Queensland University of Technology (QUT) design students (left to right) Simone Lockley, Jonathan Morehen, Karlee Blackburn and Vanessa Parker created a stunning window display from recycled materials at Artisan Gallery in Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley. Photographer: Erika Fish

QUT interior design students were recently given the brief to create exciting displays for a Fortitude Valley retail window with a mere $250 for materials and only four weeks to do it.

Valley visitors will need to stay attuned to Artisan's Brunswick St gallery shopfronts over the coming year, with the first window display in a series of five by The Window Project's QUT design students now on show.

The first project's key principle is upcycling or the turning of pre-used materials into something new, cutting waste and conserving resources.

The intriguing installation uses old picture frames and discarded wooden pallets to explore the "framing" of wares to promote curiosity and tempt window shoppers within.

Jonathan Morehen, a QUT architecture student on the team, said the idea behind the installation was to use materials already on hand and give them a new life, while visually promoting the gallery.

"The whole point of upcycling is to change the existing function into another one," he said.

QUT interior design lecturer Natalie Wright said The Window Project was a partnership between QUT's School of Design and Artisan.

"The partnership opens opportunities for our students to work collaboratively on small-scale retail and exhibition design projects," Wright said.

"The design teams on the future window installations will work with Artisan to develop a concept aligned to upcoming exhibitions and their retail program.

"It's a great project. The public gets to see the talents of up and coming designers and our students get real-world engagement, broadened networks and an introduction to professional practice."

The students on the team were: Karlee Blackburn, Simone Lockley, James Luu, Jonathan Morehen and Vanessa Parker.

David Wheeldon

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