The APDG is proud to recognise and support outstanding emerging designers across Australia.
Outstanding Design Students
2024
QUEENSLAND
Alyssa Sandilands – JMC Academy, Brisbane
Matilda Heck – Griffith Film School
Brylea Bartsch – Bond University
VICTORIA
Alexander Hollins & Alex Martin – JMC Academy, Melbourne
Sophie Ness – VCA (Lighting Design)
Miriam Robinson – VCA (Set & Costume Design)
Tahlia Fusca – VCA (Production Design)
Katerina Collier – Deakin University
Sophie O’Connor – Melbourne Polytechnic (Costume)
Maddison West – AIT, VIC (2D Animation)
NEW SOUTH WALES
Ella Drinkwater – Australian Film Television & Radio School (AFTRS)
Angelina Daniel – National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)
Chloe Small – JMC Academy, Sydney
Lilli-Rose Raton – TAFE NSW, Design Centre Enmore
Aurora Rymaszewski – TAFE NSW, Randwick
Stella Reah Smith – TAFE NSW, Ultimo
Jodie Myers – AIT, NSW (2D Animation)
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Elisa von Perger – Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
To be announced.
Melinda Doring APDG, Ella Drinkwater (Recipient), Natalie Beak (AFTRS Discipline Lead Production Design) and Charli Dugdale (AFTRS Acting Production Design Lecturer).
JMC Academy Melbourne recipients Alexander Hollins and Alex Martin accepting their production design award for ‘Not Quite a Square’.
2023
QUEENSLAND
Alyssa Sandilands – JMC Academy, Brisbane
Jordan Grant – QUT
Valeria Mastakova – Griffith Film School
VICTORIA
Taishah Simcox – VCA (Lighting Design)
Mikailah Looker – VCA (Set & Costume Design)
Louisa Fitzgerald – VCA (Set & Costume Design – Masters)
Beth Arendse – Deakin University (BA)
Maddison Maurdev – Deakin University (Honours)
Kate Schmitzer – Melbourne Polytechnic (Costume)
Michael Cassar – AIT, VIC (2D Animation)
NEW SOUTH WALES
Sheree Tam (MAS) – Australian Film Television & Radio School (AFTRS)
Lilian Harris (BA) – Australian Film Television & Radio School (AFTRS)
James Stibilj – National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)
Yusuf Christian – JMC Academy, Sydney
Lauren Griffiths – JMC Academy, Sydney
Sanne Kaan – TAFE NSW, Ultimo Campus (Costume)
Harry Neville – TAFE NSW, Design Centre Enmore
Clare Vanderlaan – AIT, NSW (2D Animation)
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Sarah Halton – Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Remy Low – TAFE SA (Costume & Production Design)
Natalie Beak (APDG Representative & AFTRS Discipline Lead Production Design) presenting AFTRS MAS Graduate Sheree Tam with the Best Production Design Award.
Jordan Grant, winner of the Best Production Design Award for QUT.
2022
QUEENSLAND
Joosun Kim – JMC Academy, Brisbane
Kiki Cryan – Bond University
VICTORIA
Aye Banez (Set & Costume) – VCA
Theo Viney (Lighting) – VCA
Stephanie Crowe (Production Design) – VCA
Nina Saitoti – Deakin University
Ethan Grahek – Deakin University
William Du – JMC Academy Melbourne
NEW SOUTH WALES
Micah Lihachov – Australian Film Television & Radio School (AFTRS)
Lochie Odgers – National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)
Lauren Ward – Design Centre Enmore for Set Design
Eleanor Chessell – Design Centre Enmore for Costume Design
Katie O’Brien – Macquarie University
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Charlotte Meagher – Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Ellana Murphy – Adelaide College of the Arts
Deakin University recipient Ethan Grahek accepting the
2022 award from Dr Donna McRea.
2021
QUEENSLAND
London Hawke – QUT
Isobel Dew – QUT
Jemma Breedon – JMC Academy Brisbane
VICTORIA
Jessica Dennis – JMC Academy Melbourne
Liam Misuraca – JMC Academy Melbourne
Noelle Bish – Deakin University
Shaleise-Rose Lieshaman – AIT, Melbourne
NEW SOUTH WALES
Paula Santos (Costume) – Enmore TAFE
Heather Boulter (Set) – Enmore TAFE
Alvin Ding – AIT, Sydney
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Sam Siversson – Edith Cowan University
Deakin University recipients Noelle Bish in 2021.
2020
QUEENSLAND
Megan O’Sullivan – QUT
Boudicca Davies – JMC Academy Brisbane
VICTORIA
Justin Carter – Deakin University
Vincent Kinna – Deakin University
NEW SOUTH WALES
Claudia Kryszkiewicz – NIDA
Olivia Hutley – NIDA
Emily Borghi – Enmore Tafe
Jing Yu – Macquarie University
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Charlotte Bayly – Edith Cowan University
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Katherine Cooper – Adelaide College of the Arts
2019
QUEENSLAND
Carissa Niciauskas – QUT
Erin Jarrett – QUT
VICTORIA
Lauren Gould – VCA
Zachary Mulley – Deakin University
NEW SOUTH WALES
Isabella Gabreal – Macquarie University
Kiran Heckrotte – Randwick TAFE
Lauren Kheir (Production Design) – Enmore TAFE
Liansu Yu (Costume) – Enmore TAFE
Ziggy Taylor – Sydney Film School
Lauren Kheir receiving her award from Julia McCrea (Teacher and Course
Co-ordinator at Enmore Tafe Design Centre) and Bob Hill (Former APDG Education Representative)
Natalie Beak presenting 2023 BA student recipient present Lilian Harris with her award at AFTRS.
Valentina Iastrebova (former APDG Treasurer) presents Isabella Gabreal with the Macquarie University Focus Award for Creative Achievement in Production Design
Wendy Cork APDG presenting Sanne Kaan the 2023 Best Costume Design award at Ultimo TAFE with course coordinator Roslyn O’Dell.
Deakin University recipient Maddison Maurdev with Dr Sian Mitchell, the Head of Academic Group, Film, TV, Animation and Performing Arts, and Artistic Director of the Melbourne Women in Film Festival.