Carly Vickers is a design practitioner, researcher, and lecturer and holds the position of Director, UNSW Innovation Hub. The UNSW Innovation Hub is a problem-solving, project-based initiative that specialises in curating and facilitating project teams focussed on creating meaningful societal impact at scale and at pace. The hub exists to design and establish new ways of working for universities that foreground collective creativity and productivity.
Carly's most recent work is focussed o...
Carly Vickers is a design practitioner, researcher, and lecturer and holds the position of Director, UNSW Innovation Hub. The UNSW Innovation Hub is a problem-solving, project-based initiative that specialises in curating and facilitating project teams focussed on creating meaningful societal impact at scale and at pace. The hub exists to design and establish new ways of working for universities that foreground collective creativity and productivity.
Carly's most recent work is focussed on concept, service, and strategy design - specialising in interdisciplinary collaboration and problem-solving in both industry and academic contexts. Carly was the founding director of the ADA Innovation Hub in 2021, designing collaborative systems and ways of working that are not only utilised in the Innovation Hub's work, but have also been adopted across the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture. In 2025 the Innovation Hub is scaling to a university-wide program as a flagship initiative within the new UNSW Strategy: Progress for All.
As a design practitioner Carly's work has previously spanned graphic, object and ceramic design and has been exhibited locally, nationally and internationally, including Milan Design Week. As a researcher Carly's work is practice-based and engages with interdisciplinary design methodologies in both personal practice and team contexts. In 2022 she completed a PhD in Interdisciplinary Creative Practice (UNSW) that explored the interdisciplinary space between gesture in live music performance and visual communication methodologies. As an educator, Carly is passionate about nurturing students as they explore conceptually driven design approaches and methods for interdisciplinarity in their own practice, as well as creative approaches within entrepreneurial frameworks.
Prior to her career in design, Carly trained as an orchestral musician, large ensemble conductor, and worked extensively as a music educator. Music theory and performance practice, especially the practice of conducting, has had a significant influence on her approaches and personal philosophies on design and collaboration. She holds a Bachelor of Music Studies (Performance) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, a Bachelor of Design (First Class Honours) from UNSW and a PhD in Interdisciplinary Creative Practice (UNSW.)
