THE new Institute of Design Ulladulla (IDU) is up and running.
An orientation day for students was held at the Deering Street college last Thursday and classes commenced on Monday.
Forty-four students have commenced two-year courses, 24 of them studying graphic design and the remaining 20 studying fashion design.
Approximately 60 per cent of students are from the Milton, Ulladulla, Mollymook area and most of the remainder from the South Coast.
Three of the students are from Sydney and one has relocated from Perth.
College founder Karl von Busse said his 'ultimate' aim had been for 50 students but 44 students wasn't bad for a first year and had provided him with the evidence he needed that the college was going to work 'long-term'.
"I'm very pleased with it," he told the Times.
Mr von Busse said he was pleased to see the college "off the ground" and "happening" after some initial teething problems.
"I can tell you from experience that it's going to work," he said
Mr von Busse said his major concern at the moment was that the college would run out of space and would need to expand.
He said the other problem was with accommodation.
He said with more people wanting to relocate to the local region to study at IDU, there was a desperate need for homestay or other forms of accommodation for students.
Brett Randall, 23, jumped at the opportunity to relocate from Western Australia and to study in Ulladulla once he had heard of IDU.
He said he had studied graphic design before and was keen to get back into it after working in the IT sector.
"This seems like the right place to do it," he said last week.
Mr Randall said his only disappointment was that there didn't appear to be too much for young people to do in Ulladulla.
Jack Hendry from Moruya said he had been accepted into a graphic design course in Canberra but didn't want to move away from the coast.
He made enquiries about IDU after seeing it advertised on television.
"It's like a Godsend," he said.
Mr von Busse said moves were well underway to open up the college to other people in the community with plans being finalised for a part-time web design course.
He said the course would run one night a week for eight weeks.
Students to compete
for full scholarships
TWO South Coast students will be offered full scholarships this year to study at the Institute of Design Ulladulla (IDU).
IDU will be offering year 10, 11 and 12 students from all partnering schools the opportunity to win the two-year-scholarships.
The scholarships - one in graphic design and the other in fashion design - are worth $36,960 each.
College founder Karl von Busse said the competition would have numerous benefits.
Besides the chance to win the scholarships and other prizes, including free holiday workshops and gift vouchers worth hundreds of dollars, participating students will also develop portfolios to help them with their future career paths.
Mr von Busse said applicants in the graphic design category would be asked to design a travel brochure, poster and t-shirt promoting the South Coast as a destination while fashion design applicants would be asked to design a summer outfit, swimming garment and t-shirt promoting the South Coast's beach environment.
Students will pay just $15 to enter, entitling them to attend a briefing session at IDU in May and the opportunity to discuss their creative concepts with staff.
They will have eight weeks to develop their concepts in layout stage before meeting again with IDU staff for further advice.
Students will then have another five weeks to work on their entries before final submission.
Mr von Busse said finalists would be selected in each category from all participating schools in August.
They will attend a workshop day at IDU the same month and will then have a further six weeks to complete their work for final judging.
A panel of IDU staff will meet in early October to select a winner, runner up and third place getter in each category with the winners to be announced at a fashion parade and exhibition on October 10.
Mr von Busse said six or seven schools had already indicated an interest in participating and he is confident that another three would become involved.
He believes there is little doubt that students interested in a career in either graphic design or fashion design will be excited by news of the competition.
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