Career pathways are not always straightforward; they can take you in many unexpected directions.
No one knows this more than Wenting Ma and Kassie Kan, who were in very different careers – an accountant and circus performer, respectively – before pivoting to studying design at RMIT’s College of Vocational Education.
“Five years into my accounting career, I realized my true passion lay in design,” said Wenting.
“I’ve always been fascinated by architecture and interior spaces, so I decided it was time to pursue what I loved via RMIT's Diploma of Interior Design.”
“I’ve been a circus performer, a youth worker, team bonding facilitator, youth leadership program facilitator, landscaper, factory hand, and caterer,” said Kassie.
“My natural curiosity found a home in working with wood, and that’s why I chose the Associate Degree in Design (Furniture) at RMIT.”
Wenting and Kassie were recognized at this year’s DIA Graduate of the Year Awards, which celebrate the best of Australia’s emerging designers.
Telling stories through design
Kassie was awarded both the DIA Australian and Victorian Graduate of the Year in the ‘USE – Vocational’ category for her furniture promoting sustainability and inclusivity.
Shaped by her experiences with ADHD, her designs shine a spotlight on neurodivergence and invisible health conditions on a practical and conceptual level.
“My design Six Sticks was inspired by the profound impact lighting can have on sensory comfort. I designed it after gathering feedback from over 40 neurodivergent individuals, which shaped both the aesthetic and functional aspects of the design,” Kassie said.
“Pleuro is a coffee table that compares mushrooms and their vast hidden mycelium networks with the experience of chronic illness, which is also often unseen. Its unfinished appearance invites reflection on the value of revealing one’s unvarnished self.”
Kassie’s personal connection to her designs makes the award especially meaningful to her.
“It demonstrates that when we are judged by our output, autistic and ADHD students have great potential,” she said.