Joe Relich
I design and develop digital experiences using my expertise in digital design, vocational training, visual effects, and digital art. I am a fast learner, love a challenge, and am driven to push tech in unique and creative ways.
📍 Sydney, NSW
📞 0415 513 233
📧 joe@spadesinteractive.com
💼 linkedin.com/in/joerelich
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Founder and Creative Director
@ SPADES INTERACTIVE
December 2025 - Present
Responsibilities
Business and team leader.
Brand and concept design.
Principal visual and UI/UX designer.
Client engagement and marketing.
Highlights
June 2026
We signed on with our fourth client, Liberate Learning, providing Graphic Design and Development services.
May 2026
Our internal project, Terrantula, was shortlisted for a $30k Screen NSW government grant.
April 2026
Completed our fifth client project since we launched in December 2025, for Regis Aged-care.
SPADES INTERACTIVE
SPADES INTERACTIVE
Senior Digital Designer
@ Cognition Evolve (previously Wavelength Learning)
January 2023 - December 2025
Responsibilities
Visual design and development of digital learning solutions.
Brand and style design for products and programs.
Team leader of digital specialists such software engineers, 3D artists, and editors.
Maintain client relationships during development and implementation.
Highlights
November 2025
Lead designer of two winning projects at LearnX 2025. NORTH Link Assistive Technology received Platinum, and Nutrition Quest received Diamond.
June 2024
Secured a contract with Bentley Motors in the UK developing two E-Learning packages with the potential of more in the future.
February 2024
Prepared a design demonstration that won a contract with Coles valued at $240k and would span over several years. The first bundle of topics launched in July 2024.
SPADES INTERACTIVE
SPADES INTERACTIVE
Training Designer
@ Mark43 - Customer Success
January 2022 - August 2022
Responsibilities
Create E-Learning templates using Articulate Storyline and build modules using those templates.
Create user guides with Articulate Rise and reference guides in Adobe Illustrator.
Design wireframes, mockups, storyboards, and proof of concepts in Figma.
Peer assess training material for quality assurance.
Support customer facing Immersion Centre sessions by facilitating training and demonstrations of Mark43 Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD).
Highlights
July 2022
Completed my primary goal for the year, to build Storyline templates for Mark43 CAD and Mark43 RMS.
April 2022
Designed and built a Storyline course covering NSWFP Communications Officer’s dispatch procedures. Presented the course to product design and customer success teams.
February 2022
Provided training and demonstrations for the New South Wales Police Force in Newcastle as part of our Immersion Centre sessions.
SPADES INTERACTIVE
SPADES INTERACTIVE
Communications Officer
@ New South Wales Police Force - Radio Operations Group
November 2015 - January 2022
Responsibilities
Dispatcher - responsible for coordinating police response to incidents via radio, CAD, and telephony.
Telephonist - answered triple zero phone calls from members of the public requesting police. Obtained relevant information from callers, triaged incidents, and logged incidents for dispatchers.
Acted up as a Senior Communications Officer (SCO) when required, and supported my team as an Education, Development, and Support Officer (EDSO) to deliver additional training.
Highlights
November 2020
Received a Commissioner’s Emergency Commendation for working during the Bushfires of 2019 and 2020.
April 2022
Was selected as Education, Development and Support Officer (EDSO).
February 2022
Passed intensive 16 week Trainee Communications Officer course. This included memorising over 200 authorised abbreviations, real world telephony/dispatch experience, and passing three competency assessments.
SPADES INTERACTIVE
SPADES INTERACTIVE
Head Trainer (Acting Academic Manager)
@ Victory Institute of Vocational Training (previously Victory College of Design)
October 2014 - November 2015
Responsibilities
Redesigned the college’s Certificate IV and Diploma of Screen and Media. Built course outlines, planned training structure for units of study, and developed learning/teaching resources.
Implemented course validation and continuous improvement.
Supervised trainer delivery and assessments.
Managed student’s academic progress and welfare.
Highlights
October 2015
Created a student showreel demonstrating the impact of the course redesign on the quality of student work. At this time our students’ work was comparable with the best design colleges in Sydney.
August 2015
Completed the redesign of both Screen and Media Courses resulting in a new wholistic curriculum. Units were clustered into modules which reduced the amount of assessments and allowed for larger scale projects. Selected better units to fit the skills employers would expect, making graduates more competitive in the workforce.
November 2014
Started providing digital learning resources with each unit of study. Working with the trainers reading lists and reference material were created for each unit. Started recording tutorials and created a public digital library for students to access these resources.
SPADES INTERACTIVE
SPADES INTERACTIVE
Trainer
@ Victory Institute of Vocational Training (previously Victory College of Design)
February 2013 - November 2015
Responsibilities
Delivered face to face training in 2D design and animation using the Adobe Creative Suite and traditional drawing methods.
Graded assessments in line with the College’s grading guidelines and the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) requirements.
Contributed to course validation and continuous improvement.
Highlights
March 2015
Following the success of the art club, funding was an digital art competition. We had some excellent submissions and the winner’s work made for an excellent showcase of the college’s training.
January 2014
Encouraged frequent collaboration and socialising in classes. Provide students with an additional outlet for their creativity by starting an art club for students to continue the group creativity out of classroom.
June 2013
Created a package of digital training to supplement face to face training. Wrote the content, designed the layout, and created the diagrams.
SPADES INTERACTIVE
SPADES INTERACTIVE
Digital Artist
@ VCAM Studio (no longer in business)
January 2011 - April 2012
Responsibilities
Produced matte paintings for compositors and 3D artists.
Created assets for visual effects.
Produced concept and storyboard art for pre-production using traditional and digital tools.
Compositor, primarily working on colour grading, atmospherics, and lighting.
Highlights
August 2014
Assisted with compositing, VFX, and colour grading.
April 2014
Started matte painting in Adobe Photoshop.
January 2011
Started drawing storyboards in Photoshop for the studio’s short film project.
SPADES INTERACTIVE
SPADES INTERACTIVE
SKILLS & TOOLS
Digital Design Skills
Graphic Design
Motion Graphics
Animation
Brand Design
Illustration
UI/UX
Concept Art
Training Design Skills
Digital Learning
Instructional Design
Prototyping
Simulations
User Guides
Storyboarding
Reference Guides
Facilitation
Tools
Adobe
Creative Cloud
Adobe
Illustrator
Adobe
Photoshop
Adobe
After Effects
Adobe
Premiere Pro
Adobe
Animate
Adobe
InDesign
Figma
Affinity
Google
Suite
Microsoft
365
Articulate
360
Monday.com
Notion
Confluence
Jira
SPADES INTERACTIVE
SPADES INTERACTIVE
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Bada Education Centre
Freelance Client
2016
Digital illustrations for printed marketing material.
Wentworth Institute
Freelance Client
2012
Vocational course design, unit mapping, and assessment design.
VCAM Studio
Internship
2010
Matte painting, visual effects, concept art, and compositing.
Buzinga App Development
Freelance Client
2010
Character design, animation, background design, and UI design for mobile games.
SPADES INTERACTIVE
SPADES INTERACTIVE
EDUCATION
🎓
Bachelor of Science & Technology (Design Technology)
The University of Sydney
2013
🦉
Certificate IV in Training & Assessment TAE 40110
Plenty Training
2012
💥
Advanced After Effects
AFTRS Open
2012
🖥️
Fundamentals of Visual Effects
Metro Screen
2010
SPADES INTERACTIVE
SPADES INTERACTIVE