The QCAD is the Queensland College of Art and Design. Founded in 1881, the College is the oldest arts institution in Australia. It has been part of Griffith University since 1991, co-located with the Queensland Conservatorium, the Griffith Film School and Griffith Graduate Centre. The QCAD has an impressive roster of alumni and recently celebrated 140 years of creative arts graduates in Queensland.

QCADLive offers a dynamic range of creative and commercial projects, including public art, workshops and masterclasses to create unique experiences and art and design projects for students, industry and members of the public. Our experienced staff work closely and in partnership with industry professionals to facilitate the high-quality design and visual arts activities and deliverables.

QCADLive is the umbrella term for all work-integrated learning (WIL) experiences at QCAD. It provides a front door for the industry to foster partnerships and a portal for students to access these opportunities.

There are four main WIL studios at QCAD:

• Liveworm is the in-house work-integrated learning design studio of the QCAD and has studios at the Gold Coast and on South Bank.
• LiveArt offers public art, workshops, and masterclasses to create unique experiences for QCA students, industry, and public members.
• LiveSpace provides opportunities for QCA students to work on socially and environmentally responsible design in the broader community.
• LiveImage offers in-house professional photographic services to students and industry partners.

In most situations, yes. We endeavour to partner with suitable projects that will benefit our students and provide learning opportunities.  Students will be guided by experienced staff with decades of experience.

QCADLive projects allow students to:

• gain hands-on practical experience and contact with both clients and suppliers
• convert theoretical knowledge into practice
• work in a collaborative, mentored space with assistance from professional staff
• gain exposure to a 'live' professional studio environment
• follow a project from conception to completion
• learn how to negotiate within budgets, deadlines and client requirements.

We undertake projects for:

• Individuals
• not-for-profit organisations
• government departments
• select for-profit organisations
• different groups and departments within Griffith University.

Each of the areas maintains its web presence. You can see an overview of the types of projects from each area by clicking on the tiles above. If you want more information about each area, you can click through from those pages to the websites of each department.

From time to time, we can embed large projects into the core curriculum so that an entire cohort of students can work on it.

There are two contingencies to this type of project. Firstly, it needs to align with the trimester dates and be briefed early enough so that the course convenor can build it into the curriculum. Secondly, there needs to be a work-integrated learning (WIL) benefit to the students, such as including the work in their portfolio, the opportunity to work with a community group, real-world experience, feedback from clients and supported implementation.

A recent example might be the design of the Sea Jellies exhibit at SeaWorld, Bleach Festival exhibits or Commonwealth Games internships.

Trimester dates fall within the following months:

• Trimester 1: March–June
• Trimester 2: July–October
• Trimester 3: November–February.

In addition to our academic calendar, where we teach across three trimesters, we also have the flexibility to work on dynamically timetabled projects. Therefore, the earlier you contact us, the better we can incorporate your project and find a timeline that works.

Reach out using the contact form as we maintain a roster of current students and recent graduates. We can forward your project to our student community and you can work with a student directly.

We have showcases of graduating students, both in-person and online. You can reach out using the contact form and we will forward your request to suitable students. Alternatively, you can ask to be placed on the mailing list for the yearly graduation shows (Oct–Nov).

We understand that each project is different and it can sometimes be difficult to know the exact person to contact. We have made this process easier by creating a contact form for all enquiries. This is connected to a real person who will be able to direct your enquiry to the right studio.

All projects can be quoted after we speak directly with you to determine your job requirements and timeline.  Our staff are skilled in managing a range of projects and will be able to develop an accurate quote before you begin.

In general, we don't support projects that offer only the cost of materials and/or a very low fee. Art and design students are often invited to produce work at little to no cost to the client in return for exposure. While, on some occasions, these projects may be genuinely worthwhile for the student and/or QCAD, we are also committed to respecting the time, energy and expertise of our staff and students. We recognise that there is no way to know the cost of something without speaking to our team first.

Some students can elect to complete off-campus creative internships as part of their program. The goal is for students to gain professional experience, build their portfolios and networks, and develop the soft skills most highly sought after by industry. If you have a suitable internship opportunity for one or more students, please submit your enquiry via the contact form.