We had an incredible time exhibiting at the Life Instyle trade fair in Melbourne. The energy, creativity, and passion that filled the Royal Exhibition Building was nothing short of inspiring, making it the perfect backdrop for us at Design School Online (DSO) to introduce our NEW Short Course in Visual Merchandising directly to the retail industry.

The response to the launch of our short course was overwhelmingly positive, with interest pouring in not just from potential learners but also from industry professionals who recognised the lack of training available for visual merchandising. It was clear from our conversations that retailers have been seeking skilled Visual Merchandisers who can bring creativity and strategic thinking to their stores, but finding such talent has been a challenge—until now.

Our Short Course in Visual Merchandising is designed to fill this gap by offering a comprehensive, skills-based education that empowers learners to create captivating and immers...

Say hello to Petrina Turner, the latest creative powerhouse to join us as a trainer at Design School Online. Hailing from Melbourne, Petrina is no stranger to education, having taught design for many years. We've long admired her unique approach to creating smart, sustainable spaces and her brilliant eye for colour and pattern. So, to say we're thrilled to have her join Team DSO is an understatement! Welcome, Petrina!
 

Q: Hello, Petrina! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your design journey?

A: Hello! I'm Petrina, the heart and soul behind Petrina Turner Design. With over 30 years in the design industry, I've had the joy of transforming countless spaces into beautiful, functional havens. My journey began with a deep passion for creativity very early on, sewing with my mum, always rearranging and decorating my room and drawing up floor plans for imaginary homes. I also have a love for how design can make a real difference in people's lives. Over the years, I've honed my skills ...

What an incredible week we had at the Decor + Design Show in Melbourne! The DSO team was on hand to launch our new Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program directly to the industry, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

Our custom-pink booth stood out on the show floor, drawing in a fantastic response from the crowd. It was such a pleasure to interact with professional designers face-to-face, meet new people, and reconnect with familiar faces. The energy and enthusiasm from everyone who stopped by made it clear that the RPL program is something the industry has been waiting for.

The new Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program allows you to fast-track your path to becoming a qualified Interior Decorator through a streamlined process. Save time, enhance your career, and get recognised for the expertise you’ve already gained in the field.

If you are already working in the industry, we now offer a unique opportunity to have your years of real-world, on-the-job e...

Attending trade events is one of our favourite ways for our DSO educators to stay connected to the industry.

We visited Design Show in Sydney last week and left feeling sooooo inspired.

Hands down, this event featured some of the most refreshing designs we’ve seen in recent years.

Looks like designers currently aren’t afraid to play with colour, pattern and form - some of our fave elements!

Here are some of the top trends we noticed from the trade fair:

1. PLAYFUL SHAPES

Calling it now - Scandi is over. Goodbye straight-legged designs. Designers are now looking for any excuse to infuse different, customised shapes into their furniture pieces. In particular, console tables with stacked spheres for legs from FForm, plus a primitive looking carved table base from Calce Company (executed in one of their divine microcement textures) caught our eye.

fform.life
calcecompany.com

3. GEOMETRIC TEXTILES

As interior decorators, we were thrilled to see the event organisers had dedica...

Welcome to the DSO Blog!

Get ready for a behind-the-scenes adventure with Design School Online.

We'll share what sparks our creativity, from our fantastic learners to our brilliant graduates.

Love what you see? Join the DSO Mailing List to be the first in line for future events and courses.