Alessi Fernando

Communication Design

Hi, I’m Alessi! I’m currently in my final year at Swinburne University, pursuing a double degree in Design and Media Communications. My passion for social media, which aligns with my Media Communications major, complements my second major in Communication Design, allowing me to create impactful and engaging content.

Throughout my university journey, I’ve had the privilege of working with diverse clients, including managing social media for Green Bubble and contributing to an Instagram marketing campaign for Deborah Blashki-Marks of Mind Film and Publishing. Additionally, my Capstone project has given me the opportunity to further develop my skills in collaboration with ThinkPlus, where I’ve contributed to the creation of a new MetaCurriculum map.

I bring a creative mindset that complements the analytical skills I’ve developed through my double degree. My process is research-oriented, allowing me to explore diverse opportunities and consider all possibilities before delivering a well-rounded, thoughtful outcome.

Outside of my academic pursuits, I’m an avid AFL fan. I aspire to combine my passion for the game with my career goals, aiming to make a meaningful impact in the sports media industry. I’m excited about what the future holds and eager to bring my unique skill set and enthusiasm to the industry!

Australia Zoo Redesign

For my Branding Unit, I chose to redesign the branding for Australia Zoo, aiming for a fresh, trendy look that aligns with its mission to protect wildlife and habitats. My final logo captures the essence of the Australian landscape within a crocodile shape, spotlighting the zoo’s core focus.

Brain Health Round

For our campaign project, I focused on Concussion Awareness in the AFL — a rising issue in sports. I pitched a “Brain Health Round” to boost awareness, featuring a campaign that emphasizes community support for friends, players, and clubs impacted by concussions.

Kids Arts and Crafts Festival

For a 2022 redesign, I created the “Kids Arts and Crafts Festival,” a school holiday event fostering creativity and community for all families. The final design reflects the festival’s playful, inclusive spirit with vibrant doodles and illustrations.

Armadillo Inc.

I redesigned my first project from 2021, creating a logo that captures the essence of an armadillo. The design combines its tough, fossil-like shell with soft, rounded edges to reflect both the resilience and gentle mannerisms of the armadillo.

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.