This year’s HSC Design Exhibition, showcasing major projects by Year 12 students of Design and Technology (D&T) and Textiles and Design (T&D), opened at Adelaide Perry Gallery on Wednesday 27 July.

To commence the official proceedings, Art & Design Captain Lara Marassa made an Acknowledgement of Country and was followed by Ms Jo Herrmann Head of Technological and Applied Studies, who introduced Special Guest Speaker PLC Sydney Ex-Student Summer Wanless.

Summer, who graduated with the class of 2021 and had her Major Textiles Project nominated for the Shape exhibition and selected for this year’s Texstyle exhibition, addressed the students. She spoke about her current studies at Whitehouse Institute of Design, Sydney, where she is completing a Bachelor of Design majoring in Fashion Design, and reflected on how her studies in Textiles & Design at PLC Sydney found her well prepared for tertiary study in the field. With gratitude, Summer also spoke of the support from The Croydon staff during in her HSC year that she found invaluable for navigating the challenge of studying during the COVID lockdown period and other personal challenges that arose that year. She congratulated the girls on their efforts and wished them well for the remainder of their HSC year. Lara Marassa presented Summer with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the College Community, in thanks for her participation at the event.

Year 12 Design Students Danielle Sandroussi, Deanne Kalis and Athena Korsanos each spoke about the challenges and triumphs experienced during their HSC Design studies thus far, and on behalf of their classes each presented a gift to their respective class teachers: Ms Maria Nastasi (T&D), Ms Jo Herrmann (D&T) and Ms Nadine Emans (D&T).

Guest Speaker, Summer Wanless (Class of 2021) with Head of Design & Technology, Ms Jo Herrmann.

Lara Marassa presented Acting Curator Mr Andrew Paxton with a gift of thanks on behalf of the cohort. Principal Dr Paul Burgis assisted Ms Herrmann in presenting three special awards: to Satsuki Ota-Jones for Outstanding Commitment to Textiles & Design and to Jacqueline Clarke and Rhiane Fotaras, both for Outstanding Commitment to Design & Technology.

We would like to gratefully acknowledge the superb catering of the event by Year 11 Design students and thank Mrs Cathy Wedd who coordinated it. Thank you also to Mrs Karmen Martin and Mrs Nicole Rader for their assistance in the lead up to the event.