b'in the canLeading where she developed a number of complementary skills that have Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue proven to be useful ever since. When I first graduated, I worked for an agency that specialised in creating fully-cohesive packages to represent each clients company image, from the brands logo design to their office fit-out and even the design of their uniforms. by example I was fortunate to be able to expand my creative vision in such a way. I learnt I was good at holding the vision for a client three-dimensionally and ensuring that all the elements worked together in synergy. I was able to use this skill over the course of my career for major clients like Wesley Hospital, Queenslands largest private hospital. I helped them with the design and evolution of their How Tracie Rodwell-Dunne put hercorporate image for over 20 years and loved it.Tracie has long been aware of her strong affinity for colour interior design and colour psychologyand the energies imbued within each individual hue, but what prowess to work for a generation ofshe didnt realise initially is that her innate level of awareness isnt designers and their clients. something everyone carries with them. I just assumed everyone felt the energies of different colours, and I guess understanding that this was relatively unique became a precursor to my passion T here is a false idiom that exists which youve probably heardfor colour psychology. inthe Beaumont School of Interior before: those who cant do, teach. Its hard to imagineEver since she purchased anyone other than a megalomaniac coming up with such aDecorating and Design1999, increasing comprehension of wildly untrue idea. By nature, teachers are very much doers andcolour, the meanings we attach to different hues and the effect no one can rise to the extremely difficult task of educating otherscolour has on project users has been a chief mission in Tracies without having a significant level of skill and knowledge in thecareer. This part of her journey began when she was approached subject theyre covering. On top of everything they accomplishby Beaumonts original owner, Valma Pugh.on a day-to-day basis and have succeeded with in the past, inIt had never crossed my mind to own or set up a design a way these industry leaders are doing far more than averageschool. I did know that I liked to teach, as Id lectured part-time by upskilling others and sending them out into the world to doat Queensland University of Technology several times over the better work that better serves our society. The saying also ignoresyears. I find teaching is a great way to ensure you know your the level of passion people like Tracie Rodwell-Dunne have forsubject as students are very smart and ask insightful questions sharing with others what they themselves have learned. that can put you on the spotso you really need to know what Tracie grew up in Brisbane, and her inherent love for designyou are talking about.and decorating in all its forms was clear from an early age. INow, its been almost 25 years since Tracie took the helm seemed to just innately know what worked and didnt, she says.at Beaumont. Its important to remember that, at the time she MygrandfatherwasanapprenticetoDaphneMayoinmarried and have a family, which was never on my agenda. Mybegan, information on many design topics wasnt at our fingertips Brisbane before the Second World War and he worked with her ongrandmotherwasprobablythemostinfluentialpersoninmythe way it is today. Luckily, there were a number of important architectural sculptures that became part of some of Brisbanesyoung life. She was incredibly intelligent, a mathematical geniusstudies done on colour and design during the 20th century that most beloved and iconic buildings. He unfortunately passed awayand could turn her hand to anything and excel at it. But becausecould be referenced to help build and improve the curriculum.before I was born, so I never met him, but I feel his creativity wasof how things were when she was born, she didnt have the sameWhen I purchased the school, the core information available passed down through my motherwho was a painter herself. opportunities we do today, and I think that is why she encouragedon the topic was good but it was also quite old school, so the first Traciedecidedtopursueacareerininteriordesign,andme to follow my aspirations and dreams. thing I did was modernise and enhance what was there. Then, as aftercompletinghertraininginthemid-80s,shebecameIn1989,Traciespentayearabroadlivingandworkinginstudents kept asking me to teach them more, I developed more one of Queenslands first qualified interior designers. But sheToronto, Canadawhich she says was a remarkable experienceadvanced interior design training and added in colour psychology had another important first, too. I was the first woman in myfor her creativity. Upon her return, up until she started her ownand feng shuiwhich are quite unique courses that dovetail family to get a tertiary education. It was expected that Id getinterior design business in 1994, Tracie worked in corporate designperfectly with interior design, explains Tracie.blackwhitemag.com 59'