KerryAnn Bartle

THE OPPORTUNITY
Revolutionise the education-to-employment landscape by creating a space that fosters student success and accelerates career journeys. The challenge was to move beyond traditional learning environments and design a hub that would not only provide educational resources but also cultivate a vibrant community and bridge the gap between students and potential employers.

THE SOLUTION
A Collaborative Education-to-Employment Hub:
The Hub’s core concept, “Nucleus," envisioned a central point where students, educators, and employers connect and collaborate to accelerate career journeys.

A Vibrant Learning Community:
The Acquire Hub™ transcended a physical space; it fostered a vibrant community. Students benefitted from state-of-the-art facilities like an Event Space, a Student Experience Zone, and a DJ booth, creating an inspiring atmosphere. Additionally, the Hub attracted education and employment partners, facilitating valuable networking opportunities for all participants.

Building the "Coolest Campus”:
The vision was to create a unique environment unlike any other – a “coolest campus” for students. This space offered a sense of belonging and support, with features like free Wi-Fi, computers, and comfortable study areas to enhance productivity. The design mirrored successful companies like Apple, Starbucks, and airline lounges, promoting a welcoming and familiar atmosphere.

Collaborative Design Approach:
Selecting the right design partner was crucial. Studio Equator’s expertise in international design trends and sensory experiences ensured a space that would inspire learning and career exploration. Their ability to understand the needs of both students and the Acquire Learning business model fostered a successful collaboration.

A User-Centric Interior:
The Acquire Hub™ interior catered to every user group. The ground floor Discovery Zone offered career guidance, brand information on touch screens, and comfortable seating areas. Level 2 was dedicated to students, featuring individual study pods, lockers, a designated “beats” (DJ booth) area, complimentary coffee, and Australia’s first Student Experience Pod (SXP) for private video interviews. Level 3 boasted a modern space with a unique lighting system for hosting workshops, events, and meetings.

Seamless Technology Integration:
Technology played a vital role in the Acquire Hub™ experience. Each floor featured cutting-edge amenities like a 103-inch TV, interactive touch screens, Google Hangouts in meeting rooms, free devices, Wi-Fi, printing, and charging stations. This thoughtful integration ensured both functionality and a welcoming atmosphere.

IMPACT
The Acquire Hub™ transcended a physical space; it fostered a vibrant community. Students benefitted from a supportive environment designed to enhance productivity and career readiness. The thoughtful design, inspired by successful companies like Apple and Starbucks, created a welcoming and familiar atmosphere. Technology played a vital role, with each floor featuring cutting-edge amenities that ensured a seamless user experience. By seamlessly integrating creative skills like creative direction, art direction, graphic design, strategy, and copywriting, this project resulted in a successful launch of the Acquire Hub™, a groundbreaking initiative revolutionising the education-to-employment journey.

Acquire Hub™ Melbourne the ultimate place to Discover > Educate > Inspire > Employ.

SKILLS HIGHLIGHTED
This project exemplifies my ability to seamlessly integrate various creative skills:

Creative Direction: establish the overall vision and strategy for the Acquire Hub™ brand and launch campaign.

Art Direction: oversee the design and aesthetic of the physical space and marketing materials.

Branding: establishing a strong brand identity for the Acquire Hub™, encompassing brand messaging, visual design, and user experience.

Strategy: develop a comprehensive strategy for branding, communication, and user experience.

Graphic Design: executed high-quality design assets and templates for print, digital and social platforms, and oversaw brand consistency with the team during rollout.

Digital Design: ensuring a seamless user experience across all digital touchpoints, including wayfinding directory, app, website and social media platforms.

Copywriting: crafted compelling brand messaging and marketing copy that resonated with the target audience. Led a team of copywriters to further evolve the messaging across various print, digital and social platforms.