2005 - Mia Lake

Mia Lake began her journey with Whitehouse Institute of Design in 2000 when she attended a high school workshop in fashion drawing and design run at her school. From there she enrolled in an introductory fashion design and fashion drawing short course where she won a scholarship to attend the advanced fashion design and fashion drawing short course. In 2001, upon completion of both these short courses, Mia enrolled in Whitehouse’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) in schools program completing her Certificate II in Design Visualisation for Fashion over years 11 and 12.

In 2003 Mia did a complete about face and decided that she did not want to continue with fashion and instead enrolled in Whitehouse’s Advanced Diploma in Interior Design. Mia decided to continue her tertiary studies at Whitehouse because she enjoyed the unique “learning environment…and the relationships formed between teachers and students” that Whitehouse had to offer. Mia believes that completing the VET in schools programs gave her a definite advantage over other students entering the Advanced Diploma course because “I knew the standard level of work that was expected of me. I had an understanding of basic design that others didn’t and my skills were at a higher level. I felt more comfortable in the classes as I wasn’t confused about anything.”

Mia has now completed her Advanced Diploma and says her most enjoyable experiences were “farm trips, open days and the end of year exhibition”. Mia says the greatest skills that her time at Whitehouse have provided her with are “time and work management, ability to graphically present work, greater confidence, business skills and great design fundamentals”. However, Mia says the most valuable lesson she learned while at Whitehouse was “knowing that I can do anything if I want to”.

In 2005 Mia is looking towards a future in Italy and one day owning her own business. “Next year I will be studying in Italy because of the scholarship I won. One day I want to become an interior design and hopefully own my own business.” For the next year at least, Mia will attend the Accademia Italiana in Florence where she will study a Masters in Interior and Product Design. After that who knows where the future will take this bright young girl.

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