Sarah Smedley

Sarah Smedley is a recent graduate of Swinburne University of Technology, holding a double degree in Design (Communication Design) and Media and Communications (Digital Advertising Technology). As a freelance website designer and digital marketer, Sarah is eager to continue expanding the knowledge and skills she acquired during her five years of studying within the digital marketing field.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Sarah has a soft spot for dad jokes. Her bright and bubbly personality makes her easy to get along with. Sarah is passionate about teamwork, as she thrives in collaborative environments she enjoys the exchange of ideas and mutual support that it brings. She embraces failures as opportunities for learning and growth.

Throughout her academic journey, Sarah undertook multiple internships and engaged in freelance work to gain hands-on experience in the digital marketing industry. During her time as a Junior Digital Marketing Coordinator in one of her internships, she strengthened her expertise in Google Analytics, SEO, and the Adobe Creative Suite. Sarah even took the initiative to share her knowledge by delivering presentations to educate her colleagues at the internship about these vital components of digital marketing.

Blue Horizon Travel Agency

I created a website for a travel agency to help promote businesses who are trying to rebuild post pandemic. It includes 7 pages with a polished and professional finish, tailored to engage the target demographic of anyone aged between 20-65. I curated a diverse range of activities, from historical explorations to relaxation and adrenaline-pumping adventures. Additionally, the hotel page includes icons that differentiate family-friendly and couple-friendly accommodations, enhancing the user experience.

Feeling Blue

The purpose of this project was to create a series of photos based on a theme of my own choosing, that being 'Feeling Blue'. I was able to demonstrate my photography skills through a range of several images with examples of lighting, exposure, contrast, aperture, shutter speed and depth of field.

I wanted to capture images that brought out my personality and passions with a creative twist.

South East Fitness Solutions

South East Fitness Solutions originally had a fairly basic digital appearance. They sought a fresh website with a redesigned layout, complete with new imagery and embedded videos. Their preference was to maintain consistency with their existing style guide, logo and colour palette, while also insisting on retaining their online apparel store and a contact page detailing their business location as it is hard to find.

In response to this directive, I delved into the opportunity to elevate the digital footprint of the business. I arranged photo and video shoots on separate occasions, tailoring the visuals to align with their established style, all to be seamlessly integrated into their social media and website. I devoted time to constructing the website using WordPress, sharpening my skills in this platform. Subsequently, I used it to analytical skills to form a judgement on what strategies were effective and which were not. Armed with this data, I strategically improved the website's design and functionality.

Waves Bath Salt

The assignment aimed to generate three distinct boxes featuring a fictitious brand of my selection. I was tasked with employing two Pantone spot colours and white to showcase my grasp of the printing procedure.

I created the brand called "Waves Bath Salt" which would resonate with a female demographic. Through the utilisation of Pantone colours, I successfully achieved this objective by selecting light, feminine hues that harmonised exceptionally well with each of the box designs.

Deep in the Dandenongs

This project presented an opportunity to craft a magazine to offer readers valuable insights and maps pinpointing Victoria's finest locations.

I opted to centre this endeavour in the Dandenong Ranges, a place deeply cherished and near to my heart. My primary objective for this undertaking was to fill the pages with abundant greenery, evoking a sense of nature's serenity. My intention was to provide readers with an example to the essence of the Dandenong Ranges, producing inspiration for future visits to this picturesque location.

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.