For JMC Academy Design student Ash, a classroom assignment quickly evolved into something far bigger: a professionally produced packaging prototype developed in collaboration with industry.
Studying DVC254 Physical Design Foundation at JMC’s Melbourne Campus, Ash spent the trimester exploring the complexities of physical packaging design, from conceptual thinking and illustration through to structural problem-solving and manufacturing realities. What began as a student project ultimately became a hands-on experience in commercial production thanks to JMC’s relationship with Kosdown Printing.
A few months ago on March 11, Ash and her class visited the family-run commercial printer in Port Melbourne for an industry excursion led by business owner Derek. During the visit, JMC students were introduced to Kosdown’s printing facilities and gained practical insight into how professional packaging moves from digital artwork into physical production.
Beyond showcasing their services, the Kosdown team offered students something equally valuable: honest manufacturing advice from an industry perspective.
For Ash, the excursion opened up new possibilities for her student project.
Following the visit, she continued refining her packaging concept through extensive experimentation with illustrations, dielines and structural design. She also tested prototypes with friends and family, using feedback to ensure the box communicated clearly and functioned exactly as intended.
As the project developed, so did Ash’s relationship with the Kosdown team.
After Derek invited students to return and print future projects at discounted rates, Ash took the opportunity to bring her work into a professional production environment. On April 27, she returned to Kosdown Printing to print and prototype her packaging design in-house, working directly alongside Derek and Jude, a pre-press specialist with more than 20 years of industry experience.
Together, they revised the artwork for commercial printing and experimented with finishes including coatings, foiling and different card weights to achieve a polished, retail-standard result. The process gave Ash rare exposure to the collaborative realities of design production, offering insight into the technical adjustments and problem-solving required to bring a concept to life professionally!
On April 29, Ash presented her completed project and physical prototype, documenting the full creative journey from early concept development through to commercial execution.
The timing also aligned with a growing partnership between JMC Academy and Kosdown Printing, with Kosdown recently announced as sponsors of The Design Awards in Melbourne. The award celebrates exceptional student projects from the February trimester, with one student set to receive a $500 prize in recognition of outstanding work.
For Ash, the experience became more than an assessment piece. It became a glimpse into the realities of the design industry itself: collaboration, iteration, technical refinement and the satisfaction of holding a professionally produced idea in your hands.
It’s also a reminder of what studying design at JMC Academy can look like when classroom learning intersects directly with industry experience