Functional design has been the focus for University of Canberra graduate Jessica Owen

Ms Owen recently graduated with a Bachelor of Industrial Design and has already tasted success with her Crucible Showcase of contemporary jewellery being awarded the Craft ACT MELT award for 2008.

This award is in collaboration with the University of Canberra, and is awarded to emerging designers. The award and exhibition gave Ms Owen an excellent opportunity to showcase her work to a wider audience.

Jessica Owen at her recent graduation at Parliament House

“Throughout the years of my industrial design course, I was encouraged to get involved in design competitions by my lecturer’s. I was a finalist in a couple of competitions.

"It’s always nice to get recognition for your work. Most recently, I was in round one of the shortlist for the 2007 Dyson Student awards for a Lie-Flat Hospital chair that I designed as my final year project,” said Ms Owen.

She has already commenced her career after being offered a freelance position with a Canadian company.

“At the beginning of the year I was doing freelance work for a company in Canada designing laptops , and now I'm working for the interior design firm 'Cunsolo Architects' in Sydney.

" I'm helping with product design and learning about Interior design. I don't see myself doing this for a long time and plan to get another job in industrial design soon, but it's been a really great experience.

“I absolutely loved the course I studied at the University of Canberra. Studying in Canberra was probably a sensible option, as there aren’t many distractions and I could focus more on my studies," she said.