International School of Colour + Design

FAQ

LUKE HARRISON, GENERAL MANAGER, ISCD
For over 26 years we have been a dynamic force in the growth of interest in design, decorating, colour, art and styling

Will I make a fool of myself in front of other clever people?
No you will not! Everyone will be thinking the same as you when they first start. With our Foundation Course - Certificate IV in Design there is no assumed knowledge and the school works hard to create a nurturing and supportive environment. Your educator, who is experienced with the needs of adult learners, will work with your studio group, so you all feel comfortable and open to share your ideas and your work. Not only will you benefit from learning from your class mates you will make great friends who are all like-minded.

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Who do I think I am kidding doing this creative course?
Creativity is very important and essential to ensure you have life balance. Whether you are doing this creative course for a career change or just for fun it is important to value it and understand the role that it will play in your life. Our success stories show how people from all walks of life have overcome the inner voice of doubt by joining our creative community and doing something creative.

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Am I really worth spending money on?
Of course you are! By joining our creative community you are investing in yourself, which in turn benefits your family, work associates and friends. You cannot put a value on yourself and your worth. The pleasure, joy and fulfilment we see in our students and graduates are testament to the value of our courses. Take a look at our success stories. Don't forget, that on completion of our Diploma courses you are fully equipped with skills and knowledge to start a successful career and we're not frightened of you making money from your studies with us!

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I am successful in other areas of my life, but what if I fail at this?
No one can fail in the creative process or in the subjects of colour and design. We are specialists in creative adult education and have spent 25 years researching and perfecting the ways to assist people to feel comfortable when learning and working with applied visual arts. What will happen is your eyes will be opened to a new world of possibilities and you will have all the tools and skills needed to enjoy creative fulfilment and career success.

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I have already done design fundamentals at TAFE, can I have RPL? How?
Yes you can. What we require you to do is to complete our Recognition of Prior Learning process. This includes filling out an RPL form to indicate that you have already met the competencies through your studies at TAFE. Once we receive the form we will organise for you to come in and meet with our Head Educator to go through your portfolio to validate your application. Once your application has been approved, you will need to complete the iscd Colour Bridging course which is a preparation course to refresh and validate your skills and prepare you for the diploma program.

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Do you teach Fashion Design?
We do not teach a Fashion Design course directly. We do however teach a Foundation Course - Certificate IV in Design in art and design called the Certificate IV in Design. This course will teach you the essentials of colour and design to give you sound knowledge and skills to pursue Fashion Design. Most courses like Fashion Design or Graphic Design will only skim through areas of colour theory and design elements and principals. The Certificate IV in Design course at iscd will give you a great head start!

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Can I use my own art materials?
When you enrol in the Certificate IV in Design course at iscd, you will receive a starter's kit. The materials in the kit should last you through the course duration. Additional paints and paper are available for purchase at nearby art stores. The paints that are used to mix your colours are called gouache paints which are researched to provide the best quality brand to create the best colours.

What is the difference between Interior Design and Interior Styling or Decorating?
There is one fundamental difference between Interior Design and Interior Styling/Decorating. Interior Design is the design of the actual space i.e. where the walls, windows and doors will go. Interior Styling or Decorating is the embellishment, creating mood and style of the space with soft furnishings, curtains, carpet, tiles, furniture, colour and accessories.

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What is Colour Designing or Colour Consulting?
Colour Consulting is the use of colour in design. Colour can be specified for many different areas including interior and exterior colour for residential and commercial properties. An important area for Colour Consulting is in marketing. Product development is heavily reliant on colour theory from logos to packaging. Colour is the most emotional element in design and so a Colour Designer is an important role in all areas of design.

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What does accreditation mean?
Essentially it means that the Foundation Course - Certificate IV in Design delivered by the School has been reviewed and granted approval by the Vocational and Education Training Accreditation Board (VETAB). That is, the School has met the specific requirements needed to deliver this course. Further, the School is a registered training organisation. What this means for you is that you can be assured that you will be attending a quality institution that delivers quality, approved courses.

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Why do I have to do Certificate IV before I do Interior Styling?
Interior Styling, like all iscd professional Diploma's are taught in the second tier of the School's curricula. The first tier is the Certificate IV in Design (CUV 40303). This foundation year is the corner stone of the school and is an excellent skills-based course focusing on colour and design. The fundamental and essential skills learnt in the Foundation Course - Certificate IV in Design are then applied in the diplomas. The second tier becomes the "how to" professional courses and rely heavily on the skills and competencies learnt in the foundation year.

However, the interior styling course is quite unique in that it is the only diploma that students can complete concurrently. That is, students have the option of completing the foundation year and the Diploma of Creative Visual Arts specialising in Interior Styling at the same time. The reason for this is that the skills gained in the foundation year are not applied until later in the Interior Styling curriculum.

The pathways set by the School have proved very successful and ensure that you will have the optimum outcome on graduation from your Diploma course. If you feel that you have already gained enough skills to enter the diploma year either through previous study, work experience or life skills you are very welcome to apply for recognition of prior learning. Please contact the school for more information on this.

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How many of your students get employment after graduating?
As a general rule the school has found that the students that want to get employed do. The School does not promote a percentage of graduates that are successfully employed because many of our students study for the pure joy of the courses and as a hobby.

Of the students that are employed upon completion of their study (or while they are studying!) about 60% are self employed which allows them to manage their own business, time and other commitments (we teach you all about running your own business in our Diploma's too!) The other 40% are employed within their chosen industry at entry level positions.

The School is often privy to exclusive positions within the industry before they are advertised in the newspapers or online - this is an example of our strong industry contacts. These positions are then displayed on student noticeboards and emailed to the alumni. Following iscd's philosophy of creating a caring and creative community, every effort is made to assist our students in this area.

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Why do I have to pay to attend iscd events?
The School strives to offer as much as possible for its students providing the most holistic education as possible. One of these avenues is through a range of events throughout the year. These events range from exhibition's of students work to informative industry nights

Some of these events are free while others have a nominal fee attached. All of these events are not-for-profit. The nominal fee charged is to cover the administration of the event, the speakers and other administration costs.

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Is this school recognised?
The School is recognised on an international level. The founding director is a sought after presenter on the topic of colour and trend and constantly passes this knowledge onto the team of educators. The courses delivered at iscd are respected and recognised within the design industry.

The school seeks industry professionals as educators in the diploma year and many excursions and incursions occur to ensure that the curriculum is constantly related to the industry. Further, all iscd diplomas are written in association with key industry consultants and updated on an annual basis.

What this means for you is that you will be studying in a well recognised institution, you course is written and delivered by an industry professional and upon completion you will be an industry professional.

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Why are your Diplomas non-accredited?
Our Diplomas are Industry Recognised courses. They are all taught by industry professionals, so you get first hand, up to date information on what is happening and what is relevant in the industry at any given time. We have very close relationships with industry specialists - they tell us what they are looking for in a Colour Consultant/Interior Stylist/Surface Designer/Visual Artist - and the Diploma educator passes this and their own experience and knowledge onto the students.

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Why do I have to do so much painting in first year if I want to be an Interior Designer?
By mixing colour and applying it to designs, students gain a deeper understanding of the theory and practice of colour and how and why they work, or don't work, together. Students build an extensive colour atlas of painted colour 'chips' which is a valuable tool in Interior Styling.

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How do your courses compare with other schools?
We always suggest you have a good look around to find the environment that is best suited for you. The difference with iscd is that we believe everyone with a passion for colour and design can have a career in the discipline of their choice, regardless of their age, background, or previous life/work experience. You don't have to sit any exams or have a portfolio to gain entry - although you have a fabulous one by the time you leave! Our educators are more like mentors than teachers, who nurture and cultivate students' individual creativity and encourage each person to follow their own unique creative path.

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I cannot draw - can I still do this course?
Absolutely! Drawing is all about practice and confidence and learning to see the world differently. We teach you all sorts of tips and tricks that will have you drawing with confidence in no time!