Grace Russell

Communication Design (Honours)

Hello, my name is Grace Russell, and I am a graduate of the Swinburne Communication Design (honours). I am a creative and motivated individual with strong communication and problem-solving skills. I enjoy working in a diverse environment and have excellent teamwork skills, always striving to be innovative, respectful and open to new ideas. I am dedicated, hardworking, goal oriented and aim to provide the best possible outcomes.

I have always been creating. Passionate about problem solving through design and creative outlets. I am experimental, love to be continually learning and trying new things. My work at Swinburne leans into strategy to further develop my conceptual skillset and various technical practices. I have been able to work on both print and digital outcomes, expanding my knowledge on a vast range of design areas.

While at university, I had the privilege to have an industry placement at Museums Victoria for a year. This opportunity gave me the chance to work on a diverse range of projects. The experience furthered my love for publication, exhibition design, digital design, illustration, and branding.

When I'm not designing, I can be found drinking coffee, spending time with my friends or doing something crafty.

Vile Bodies - ISTD - Publication Design

A redesign of Evelyn Waugh’s ‘Vile Bodies’. Responding to ISTD 2023 Open|Close brief, to radically redesign a novel. This design typographically explores a post-war resurgence and extravagance. Each page can be read as its own story, though also flows to tell the full story. The design uses space to enhance the impact and effect.

ZIPPY - Brand and Packaging Design

A drink designed to support your brain health on the go! The brand focuses on getting your brain working to its best from first thing in the day. Established brand strategy, look and feel, packaging and campaign rollout.

What is your gov'ment name - Immigration Museum Exhibition

Exhibition design at Immigration Museum for artist Olana Janfa’s, ‘What is your gov’ment name’. The artworks were playful and bright, while still acting as a method for social and political commentary. I worked closely with the artist to select the pieces for the exhibition and to design the graphic panels. The panels are in the same style as his work, to help in enhancing and describing the pieces shown.

Don't Palm It Off - Campaign Design

‘Don’t Palm It Off’ is a campaign that highlights the issue and impact of habitat destruction and prompts
people to donate to try and create change. It uses playful imagery to engage people on the serious topic. The bold imagery and consistent colour palette creates a recognisable and impactful campaign.

Nocturnal Rebrand - Museum Victoria

Rebrand design for ‘Nocturnal’, Museum Victoria’s after-hours event targeted at young adults. Coming back after not running for a few years the event needed a new look and feel to entice new visitors. My primary concept behind this design was a spotlight moving, this formed the logo cut out and the image framing and treatment. A bold and graphic look!

Acknowledgement of Country

The School of Design and Architecture respectfully acknowledges the Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners and knowledge-keepers of the lands, waters and sky that surround us, where we work, learn, create, communicate and make place. We recognise that sovereignty has never been ceded and this always was and will always be Wurundjeri Country. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who continue to make a better world through design.

We extend our acknowledgement to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students, alumni, real-life clients, and knowledge keepers, who have contributed to our own education diversity and growth. We will continue to ensure that staff and students respectfully honour ancestral connection to Country and Place in everything that they do.

We are dedicated to the notion of design to make a better world and we acknowledge that making tools, shaping place, sharing stories, making meaning, wayfinding and collaborating have long been and continue to be both central and integral to First Peoples' cultures. We recognize that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ cultural contributions have continued relevance to design practice and commit to: reconciling ancestries of design and contemporary practice as well as pursuing culturally and professionally appropriate ways to engage with a diverse population of colleagues, industries and clients. In a time of treaty-making and voice we understand that there are overlaps between caring for Country and the sustainable production of goods, services, experiences, products and buildings.

Guided by the principles of respect, reconciliation, and reciprocity we undertake to indigenising and decolonising design practice by dismantling colonial structures and challenging biases that have marginalised Indigenous voices and design.

As students of SoDA you will be given opportunities to both engage with and educate yourself in Indigenous creative practices and cultural protocols through a lens of inclusivity, diversity, respect, mutual understanding, inter-cultural dialogue in all aspects of design practice. Indigenous people have been telling stories, making tools, and connecting to Country through visual media, placemaking and place marking for more than 60,000 years and these practices are part of an ongoing, evolving and live tradition.