This Is Not University is a mentoring and career guidance initiative run by Sydney design studio Christopher Doyle & Co. It is aimed at bridging the gap between full-time study and full-time work, offering design students a series of mentoring and guidance sessions with design professionals over a 3 month period.
Applications open
Applications close
Interviews
Program in session
Applications open
Applications close
Interviews
Program in session
Within this please tell us —
Containing 3 projects that best demonstrate your thinking and your doing.
Within each project please include —
Email both PDFs to tnu@christopherdoyle.co
Please note that only successful applicants will be notified.
Program 01 in session 2020.
We have some answers.
Show me all of them.Applications are open to current design students (part-time or full-time) of the application deadline. Unfortunately, we do not accept graduates.
We encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, people with disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. Every application will be read and every applicant will be considered.
No. This Is Not University is not an education course and will not serve as a substitute for study. It is a response to the ever-increasing need for students and young designers to be more closely connected to and engaged with, the industry they are entering.
No. It is an opportunity for students to ‘sit in’ on studio life so they can learn about how a design studio operates and experience what the day-to-day looks and feels like. Students will not be working on studio projects and will not have any studio responsibilities.
Students will engage in a series of both in-person and online catch-ups. These will vary in length and frequency and will be determined based on the workload and schedule of both the studio and the student. We aim for each student to have access to the studio for one full day a week, and they are welcome to come and go as they please on this day.
When spending a full day in the studio students will be exposed to all aspects of studio life. This may include sitting in on internal meetings, briefings, design reviews, brainstorms, and client presentations. Students are also able to schedule folio reviews as well as request studio process and skills tutorials. Students are encouraged to work from the studio on their own projects and book in catch-ups for feedback as well as making full use of studio facilities (wifi, scanner, printer etc.).
Each program is individually based. There will be some instances where we may invite both students to sit in on client meetings, presentations or studio brainstorms. But the bulk of the program is based on individual experience.
Insight into how a professional design studio operates, guidance on portfolio building, self-promotion, industry engagement, job application processes and just general design life help.
Ideally, yes. As with full-time roles within the studio we see face-to-face time with students as key to the mentoring process. While face-to-face and in-studio time are preferred, if travel and personal schedules are an obstacle then the program can be weighted toward phone calls, video calls and email catch-ups.
We will be taking on two students per program. Four students per year in total.
By mailing us packages.
By sending us Dropbox or Google Drive links.
By sending us website links.
By embedding videos in your PDF.
By including the wrong number of projects.
By not applying.
No, sorry. Due to workload and time constraints, only successful applicants will be notified.
Yes. Once applications have closed there will be an interview process. Successful applicants will be notified about scheduling their interview after the 28th February.
Each program runs for 3 months.
Program 01 runs from April to June 2019.
Program 02 runs from September to November 2019.
No. The program is not paid. Successful applicants are not required to complete a minimum number of hours or deliver any work. Students will not be working on studio projects or contributing to any client work.
No. Aside from your own travel costs, there will be no cost at all for the student.
No. As you will not be based in the studio, no insurance is required.
Probably not. You’d need to check with your lecturer or school to confirm.
No. This program exists to help design students transition more smoothly from study to professional practice. There is no guarantee of employment once the program is completed.
You can email us at tnu@christopherdoyle.co
This Is Not University and The Design Kids present the next talk in a series of events that aim to explore life in-between full-time study and full-time work.
Should you take a portfolio to an interview? Should your portfolio be portrait or landscape? How many projects should you include? Should you rock up at studios unannounced asking for a job? Should you attend industry events that claim to know all the answers?
Join Christopher Doyle, Stephen Grace and Josie Young from Christopher Doyle & Co. for a talk full of practical advice about interviews, folios and faux pas.
Tuesday, June 4th
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This Is Not University.
Christopher Doyle & Co.
The Design Kids
Ketchup Partners
Young Henrys
General Assembly
Christopher Doyle
Stephen Grace
Josie Young
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This Is Not University presented the first in a series of events that aims to explore life in-between full-time study and full-time work. Our panellists discussed, debated and demystified what it is to enter the design industry.
Listen to the recording on SoundCloud.
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Monday, November 5th
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Gabby Lord
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Tina Victoria Afshar
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Jane Duru
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Nicole Liedberg
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Josie Young
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If you have questions that haven’t been answered here, or would like to know more about any part of the program, you can email us at tnu@christopherdoyle.co
You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter