LCI Melbourne

Mission Statement

Our Mission, Goals and Objectives
LCI Melbourne aims to offer a high quality alternative to existing tertiary education in the Arts in universities.

In realising this mission, our goals are to:

• build the distinctive character of LCI Melbourne, and
• enhance our national and international reputation for academic excellence and leadership

 We intend to build the distinctive character of LCI Melbourne by:

• offering innovative specialist undergraduate and postgraduate programs relevant to the needs of graduates and industry
• encouraging students seeking a career in the Arts to access programs through multiple pathways
• creating a supportive learning environment by provision of appropriate student support services

We intend to enhance our national and international reputation for academic excellence and leadership by:

• developing knowledge and skills in students which foster their creativity and innovation
• promoting a global perspective among students and building their determination to strive for international recognition and excellence
• embedding nationally and internationally marketable skills within the curriculum
• attracting and retaining high quality teaching staff
• encouraging scholarship in teaching

International Role

LCI Melbourne has formalized memoranda of understanding with the following international institutions: BAU Escola Superior de Disseny, Barcelona, Spain; Design Academy Eindhoven, Netherlands; Utrecht School of Art, Netherlands; Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK; Instituto Europeo di Design (I.E.D.) Barcelona, Spain; Instituto Europeo di Design (I.E.D.) Milan, Italy. These affiliations have been developed primarily to facilitate student and staff exchange programs, and encourage collaborative research and the exchange of information and materials that are of mutual interest.

LCI Melbourne is also part of the LCI Education network which promotes mobility opportunities across its 23 campuses present in 12 different countries.

National Role

LCI Melbourne’s governing body, the Board of Directors, is comprised of recognized leaders and innovators in art, design and marketing fields (supplemented by experts in law, accounting, marketing and public relations). The Board Chair is Professor Warren Bebbington. LCI Melbourne’s Academic Board Chair is, Professor Andrew Flintman.

LCI Melbourne fosters links with industry via its program of guest lecturers, its professional practical placement program, and sponsored competitions. It also encourages input from the design industry via its Industry Advisory Panels, comprised of current practitioners and professionals, who assist in regularly reviewing the content and delivery of courses and offer advice on course development.

The majority of teaching staff have industry background and are highly respected and reputable artists or designers. Staff members have been recognised in awards including the Archibald Portrait Prize, Sulman Photographic Prize, Dobell Drawing Prize and National Gallery of Victoria Trustees Award. Other staff have designed or provided art direction for clients including Visa, ANZ, Guiness, the Olympic Games, Ford, Kodak, Vogue Living and the Belvoir Street Theatre.

LCI Melbourne students have won the Design Institute of Australia’s Graduate of the Year Award, the Southern Cross Packaging Award, the St Kilda Poster Prize, and the ‘Under the Radar’ Short Film Competition. Alumni include members of some of the country's top creative studios, Oscar-winning graphic designers, buyers for fashion houses, artists represented by major galleries, arts administrators, as well as freelance professionals.

LCI Melbourne plays an active role in community cultural development through its gallery, which features regular exhibitions of work by emerging and established artists, and through its engagement with community and cultural groups such as the Chamber Made Opera ensemble, the Goethe-Institut, ARLIS (the Art Libraries Society) and Books Illustrated. Previous event partners include Stanford University’s d.school, Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival, National Gallery of Victoria and the Melbourne Lord Mayor’s Charitable Appeal.

Main Focus

LCI Melbourne’s focus is its Bachelor of Design Arts, the first of its kind in Australia and a Design Institute of Australia Recognised Course. This undergraduate degree has major studies programs in Fashion & Costume Design, Filmmaking & Photography, Graphic & Digital Design, Visual Arts, and Interior Design. Our future focus will be on extending the range of educational pathways through the development of addtional degrees and postgraduate courses.