The postcards feature designs created by Charles Sturt University (CSU) Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design (Graphic Design) third year students, Kim Adams and Chaney Boyle.

"We were looking for contemporary ways to mark the Bicentenary," said Debbie Sommers, Port Macquarie Museum's curator.

"We discussed the possibility of working with CSU graphic design students with their lecturers, Willhemina Wahlin and Tyhe Reading, and successfully applied for a small grant under CSU's Community University Partnership (CUP) Rural and Regional Arts and Culture Program to assist in the production costs. The postcards are the result."

The museum provided the students with a project brief and access to its collection, then it was over to the students to create their designs. The brief was to design postcards that would appeal to young adults.

A number of designs were submitted and the museum chose 10 of the designs for production.

For Kim Adams, the project was an opportunity to design in a full colour palette, rather than her usual black and white.

"I greatly enjoyed the experience of creating these designs. I love working with paper textures and used these in Photoshop to create digital paper collages of familiar scenes around the Port Macquarie area. Because the beach is a major tourist destination of the area, it features in several of the designs," Ms Adams said.

Chaney Boyle's designs incorporate historic Australian flora and fauna illustrations with local historic photographs.

"I wanted to present old images within a contemporary design. I used digital collage with a natural muted palette to highlight photographs from the museum's collection," Mr Boyle said.

CSU's Willhelmina Wahlin said design can provide interesting solutions for organisations that want to communicate effectively.

"This project has brought art, history and culture together and our students have added this project to their portfolio of work," she said.

Ms Sommers said the museum was impressed with the student's work and appreciates the time and effort that went into creating all the postcard designs.

"The designs were thoughtful and respectful. We particularly liked the focus on the environment in many of the designs. The environment has been a constant in our history over the past two hundred years," Ms Sommers said.

"Working with Charles Sturt University students enabled us to access graphic design resources and skills we do not currently have amongst our volunteers."

CSU's University-Community Partnership (CUP) Arts and Culture Program is a small grants program to support rural and regional arts and culture and related activities that encourage younger people to participate in artistic endeavours and support student engagement with learning and further education.

The printed postcards will be circulated from 1 January 2021 to Port Macquarie Museum visitors and within the local community as a souvenir of Port Macquarie's Bicentenary year.

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