A comprehensive project that had me work with the Sunshine Coast Creative Alliance to uncover their history and bring it to light.
This project showcases the evolution of the graphic design profession. While the final product is a webpage developed in alignment with SCCA’s established style, the process behind it involves a deep dive into design thinking, along with comprehensive research into the company’s values and history.
SUNSHINE COAST CREATIVE ALLIANCE
The Client
Established in 2008, SCCA is a membership organisation based on the Sunshine Coast working to elevate the creative sector to be sustainable and relevant. We do this through professional development, leadership and advocacy.
Sunshine Coast Creative Alliance
The Brief
As a student, I was assigned to work with the Sunshine Coast Creative Alliance (SCCA) to help solve a critical challenge. SCCA is currently at a pivotal point in its history. With support from the government, the organization is poised to expand its reach. The key issue was how to achieve this growth while honoring and preserving the community they’ve already built. The solution? To backtrack and archive their history—showcasing their roots and highlighting the impact they’ve made on the community.
My Role
This project pushed me to dive headfirst into unfamiliar territory, applying my creative thinking and problem-solving skills in a new context. I conducted interviews with key figures from SCCA’s past and present to uncover and bring their story to life. By speaking with four former presidents, I gained a representative voice from each era of the organization, breaking down pivotal decisions, initiatives, and objectives of their tenure—and how these shaped the SCCA we know today. I also reached out to individuals positively impacted by SCCA’s initiatives to illustrate the organization’s influence on the creative landscape of the Sunshine Coast.
Deliverables
Archive Strategy Designed
Project Vision Designed
Research of SCCA’s History
20-30 Edited Photos
Web Page Design
Before diving into the research phase, I collaborated with stakeholders to develop the project’s strategy and shape the overarching narrative that would emerge from the information gathered. The initial plan was to interview former presidents to capture the essence of their respective eras—exploring SCCA’s initiatives during their tenure and highlighting the organization’s involvement in the community. However, as the project progressed, this narrative evolved, which I will revisit later.
First Thing’s First
The interviews were the turning point that made this project one of my all-time favorites. I conducted six interviews: four with current and former presidents, and two with individuals whose work had been supported by SCCA. While each conversation brought a unique perspective, one consistent theme emerged—a beautiful story of SCCA’s early days. I gained raw insight into the passion and love that each president had for the creative industries. In my view, this passion was more significant than their actions alone, and I proposed shifting the project’s focus to emphasize this narrative. The suggestion was met with enthusiasm, and I quickly began sorting through the wealth of information provided by each interview to weave the story together.
The Beautiful Story
Research
With the narrative in place, I had a clear direction on what information to seek, investigate, and prioritize. My initial research involved scouring the internet for any articles or sources that mentioned SCCA. While doing so, I began piecing together a timeline—assembling SCCA’s history like a puzzle. I uncovered a few intriguing resources, such as an archived collection of SCCA’s newsletters and an article announcing their merger with the Noosa Creative Alliance in 2009. However, as exciting as these discoveries were, it was through interviewing the former presidents that I truly brought the story to life.
Capturing the Essence
The main source of information came first hand from former presidents. Coming from the outside with these interviews brought to life, the spirit and comradely that the SCCA held, and the passion they had for their industry.
“Our first board meetings were literally around my dining table. It felt very communal and close, with breastfeeding mothers and a lot of the relationships that I had during that time lasted well beyond the boardroom.”
Angie Dunbavan talking about the start of SCCA
“It seemed to be the most natural thing to do because there were so many creative people on the Sunshine Coast, yet there wasn’t a central body to support and connect them.”
Phil Smith when asked the inspiration of SCCA
“Our job is not presenting works. We’re not a venue. we’re not a presenter, we’re not a producer. Our role is to get behind creatives so they’re skilled, networked and positioned to do all of those things.”
Liz Burcham discussing the purpose of SCCA as the peak body
The Webpage
All of this research was distilled into a compelling narrative that showcased SCCA’s grassroots origins. The story was presented on a webpage, making it easily accessible to the community and allowing for future expansion. From the outset, the project was envisioned as the foundation of an ongoing archive, so it was critical to ensure that the content could be easily added to over time. In addition to the story, the webpage features a gallery and a call to action at the bottom—encouraging anyone who has had an experience with SCCA to share their story and become part of this ever-growing history.
Refinery 5.0
During this project, I also photographed the bootcamp for Refinery 5.0. A creative business incubation program created and held by SCCA to facilitate the growth of entrepreneurs on the Sunshine Coast.
