Charley Barnes
There’s a common misconception that creative degrees don’t have strong job prospects but ANU equipped me with the skills to work in both the art and design fields.
For Charley Barnes, graduating at the end of this year, creativity lives in the light-filled studios of the Australian National University (ANU), School of Art & Design (SoA&D).
Her space is scattered with acetate prints, works-in-progress, and splashes of paint across the desk.
“Most of the time it’s very messy,” she laughs, “but having my own space to play in makes the creative process so enjoyable.”
Charley is completing a Flexible Double Degree in Visual Arts and Design, motivated by a desire to use creative practice as a tool of communication. Alongside her studies, she works as a junior designer and casually at the National Gallery of Australia – just a five-minute drive from her studio.
“My work isn't based in a specific art form,” she says. “I mix different mediums like collage, painting and print together to explore ideas that interest me. A lot of my work engages with perspective or phenomenology, which is a philosophical study of the lived experience. Recently I've been using archival imagery in mixed media works that explore memory and the way moments in time are experienced, documented and constructed.” For Charley, instinct and spontaneity are central, “I like layering colour and form to document or process my own outlook and experiences.”
Originally from Sydney, Charley was drawn to ANU for its vibrant campus life and the dedicated art and design facilities. “I loved the fact that the School of Art & Design had special facilities, separate from the rest of the University.” Living on campus sealed the decision, as it was a chance to be part of a close-knit community while pursuing a creative degree.
What surprised her most about her degree was the breadth of career pathways it opened. “There’s a common misconception that creative degrees don’t have strong job prospects,” she says. “But ANU equipped me with the skills to work in both the art and design fields.”
She credits an intro to visual communication course with shaping her career path. “It was the first class that really motivated me to pursue design seriously, and I have a fantastic tutor.” She reflects fondly too on an environmental studio course that deepened her appreciation for the natural world while also expanding her understanding of Indigenous culture and her practice.
As she prepares to graduate, Charley is thoughtful about what she’s learned outside the classroom as much as in it. Her advice to future students is simple, “You have limited time at University, and the things you learn about your field or yourself and the people you meet may inform the rest of your career. The bare minimum will only get you so far, so make connections with your tutors, go to campus events and soak in as much as you possibly can – your future self will thank you.”
