Ella Upiter

My name is Ella Upiter, and I am graduating this year with a Bachelor of Design in Branded Environments. I see great value in my education and have sought to further my understanding and abilities by completing a minor in Interior Architecture.

Choosing to diversify my skillset in this way has provided me with technical expertise in interior architecture, as well as proficiency in my approach to branding and communication design. Ultimately, this junction of knowledge has led to a more holistic process when undertaking certain projects. For me, this process often begins with thorough research to inform design decisions that are responsible, relevant, and responsive to the problem.

Inspired by the modernist ideal of "form follows function," I recognise the immense value in design solutions that prioritise purpose and meaning. I believe that effective design should not only serve a practical function but also resonate with the individual on a deeper level.

Design solutions should tell a story, reflecting the unique narratives of the people, communities, and places they serve. By fostering connections between individuals and their environments, design can enhance experiences, evoke emotions, and build a sense of belonging. This inspiration is something I will carry with me as I graduate and pursue a career as a designer.

I greatly appreciate your time in reviewing my work. Please reach out or connect via the links above; I would love to hear from you.

Ella

Imbue - Branding and Store Design for Natural Dye Store

Reviving the art of natural dye, Imbue exists as a hub of creativity and a destination for all natural dye needs.

Love, Loyalty and Loss - Mixed Reality Exhibition

Uncover the scandalous history of the Heide Museum of Modern Art through mixed reality. This exhibition highlights modern technology as a storytelling tool, showcasing its potential.

Points of Interest - Catalogue of Artefacts

Visual documentation showcases the charm in detailing your surroundings from various viewpoints.

Revive - Brand Identity for Sustainable Clothing Store

Responding to the growing demand for sustainable solutions, Revive offers an alternative to fast fashion with a fun and youthful approach.

Temporary Community Center - Australia Post

This mobile post office design, intended for bushfire-affected communities, can provide a vital space for the community to gather and connect.

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.