Finding connections and your path at Melbourne
Xinpei Song is a Bachelor of Design student who moved to Melbourne from China “to meet people from different cultures and gain a new type of learning pattern”. What she found was a place for forming friendships and exploring her passions.
Despite the challenges of a “new environment, new language and new teaching patterns,” Xinpei found the Melbourne student community warm and welcoming. She quickly made friends who shared her study interests or were from similar backgrounds, and credits these connections with helping ease the transition to university.
There has been no shortage of opportunities at UniMelb for Xinpei to develop strong ties with other students. The hands-on studio environment in her design classes has enabled her to collaborate with and learn from her peers. The many student clubs and societies that host activities, industry networking events and social gatherings also helped Xinpei settle in and find her community. One she recommends for current or future design students is the Design Student Society.
The learning experiences available at Melbourne, including the access to leading research and resources, have inspired Xinpei in developing her design portfolio and have equipped her with the expertise and cross-disciplinary skills to pave her success in whichever field she chooses to specialise in.
While a portfolio is not a requirement for entry into the Bachelor of Design, Xinpei recommends developing one throughout your degree. The ability to exploring different design styles and techniques helps diversify your portfolio and holds you in good stead if you want to continue on to graduate study.
Xinpei’s parting advice for anyone thinking of studying at Melbourne?
“Try not to compare yourself to other students. I had no design related education before, so it was quite normal for me to make things rough or not that ‘good-looking’. However, some students might have been studying or working in design for a long time. It’s easy to get lost if you compare yourselves to those students.”
Focus more on what you have learnt and what you are interested in. There’s always going to be a range of skill levels in any class – that's why the tutors are there to help you.
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