NCAT's BRAND NEW WEBSITE

we are proud to announce a new website for Northern College of the Arts & Technology. It has been a long time coming and has been an exhausting process, but it has all been worth it to see what we stand for as a specialist arts & technology senior secondary, embodied in the site.

Thanks goes out to Anita Ryley (Ex Folio Preparation student) and her colleagues at See Saw Design who have managed our rebrand, Beth Gray from See Strategic who helped us articulate what we are about, Bryce Gilholme who is our web designer and all the NCAT staff who contributed ideas, copy, images and time to the process.

We love Beth's copy which really sums up what NCAT is all about:

"As a College, we recognise multiple types of intelligence. We reward practical problem solving, creativity, lateral thinking, building, fixing, designing and innovating. Every student benefits from a curriculum designed to encourage individuality and creativity. Our hands-on learning approach develops confidence, teamwork and co-operation skills for students who wish to pursue further study, apprenticeships or employment".

View the NCAT website here

Fight your way through!

We have posted this last year, but I think we should post it every year, because it is just so good! 
We only wish someone had told us this when we started out as a creatives... it is about the best advice you could ever be given. Ira Glass is an American public radio personality, and host and producer of the radio and television show This American Life. We repost this with thanks and appreciation to Ira Glass.

AgIDEAS Art and Design Forum

Porus Chaudhary's cover image for the agideas book

"DREAM - BELIEVE - DARE - DO"

Walt Disney

Our students attended the annual AGideas Futures Art & Design conference this week. AGIdeas Futures "assists in the transition from secondary into the tertiary education sector and explores pathways to a career in a broad range of design disciplines including design for film and television, graphic design, industrial and product design, animation, illustration, photography, architecture, interactive media and advertising". The students were inspired by the likes of:

• Marion Bantjes, Canadian Graphic Designer
• Porus Chaurdhary, Indian Photographer
• Jeffrey Copolov, Australian Interior Architect
• Shaun Tan, Australian Children's book Illustrator
• Joachaim Sauter, German Designer/Educator
• Dominic Di Giorgio, Australian Computer animator
• Ross Didier, Australian Furniture/product designer
• Paul Austin, United Kingdom Branding
• Kerrie Stanley, Australian Milliner
• Ree Treweek South African  Illustrator/Animator

Australia's brilliant Chris Doyle

The conference was held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre and was a sell out. Our students were thrilled to receive a 120 page hardback book featuring all the guest speakers. They left inspired and with a greater understanding of the depth of he creative industries. Images courtesy of agideas.

Having fun with our NCAT rebrand

Ex NCAT Folio Preparation students Elizabeth Brain, Sam Charlton & Yasmin Yusuf Les played around  with their Portfolios in a simple piece of stop motion for the rebrand of the 

NORTHERN COLLEGE OF THE ARTS & TECHNOLOGY

The College is being Rebranded by the amazing team at Seesaw Design, headed up by Anita Riley (McArthur) who made her own start in Design with us way back in 1999!

THE CREATIVITY GAP

The Creativity Gap – What Research Is Telling Us About Creating Now

This frightening research article explores how people feel about their own creativity. The quote " As for our educational institutions, they need to foster the growth of the entire child, with more opportunities to participate in arts programs and foster “out of the box” creative thinking" is exactly what we are about at ncat.

"Are people living up to their creative potential? In a word, no.

This week, Adobe released global research in a State of Create report to uncover how people feel about their own creativity as well as its role in the economy, society, the workplace and our educational institutions. The findings were enlightening. 

A few highlights from the data:

• 8 in 10 feel that unlocking creativity is critical to economic growth
• Only 1 in 4 believe they are living up to their own creative potential
• 75% said they are under growing pressure to be productive rather than creative at work
• More than half feel creativity is being stifled by the education system – and that feeling rises to 70% in the US
• Only about half of Americans would describe themselves as creative (global average is even lower at 39%)

We call this separation between the importance and the day-to-day reality of creativity the “creativity gap.”  That gap is pretty sobering.

So, what can we do to close the creativity gap?  First, we need to make time for creativity as well as provide the necessary technology tools and training. Productivity and creativity should not be mutually exclusive – we all need to find ways to create at work, rather than considering it a weekend hobby or luxury for those with more time.  As for our educational institutions, they need to foster the growth of the entire child, with more opportunities to participate in arts programs and foster “out of the box” creative thinking.  Most importantly, we all need to think of creativity more broadly – it’s not just the domain of professional designers or artists.  It’s a critical capability in a successful society and one that is in all of us".

Reposted with thanks: ORIGINALLY POSTED BY ANN LEWNES, SVP GLOBAL MARKETING ON APRIL 25, 2012 10:56 AM IN CREATIVES, EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVES, OTHER COOL STUFF

LIFE DRAWING AT NCAT FOLIO PREPARATION WITH TRACY PATERSON

Life Drawing is an integral part of our portfolio building course. Students use a wide variety of media and techniques in their weekly Life Drawing classes. Life Drawing is a core subject in the program. The students are tutored by Tracy Paterson, a hugely experienced Life drawing practitioner and passionate tutor. NCAT Folio Preparation is a long time supporter of  Melbourne's Life Models Society and their highly professional models.

In this session, the students are learning the finer art of drawing foreshortened poses. The students first measure the model's height versus width and then draw in blind contour, where they draw the model without looking at their drawing (Except to replace their pen). This technique rapidly increases observation skills whilst also loosening up the student's drawing style. Students are able to read foreshortening without really thinking about it. Tracy calls it drawing with your eyes. Drawing the figure from life is a time honoured tradition in Art & Design education.

*All Images Copyright NCAT. Click image to enlarge.

Read on for more images

WHERE GOOD IDEAS COME FROM by Steven Johnson

One of our most innovative, popular thinkers takes on - in exhilarating style - one of our key questions: Where do good ideas come from?

"With Where Good Ideas Come From, Steven Johnson pairs the insight of his bestselling Everything Bad Is Good for You and the dazzling erudition of The Ghost Map and The Invention of Air to address an urgent and universal question: What sparks the flash of brilliance? How does groundbreaking innovation happen? Answering in his infectious, culturally omnivorous style, using his fluency in fields from neurobiology to popular culture, Johnson provides the complete, exciting, and encouraging story of how we generate the ideas that push our careers, our lives, our society, and our culture forward.

Beginning with Charles Darwin's first encounter with the teeming ecosystem of the coral reef and drawing connections to the intellectual hyperproductivity of modern megacities and to the instant success of YouTube, Johnson shows us that the question we need to ask is, What kind of environment fosters the development of good ideas? His answers are never less than revelatory, convincing, and inspiring as Johnson identifies the seven key principles to the genesis of such ideas, and traces them across time and disciplines.

Most exhilarating is Johnson's conclusion that with today's tools and environment, radical innovation is extraordinarily accessible to those who know how to cultivate it. Where Good Ideas Come From is essential reading for anyone who wants to know how to come up with tomorrow's great ideas".  

Copy courtesy of  RiverheadBooks 

Changing Education Paradigms

This amazing animate was adapted from a talk given at the RSA by Sir Ken Robinson, world-renowned education and creativity expert and recipient of the RSA's Benjamin Franklin award. It sums up beautifully what we at NCAT Folio Preparation think about education!
For more information on Sir Ken's work visit: http://www.sirkenrobinson.com

Alan Lam: Visual Effects Artist & Ex Folio Preparation student

Alan Lam completed NCAT Folio Preparation back in 2002 when it was known as Design Studies. The folio that he put together got him into the highly coveted Multimedia Design & Digital Arts course at Monash University. After completing his degree he worked in industry & privately and then in 2008, went back for more study, this time completing a Graduate Diploma in Film (VFX) at VCA (Victoria College of The Arts). His 2009 Showreel ALAN LAM VFX Showreel 2009

www.youtube.com gives an insight into what he learnt along the way as does his website alanlam.com.au 

Alan now works  at Iloura doing Visual Effects for the film industry. His filmography is pretty impressive and includes:

Ted (digital effects artist: Iloura) (post-production) 2011

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (digital artist: Iloura) 2011

Killer Elite (visual effects artist: Iloura) 2011

Priest (digital artist: Iloura) 2011

Sanctum (visual effects artist: Iloura) 2010

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (roto artist: Iloura) 2010

Killer Elite (2011)

Priest (2011)

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011)

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2010)

Alan's time at NCAT Folio Preparation enabled him to explore his interests and build the skill set required for entry into the Multimedia Design & Digital Arts field. "I found that going to Design Studies [NCAT Folio Preparation] helped inform me of a lot of the choices that led me to where I am today".  We look forward to seeing more of Alan's work in the future.

More information can be found on Alan's IMDb Profile.

NDS >>> NCAT Folio Preparation

Welcome to NCAT Folio Preparation! This year we will commence trading under our new name to align ourselves to our college's new identity as Northern College of the Arts & Technology.


The College is currently going through a rebrand into a senior secondary college. It is now known as the Northern College of the Arts and Technology and caters for year 10-13 students seeking a specialised education in the visual arts, performing arts or technologies. We are now known as NCAT Folio Preparation and we deliver Certificate IV in Design & Visual Arts in addition to the VCAL Senior Extension-Folio Enhancement certificate.


NCAT Folio Preparation was originally launched in 1989 as Design Studies, at what was then Preston East Technical School. An iconic program, it ran initially as a TOP course. The School changed it's name in the early 90's to Northland Secondary College and the course became known as Northland Design Studies and then later it was shortened to NDS. Northland was closed for several years in the 90's and Design Studies relocated to what was then Thornbury Darebin Secondary College (Now Thornbury High School), returning to Northland when the school was reopened in 1995. 

The core staff, a passionate group, remains largely intact: Mark Russell, Tracy Paterson, Ian McKey, Sue Durham, Neil Davis, Amanda Croatto, Bei Janetzki and Jake Carabott.

N C A T Folio Preparation 2011: 100% Success rate on first round VTAC offers!

We are thrilled to announce that 100% of our students who went through the VTAC Tertiary/TAFE application process have been given first round offers! Our students will be going on to highly diverse courses from within the Art and Design fields, which is really exciting to see. 

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them all on their hard work and persistence. Some students came to us unsure of their direction but they all left us confident, well skilled and really ready for Uni/Tafe. 

We wish them all well on their individual journeys and look forward to seeing them do wonderful things in the future! We will also enjoy seeing them return to the College to present at forums and Industry days in the coming years.

Here is a run down on the courses they have been accepted into!

Visual Communication - Monash University Caulfield
Interior Architecture - Monash University Caulfield
Communication Design - RMIT University City 
Creative Industries - Victoria University City Flinders 
Fashion Design - RMIT University Brunswick 
Fine Art (Print Imaging Practice) - RMIT University City 
Furniture Design - RMIT University City 
Games Design - RMIT University City
Photography (Arts) - RMIT University City 
Textile Design - RMIT University Brunswick
Fashion Design - Kangan Institute Richmond 
Visual Merchandising - Kangan Institute Richmond 
Building Design - NMIT Greensborough 
Graphic Design - NMIT Fairfield 
Illustration - NMIT Preston 
Interior Design and Decoration - NMIT Preston 
Interactive Digital Media - RMIT University TAFE City 
Photography and Photoimaging - RMIT University TAFE City 
Product Design - RMIT University TAFE City 
Textile Design and Development - RMIT University TAFE Brunswick 
Visual Art - RMIT University TAFE City 
Visual Merchandising - RMIT University TAFE City 
Graphic Design - Swinburne TAFE Prahran 
Interior Design and Decoration - Swinburne TAFE Prahran 
Graphic Design - Vic Uni TAFE City Flinders 

D e s i d e r o YYLES: An awesome rap for N C A T!

Yasmin Yusuf Les has just completed the 
N C A T  Folio Preparation course this year & has produced a pretty amazing folio for someone so young! She is planning to go to Monash Uni Caulfield to study Visual Communication. 

I just stumbled on this lovely plug for our course that she has written (Without pressure, I might add!!), on her blog.

We wish Yasmin every success in what is going to be a thrilling career. She may be heading in the design direction, but her fine art skills are just as strong!

Here is what she had to say about us. You can read it here on her blog 

d e s i d e r o or read an excerpt below:

"NCAT Folio Preparation is an amazing program. It gives students the opportunity to develop/further an understanding in Design and Visual Art. NCAT allows students seeking Tertiary education to develop an outstanding folio and receive a Certificate IV in their specialised field. 

My experience at NDS [N.C.A.T] has been one of the most joyful and inspirational years of my education. The program has heightened my skill-set and also given me a further understanding in Design and Visual Art. It has strengthened my ambition to be a Designer and gain an occupation within the Creative Industry. There is such a great difference between my work from the start of February to where I am now. I could not have achieved what I have today without this course and the awe-inspiring and amazing staff members. They have always been so supportive and pushed us to do our best. 

You all have my many thanks and utmost gratitude, I couldn't have done it without you all. 

-insert teary smile- Yasmin"

Sampler: NDS Graduate Book Launch 2011

The 2011 students have finished their year with us and to celebrate we are launching Sampler, their 2011 Graduate book. Come down, have a drink, catch up, grab a book & check out the students work on projection. 

Time	15 December · 19:00 - 22:00
Location	The Loop Laneway Bar 23 Meyers Place (Off Top end of Bourke St) Melbourne, Australia

Current students will receive a copy of the book on the night. We are taking pre-orders for the book from the nds office. Some further copies will be available for purchase on the night as well.

Check out Loop: http://www.looponline.com.au/index.html

It's a bit tricky to find. Here is a google map ref:http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

RSVP on at our Facebook event page: Sampler: NDS 2011 Graduate book Launch

Call us at: NDS Folio Preparation if you need more info: 9478 1333

See you there!

CONCEPTed: bringing design into the classroom

http://conceptedmag.com/

"Designers have the opportunity to make change and to influence visual culture. In school, however, most students end up graduating from grade school without having a clear understanding of what design is. Not only is design important for art, but it also encompasses most of the other coursework students are already working on in k-12 schools, providing a great opportunity for arts integration, collaboration, and vital skill-building. In this issue of CONCEPTed, we look at exciting designers and educators who are bringing design into the classroom".

—Meghann Harris, Founder (with thanks).

To quote from the CONCEPTed website: "CONCEPTed is an online magazine about art education in the world today. The mission of the magazine is to be a free, online source to art educators and educators in other fields, act as a trendy and innovative source for new ideas, and keep art educators current with happenings in the art world and the issues that effect their students. The magazine also seeks to look to show examples of teachers who are doing provocative and exciting things in the classroom, to provide art educators with resources and lesson plans, and to bring awareness of arts education to administrators, parents, and teachers in other subjects".

Exciting stuff... anyone know of similar Australian sites?

We need more positive educational art & Design plugs. Tough economic times hit the creative industries hard. Britain's art schools are suffering a 27% drop in applications, alongside fee spikes of 9000 pounds per year! This has senior creatives fearful for the creative industries futures. As always, it will be the less economically well off that will miss out. Read more about this worrying trend Here. Anecdotally we are seeing the beginnings of similar trends in Victoria, with economically disadvantaged students struggling to cope with university fees.

A new home for Folio Preparation!

NCAT Folio Preparation has a new home and a new name! Formerly Northland Secondary College, the Northern College of the Arts and Technology caters for year 10-13 students seeking a specialised education in the visual arts, performing arts or technologies. Year 10 art and technology streams provide a solid foundation for VCE or VCAL qualifications. Our Year 11 and 12 students benefit from tailored, individualised programs that integrate VET art or technology certificates within a VCE or VCAL syllabus.

As a Registered Training Organisation, the College also welcomes part-time students from other state and private schools seeking to integrate VET certificates within a VCE or VCAL program. Graduate studies, short courses and close connections with industry, TAFE and tertiary providers open pathways for students who wish to pursue further study, apprenticeships or employment.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

In 2010, our College ceased education for year 7, 8 and 9 students to focus on the heart of our service offering. The change in our name from Northland Secondary College to the Northern College of the Arts and Technology better reflects our ongoing extension of VET specialisations and complimentary graduate studies in the arts and technologies. With one of the broadest VET offerings in Victoria, a 17 million dollar technologies facility and a highly successful visual and performing arts record; we look forward to servicing the vocational learning needs of Victorian students in 2012 and beyond.

But wait, there's more... NDS Folio Preparation will be known from 2012 as N C A T  Folio Preparation!

2012 REBRAND AND WEBSITE LAUNCH

We are complimenting the change in our name with a new brand which will be applied across all traditional and online media. This website is an interim measure while we work hard behind the scenes to develop our new website for the new school year. In the meantime, it’s business as usual. You might like to have a sneak peek at our interim website: Northern College of the Arts & Technology

Finding your way as a creative

We only wish someone had told us this when we started out as a creatives... it is about the best advice you could ever be given. Ira Glass is an American public radio personality, and host and producer of the radio and television show This American Life.

The Design Academy Eindhoven

The Design Academy Eindhoven is The Netherlands formost Design school. The school offers students an opportunity to study degrees & postgraduate studies based on a thematic approach. The design department offers themes including:

• Man And Activity
• Man And Communication
• Man And Identity
• Man And Leisure
• Man And Living
• Man And Mobility
• Man And Public Space
• Man And Well Being

The study program is based on Man's ability to relate to these needs & wishes.

To quote the school: "Man is able to adjust his environment to the needs and wishes of a certain time. This ability results in various outcomes, ranging from decadent to socially extremely relevant and from pitiful to very tasteful. Our faith is not in the hands of destiny, we ourselves have power over the possible scenarios for the future. And that is exactly what studying at Design Academy Eindhoven is all about. Design does not just involve tangible matters. It also tacklesissues such as the organisation of health care or the routingat Schiphol Airport.Design is not merely a matter of aesthetics. On the contrary. A designer searches for the right concept within a given context. This implies keeping a close eye at what happens around you. What does it teach you? What do your head, heart and intuition tell you? Can you use a different approach or an experiment to reach a revolutionary solution? Studying at Design Academy Eindhoven means getting some hard work done, developing your own methods, finding out where your strength lies. The academy will guide you through this process and challenge you to continuously work with your talents and develop your personality until you are an authentic and professional designer".

Their website is quite inspiring The Design Academy Eindhoven

Time to send us new applicants for 2012!

It's that time of the year again. We have almost finished 2011 classes and are looking at preparing for interviews for next year's NDS intake.

That got us thinking that we should be asking you to think about anyone you may know of who needs a year at 'Northies' (and don't we all!). We rely so heavily on word of mouth, and there is nothing quite like a recommendation from someone who has really seen the impact (first hand) that the NDS Folio Preparation year can have.

So do you have a friend, cousin, little sibling, friend of the family, neighbour, work mate, niece, nephew, or partner who "wants to do something in art & design but doesn't know how to get a folio together"?

We now offer Certificate IV in Design & Certificate IV in Visual Art & Contemporary Crafts. Students who get a distinction grade average in the course can bypass the ATAR for Monash Uni courses. RMIT takes some of our students into second year of Visual Communication. Victoria University now has direct entry for NDS students into Creative Industries. Monash Uni has NDS specific scholarships. We also offer the VCAL Senior Extension-Folio Enhancement that enables students to get a 10% bonus on their ATAR (ENTER) score.

Applicants must have successfully gained their VCE or VCAL Senior. We readily take on mature age students and are happy to cater for country students.

So... if you know of anyone, direct them to the NDS Folio Preparation Course blog  NDS _ How do I apply? for an application form.

or they can call us direct on 03 9478 1333

Help! Mucked up your preselection/VTAC app?

How do I apply to nds?

Need to put an art/design folio together? Mucked up your preselection/VTAC app? You need a year with us at the  NDS Folio Preparation Course! 


Things to keep in mind:

• It is a skills building Folio Preparation course
• It prepares you for entry into University, TAFE & the creative industries
• It is a 12-month course 
• You attend 4 days per week
• It is government funded (No TAFE fees)
• You have to be POST VCE/VCAL-Senior 
• We welcome mature age students
• It gives you a chance to put an awesome portfolio together
• It is a not for profit course
• We have been helping to launch art & design student’s careers for well over 20 years
• The staff at NDS is an experienced & dedicated team of artists and designers
• The course is well respected in art and design education, both secondary & tertiary
• It has dual qualifications (Certificate IV in Design or Visual Arts & VCAL Senior Extension - Folio Enhancement
• We are accepting applications now 

Jennifer Lea 'I Love Rabbits'

Jennifer Lea (Farrand) did NDS back in 2005 and went on to complete Honours in Computer Mediated Art & Multimedia in 2010. She is currently chewing on the possibility of a Diploma of Education!


Jen's blog is an eclectic mix of drawing, illustration, photography & multimedia projects all of which have their roots in simplicity & the everyday.

Jen says: "I'm an explorer armed with a camera and a lot of pens and paper" 

Check out her blog "I love Rabbits" here: I love rabbits.blogspot and her flicker photos here: Jennifer Lea's photostream 

*All Images all courtesy of Jennifer Lea with thanks Copyright Jennifer Lea