Hey, I’m
Belle Bates!

I’m a designer who leads with curiosity, creativity, and a love for people. As a three-year-old, I’d introduce myself to strangers with a bold “Hi! I’m Belle Bates!” And honestly, not much has changed. I've always had a natural curiosity about people and a strong desire to connect with them.

Working within the Institute for Health Transformation at Deakin University, I contribute to the BLOOM project, a digital program supporting educators and parents in promoting children’s social, emotional, and physical wellbeing. My role includes developing the brand identity, creating visual assets, and supporting design work across the project. As my involvement has grown, I’ve taken on additional responsibility within the team, including leading co-design workshops and guiding discussions to better understand user needs. I have developed user personas and scenarios to support decision-making, and helped educate non-design team members on the value of user-centred design in shaping more effective outcomes. This experience has strengthened my leadership, communication, and collaboration skills, as well as my ability to translate ideas into clear and consistent visual systems.