This month, USG Boral was excited to become a major partner of RMIT INDEX, an annual exhibition of final year thesis projects by the graduating students of the RMIT University Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) program.

It was a pleasure to attend the VIP opening night, held in a warehouse in West Melbourne, for a first look at all the works on display. The exhibition space was buzzing with architecture and design professionals, design industry representatives, RMIT University alumni, and of course the students. It was extremely fulfilling to see the creativity and vision the students were able to express. Adding technology to the mix, USG Boral set up a VR experience for students and exhibition guests to bring our Asona acoustical panels and products to life.

Congratulations to the class of 2017, and in particular the special award recipients, recognised for their exceptional work.

·         Fredric Sterne Memorial Award - Cindy Yuliani

·         Artichoke Magazine Award - Xiaowei Liu

·         RMIT Innovation Award - Clara Wilson

·         Bates Smart Award - Richard Machuca

According to Anthony Fryatt, Interior Design (Honours) program manager and final year coordinator, the RMIT INDEX highlighted a significant level of student talent. “Interior Design at RMIT University continues to pursue an enrichment of the discipline through examining an expanded idea of interior design. I congratulate the 2017 graduates for completing their Major Projects and I wish them well for their future practice. This year the overall standard of design was again exceptionally high and demonstrates the design talent, persistence and a commitment to experimentation and risk within the graduate cohort.”

Indeed, well done to all of the graduates. With materials and finishes such an intrinsic part of any design work, USG Boral is very pleased to support the education and development of these students as they transition into the professional world. We look forward to seeing what 2018 will bring.