International School of Colour + Design

The Educators

Gallery

nikki donald, education manager, iscd
Our courses are presented by passionate industry professionals

iscd has a team of dedicated educators that will guide and mentor you through your studies at the school either on campus or via distance education. Your educator is an important part of your study and are hand selected to be your tour guide through the world of colour and design. Each educator brings our courses to life with the perfect blend of industry experience and educational training.

Jill Barker

Since creating living spaces for Barbie at age 5, to designing penthouse apartments in Wollongong, Jill has had a deep passion for colour and interiors.

Beginning her career in interior design in England after many frustrating years as a secretary, Jill moved to Australia, only to realize the huge cultural diversity and obvious climatic difference. She embarked on re-educating herself with this new and exciting world. Starting back at the basics of design with iscd she was reinvigorated by the excitement of colour and design within Australia.

After the completion of her Certificate and Diplomas in Colour Design and Interior Styling, Jill was invited into the family of Educators at iscd.

Currently splitting her time between her Colour and Interior Design business in Wollongong and teaching at iscd gives Jill the opportunity to constantly put the ‘real life' experiences into her teaching practice. Similarly, the information gathered by students helps to keep her design practice up to date with new products and information.

The excitement of every new client and every new class never fades, once you are passionate about colour and design it becomes your life, creating individual schemes for individual people and bringing confidence to aspiring designers is truly ‘living the dream'.

Kate Beresford-Banks

iscd Introduction to Interior Design educator Kate Beresford-Banks says she is passionate about providing the most successful outcome for her client whether that be a student of the International School of Colour and Design, or of her personal company. Studying a Masters of Design at the University of Technology and a Diploma of Interior Design, then going on to work for David Jones as their National Design Coordinator, Kate has been able to share her professional expertise with that of her creative background, to offer the greatest insight, into the world of commercial and residential Interior Design.

With high proficiency in AutoCAD 2010, she teaches a dynamic and continually interesting class. Combining prior knowledge from the iscd Diploma in Interior Styling, students will work from the ground up, creating not only the internal fittings and decorations, but the shell of an environment also.

Kate expresses the importance of learning the technical background of Interior Design, as much as the creative flair. Contemporary designers are using the latest technologies to advance their production and presentation, so don't get caught behind.

Rachel Fairfax

An avid Visual Artist, Rachel Fairfax has studied before iscd, at the likes of University of Technology and the National Art School East Sydney. Working as a professional through solo shows and being represented in professional galleries. Previously teaching at community centres, secondary schools and TAFE, Rachel has won multiple awards for her talents.

Growing up at the beach she lived up north in Tuncurry as a child. The happiest years of her life are connected to living in the country near the ocean. Rachel has stuck at this passion, living at Coogee presently.

Rachel describes her work as figurative paintings. Starting off as drawings of life landscapes, then converting those into colourful, expressive artworks.

Rachel has come to not only teach the iscd Art on the Edge Visual Arts program, but the Certificate IV in Design Foundation Course also, expressing her new found passion for teaching design. Building these fundamental steps is crucial to any path a creative soul would want to take.

Sharon Gage

Recommended to iscd by her Textile Design teacher, Sharon wanted to up skill her textile knowledge and progress within the Berlei Lingerie brand, who she was designing for. After studying the Foundation Course then following with a Colour Design Diploma, Sharon was invited back to iscd to teach and couldn't say no.

She now loves teaching the Surface Design Diploma, along with Colour Design and Foundation Course. Textiles, colour and fashion are her passion. She has pursued these in forms of study and career for the past 20 years.

Sharon now runs her own Colour Consulting and Décor business along with maintaining a young family! She enjoys teaching as a second career, because work falls into term times and the extra time off can be spent with her children during holiday breaks.

Sharon has developed a real love for Colour Design, she sees true benefit in involving her Colour Design classes in real life colour consulting jobs she does for residential properties! Helping them connect better with the real world of colour consulting.

Edwina Hirst

Edwina has a passion for creating beautiful and purposeful work and living spaces.

With a background in both fashion and teaching, she studied at the International School of Colour and Design. Having graduated with an Award of Excellence in Colour Design, she was delighted to be invited to return as an educator at the school.

In her capacity as an educator, Edwina takes pride in supporting individual needs and instilling confidence in her students. She is excited by the opportunity to share her knowledge and experience of colour design and style with others who are keen to learn about harnessing the power of colour.

As a Colour Designer, she enjoys the challenge of working on both residential and commercial briefs, from office entry to mountain shack to waterfront home. Edwina takes the time to listen to her client's lives and loves to ensure that every design is unique and tailored to their individual needs.

She prides her work on the interpretation of style from traditional to contemporary, to cultural. The outcome of her work is good examples of any personalised style-using colour as the ‘glue' that holds together the design.

Cherie Karlsson

Colour has been a common thread through Cherie Karlsson, which is why it is no surprise that she ended up teaching both the Foundation Course - Certificate IV in Design and the Colour Design Diploma with the International School of Colour and Design.

Before being a student at the School Cherie ran a stationery business selling designer stationery to David Jones, Myer and other gift shops around Australia and overseas.

As a student the course opens a door to a new way of looking at the world for herself and she now loves sharing this with her students. Cherie loves to see her students transform, become inspired and appreciate colour and design in both surrounding natural and built environments.

Before returning to iscd to teach Cherie developed her own colour design practice Karlsson Enterprises. In addition to teaching at the school, Cherie runs a busy colour consultation practice and is an active mother of 4 children.

Recently Cherie attended a short colour course in Sweden in 2008 to learn more about NCS, a world wide colour system devised in Sweden in the 1970's.

Lisa Koehler

iscd Educator Lisa Koehler finds teaching to be a pleasure, she admits to looking forward to class every single week. Her very love being the journey of discovery she shares with her students. Lisa's studies originated at Enmore Design Centre with an Advanced Diploma in Interior Design.

She also dappled in Floristry Design, a keen hobby of hers which she incorporates into all her roles, whether its being Freedom Furniture's Decorator Consultant, iscd Interior Styling Educator, Freelance Wedding Stylist or Professional Mother of one. Lisa's greatest design philosophy is ‘to be true to the concept' which she combines with her teaching philosophy ‘to inspire and nurture students through their creative journey'.

Her personal style is said to be organic with simple lines, and lots of texture. Each piece should also hold sentiment, should tell a story. One of her greatest inspirations at the moment is her young son, she feels compelled to look at the world through his eyes. Along with her son she feels people who are passionate about what they do drive her in a contagious way.

Lisa shares her belief in the International School of Colour and Designs unique approach to education, also referring to its encouraging and nurturing environment. As an Educator, the most rewarding thing for her, is to watch her students grow, and believe in their ability as a Stylist.

Catherine Morgan

Catherine Morgan has had an extensive education in the field of Colour and Design, spanning the last 15 years.

In 2009, Catherine founded Ampersand Design. Working as a freelance/contract design professional, Catherine provides a holistic and personal design service along side teaching at the International School of Colour and Design. All of her projects are approached with the end user in mind; "No design should represent its creator. A successful project should reflect the clients personality and/or needs. Same stands for when delivering something such as a nurtured design course" says Catherine of her work.

She shares her passion for Colour and Design as a Colour Design Diploma educator at the school. Catherine has always seen the school as an industry recognised leader in educating
students in the art of colour and design. She see's her role as an assistant to the students in realising their dreams to work in roles as stylists and designers within the interior and design industry.

Alison Nicol

Alison Nicol finds working at iscd teaching utopia! In her eyes working with the most amazing team of like minded creative people for the last 10 years, has become a love.

Introduced to iscd by a friend who taught previously, her first impression was of the fabulous colour surrounding the school's branding and reputation.

Previously training at the National Art School to teach Secondary School Visual Art, Alison has since taught art to all ages and stages- kindergarten to 70 years. She also was employed as a production manager in a screen printing firm for 10 years before starting a screen printing business of her own.

Alison had always enjoyed being creative exclaiming to have done every imaginable form of art and craft, which the contents of her basement are testament to! Her passion for colour was an obvious lead to studying and then teaching the Certificate IV in Design - Foundation Course.

As well as teach Alison is an avid photographer and keen garden designer. They are just other mediums to play with shape and colour which are also very good for the soul.

Alison proves to encourage confidence in the sensitive area of self expression. Many people still believe that an artist is ‘born to it' her opinion is otherwise. Rather, give them the tools of colour, composition and media and the artist emerges.

Her best advice is to do what you enjoy not what you think you should do. If you have a passion for it you will do it brilliantly.

Julie Ockerby

With a background in marketing boutique hotels, and a love for fabrics, decorative arts, colours and textures, this combination has given Julie a unique insight into a world where one dreams of.
Having worked with some of the most innovative hoteliers around the world, Julie has been dynamic in developing and expanding everything from "Old English" chintz through to cutting edge minimalism, of some of the world's leading boutique hotels and resorts. Julie calls it "luck' that she was given these opportunities to work creatively but also corporately. Consulting for these hotels, or as Julie likes to call them, "special little places", on strategic marketing, hotel operations, and business planning.

It is with Julie's diverse background, that has taken her to iscd in the first place. A graduate and now part of the education team, Julie is thrilled to be able to share her corporate marketing and interior design experience with students. She teaches the Business modules of the Diploma courses, and also Certificate IV in Design - Foundation Course.

Julie's influences have been through the various people she has met, places she has travelled too, and her fascination with the cultural arts, food and wine.
Nowadays, she draws her inspiration from her love of the Northern Beaches in Sydney, her clients, students and network of like-minded individuals and friends. Her biggest advise to creative individuals is, " Keep up with trends, read, read, read and chat, chat, chat - you never know where it will all lead you!"

Julie is a mother of two young children and understands first hand the demands of juggling home life, and both a corporate and creative career. She is also in collaboration with acclaimed photographer, Scott Riley, on a book ( one day....they will finish this book!)

Sandra Philpott

Sandra Philpott works as educator for the iscd Business components of its Diploma Courses. Sandra is well qualified to fill this role, having been both a student at iscd and also a senior corporate executive. After completing both Certificate IV in Design Foundation Course and the Colour/Styling Dual Diploma, Sandra decided she would like to give something back by sharing her corporate experience with students who are interested in knowing how to set up and manage a successful business.

Sandra's corporate experience includes roles as Managing Director of AGC Finance, VP of Marketing for GE Capital, Head of Marketing for the Business Bank at Westpac and Head of Customer Marketing for Telstra. During her time in the corporate arena, Sandra has spent a good deal of time coaching and mentoring both sales and marketing staff and while at GE was responsible for the overall strategic planning process and the company's marketing strategy. She is now able to blend these two worlds together and she does this with an understanding of what iscd's Diploma students need to know if they are going to be successful in an increasingly competitive environment.

As Sandra says "you can be the best designer in the world, but if you don't know how to manage your business and market to clients then you will not succeed as a business longer term". Sandra enjoys her other role in the world of philanthropy - heading up the Australian Chapter of The Tiger Foundation, which supports over 1,000 children and their school and community in Kampong Thom province in Cambodia.

Sharon Raco

Sharon Raco was driven to first study at iscd to up skill her already keen passion for colour and styling. Continually having friends come up and ask her for advice, she felt compelled to do something about it. Originally working in the Fashion Industry for 15 years, her interests switched, and as she felt comfortable as an iscd student, she knew she would feel equally comfortable as an iscd educator.

She feels very fortunate in being able to have a career that fits around her family where she helps people achieve their dreams, whether it's a client's home or a student's new career!
Sharons pure inspiration comes from students enthusiasm, which she combines with travelling and styles of the world. She feels one should never limit themselves to their surroundings. She goes on to recommend diving head first right into it, one should experience as much as they can as early as they can, then reap the benefits down the road.

Sharon mentions that she believes decorating to be about creating a place for someone else to feel at home in. It should express their personality not your own, and make them smile.
She describes creativity to be working within boundaries but thinking outside the square

Sharon strives to give her students the right tools they need to unlock the doors

Sara Silm

Drawn to iscd by its reputation, Sara Silm came to study to achieve formal qualification in design, and learn the dynamics of running a creative business. She was working in Editorial Styling, and wanted to expand into Interiors. She found during her favourite course, the Foundation Course, she delved into all areas including Surface Design which was an unexpected surprise!

Her educator at the time had an agreeable approach to learning and influenced Sara to come back as an iscd educator. Sara studied with iscd part-time, whilst working full-time, having a husband working away from home during the week, and keeping order of 3 young children all under 8 years old, the flexibility of the courses and home "play" as we put it, made the study not only manageable for Sara, but enjoyable.

Sara finds endless amounts of inspiration from her young family and her surroundings, as well as great, talented people around her! She also plans to leave this earth a more beautiful place, than when she arrived.