Helen Williams is a digital content freelance specialist who has worked for clients ranging from sports travel and catering businesses to Sir Peter Jackson's Great War Exhibition in Australia and New Zealand. On top of her experience, Helen also has university qualifications in Design Innovation and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Film, so many people might not think she was a typical TAFE NSW student.

In 2018 however, Helen was one of over 42,000 students enrolled at TAFE NSW who held a bachelor's degree or above.

TAFE NSW: THE RIGHT CHOICE

For Helen, the move from university to TAFE NSW felt like a great fit immediately.

“It was great coming into the studios at Design Centre Enmore and seeing it was set up pretty much like things are in industry,” says Helen. “That made me immediately feel I had made the right choice. The equipment, software and even the atmosphere felt right for me.”

Far from being out of place as a mature-age student, Helen found the studios at the TAFE NSW specialty design school full of peers.

“Most people were studying for reasons I could easily identify with. They had backgrounds in the industry – many in design like me – and have recognised a need to upskill to stay ahead of the curve.”

RAPIDLY CHANGING INDUSTRIES NEED UP-TO-DATE EMPLOYEES

Helen says the digital technology juggernaut is pushing change in UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) and it’s always important for professional career development to be ahead of employer and client needs.

By studying the short course at TAFE NSW, Helen says it is helping to open up further opportunities for her career and helping her stay on top of her game as well as providing a means for networking with her design contemporaries.

“User interface and user experience design not only respond to people’s behaviors and cultures, they are also matched to device function and capability. And all of that needs to be encompassed in a design – ultimately visual – framework. It’s a lot of moving pieces, and that’s why it’s so exciting. So, to bounce ideas off students and the teachers – who are UI and UX experts – is not only a great professional move, it’s also fulfilling and fun.”

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