Tom Bruce

I’m Tom Bruce, a Communication Design graduate from Swinburne University of Technology. During my time at university, I developed a focus on print, editorial and brand identity with a special interest in the visual culture of film and music.

My approach to design always starts with a strong concept, where the idea comes first and every design decision thereafter should propel the story I am trying to tell forward. My work is carefully considered and research-led and always built around a cohesive visual identity that stops you mid-scroll or grabs your attention in a record store.

I love the challenge of taking a film or album and finding the intersection where the core identity of the project meets design; creating a design that not only sets the tone and builds the world but becomes a valuable addition to that film or album. What excites me is designing work where viewers can find links between my design and the movie on their screen and reinforce the particular themes and ideas being conveyed.

I am looking to bring my designs and ideas into the entertainment industry, working with film studios, record labels, or creative agencies that live close to music, cinema and culture. I want an environment where ideas are taken seriously, where the brief might begin with a movie and end somewhere completely unexpected.

SHOEBOX

SHOEBOX is a short film released in 2026 based in Melbourne. It is a dark comedy about a house inspection gone wrong. A series of printed and digital media were created to promote the film while it was being shoppped around at film festivals.

Nazi Punks Folk Off

An academic research paper turned into an A5 publication. The design combines the grunge aesthetics of 1980s punk rock with a minimalistic approach to balance the serious subject matter.

Going Digital

An annual report for the State Library of Victoria focusing on the digitisation of their catalogue. Following a retro-futuristic aesthetic, this design recognises the library’s rich history with technology and the advancements they’ve made since.

Goose Wax

A surf wax brand and product line called Goose Wax. Designing a beginner-friendly surf wax with bright and bold packaging that attracts new buyers from behind the counter.

Remain In Light

A special edition record of Talking Heads’ Remain In Light album. Designed with the themes of the album, it tells a story of a disgruntled office worker day dreaming about starting a band.

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.