing clients and new clients seeking our design services. We also have long associations with printers, paper houses and photographers and value their support. Each year our graduates have an end of year exhibition and our alumni, clients and suppliers continue to join us and support the program.