1999 - Jillian McKay

Jillian McKay graduated from Whitehouse Institute of Design in 1999 with a diploma of Fashion Design.

After graduation, she got a job as a design room assistant at Australasian Textiles Limited. Soon after she started there, Jillian was offered a one week unpaid internship at Alex Perry and grabbed that opportunity. She was offered a fulltime job after this internship as a couture and ready to wear assistant at Alex Perry. After her time at Alex Perry, she decided it was time to do something completely different and went back to the Whitehouse Institute of Design, this time as a teacher instead of a student.

She is currently working on completing a Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Art Education at the College of Fine Arts.

Growing up in a small farming town, Jillian always wanted to broaden her horizons and get to know the city life. Her studies at Whitehouse Institute of Design have given her this opportunity and with it her dream of working in the fashion industry. She has been prepared for working in the Industry at Whitehouse because studying there gave her excellent industry relevant skills. She had numerous goals while studying at Whitehouse, like learning as much as possible about the industry and about fashion design, so she would be able to find a job in the industry.

What Jillian loves most about the industry is the drive and the need to be creative and at your best all the time.

Jillian uses everyday things and experiences to draw inspiration from in her art. She still goes back to her hometown frequently to get new energy and inspiration for what she does today, teaching at Whitehouse. 

If you are a Whitehouse alumnus we would love to hear your story, please email it to the Webmaster - marketing@whitehouse-design.edu.au