Taking design to the outdoors

Taking design to the outdoors

Marcia Grimm’s inspiration for getting into design was her children, and it’s evident in her portfolio. The mother of three might be confined to studying part-time, but her kids are her main source of creativity, often playing both contributor and intended audience for her work. Her interest in pursuing children’s animation led her to enrol in 2017, where she initially immersed herself in 3D design and was immediately commended by her tutors for producing third-year quality material. One of her first projects, an educational animated video about saving water, was narrated by her daughter and has since been shown in her daughter’s school.   

Now in in her final few courses (major in visual communication, minor in 3D animation, minor in photography), she’s found a new passion for work in the outdoors. Her Sensing Environments course, in particular, changed her perspective of what a design role could look like.   

“I thought I wanted to be just at my computer, but actually I’m enjoying being out there and learning a new type of design,” Marcia says. “If I can combine those two things, being in nature and doing my work, that would be great.”  

She also recently went on a UniSC field trip to K’gari to redesign signage. Spending just one night on the island, she came away with a head full of ideas about future outdoor design projects.   

“I was ready to finish university, but now I’m thinking maybe I’ll do a masters,” she laughs. “Being there opened up my mind about what I want to do.”  

She seems well suited to the task. One of her recent projects is a short film, aptly titled The Five Senses, which she created to showcase the sensory experience of living on the Sunshine Coast. Close up footage of flickering backlit leaves, a kookaburra on a branch, water slipping through cupped hands, are overlayed with beautifully detailed sounds of wind, waves and bird calls. For the final few moments, the crisp sound of fire fills the listeners ears. Acoustic music from a local Tewantin artist fills in the gaps. True to form, her two daughters make an appearance, running in slow motion down a lush jungle path. The camera zooms in on one daughter’s hand resting briefly on a gnarled tree root. It’s clear Marcia’s work comes from someone who is intensely family and community orientated.   

Like many students, Marcia may not feel entirely ready to finish studying and transition into the workplace. But she’s ready to take the opportunities she knows will come. Already her new skills in design have come in handy while establishing her own business, another thing she’s managed to squeeze in between full-time parenting and part-time study.   
 “I chose the subjects I was most interested to learn, and now I can look back and see what I like, where I feel confident, and where I can go from here,” she says. “I feel like if I commit to something, then I can do it.”  

Writes Mathew Channer.  
Photos: Courtesy of the designer.