Luke's boyhood dream becomes reality with help from CQUni's Multimedia Studies course

Ever since Luke Mallie was young' he always wanted to be an artist and designer and the CQUniversity Multimedia Studies degree helped him take his natural talent and turn it into a viable business.

A First Nations man' Luke belongs to the Kuku Yalanji people of the Daintree Rainforest on his mother's side and from Kubin Village' Moa Island in the Torres Strait Islands on his father's side. Luke has encouraged other First Nations people to pursue their passions during Indigenous Business Month in October.

"Since I was a child' I have always loved drawing and designing. I would draw cars' motorbikes and other machinery' along with creating floor plans for houses and buildings. I always knew that I wanted to create artwork for a living'" he said.

Before attending CQUni' Luke completed a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art (Visual Art) with a major in painting at the Queensland College of Art (QCA). With a vision to create his own business' Luke knew he would need to improve and diversify his computer skills' learning how to use digital programs to create high quality digital artwork.

Luke studied a Bachelor of Multimedia Studies (now known as the Bachelor of Digital Media) at CQUni in Mackay and it was here that he discovered it was the perfect course for him to learn how to create digital media using industry-standard software' tools and techniques.

"The course was structured well and the lecturers were very knowledgeable about each subject' allowing the course to be more enjoyable for myself and fellow students'" he said.

"Through my studies' I now have the skills and dedication to complete my work within prescribed deadlines and to set high quality standards to always ensure client satisfaction."

In 2009' Luke entered a design in the National NAIDOC Poster Award – which he won.

Gaining national recognition for his work' Luke was inspired to begin his own business and he created Luke Mallie Designs. Luke knew that establishing his own business provided a great opportunity to create his art full time and enjoy the flexibility and sense of creative freedom that comes with business ownership.

"The mission statement for Luke Mallie Designs is 'To Inspire & Empower through Art & Design'' while the philosophy of the business is to show the beauty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures through art and design'" he said.

Luke Mallie Designs continues to grow' and Luke has achieved numerous milestones and worked with clients' including BHP' QBE Insurance' Queensland Health' New South Wales Health' NITV' the Australian Rugby League and others.

"I would advise other First Nations people to follow your dreams to build a business where you can use your creativity. If you're doing something you love doing' it will eventually become successful and you will always love your work'" he said.

"I would also encourage everyone to always deliver the most professional work possible. CQUni can help individuals and companies to build skills and knowledge in developing professional quality products and designs at the highest level."

For more information visit https://www.lukemalliedesigns.com/