Class of 2019
BA Hons Interior Design
Country: United Kingdom
Job:
Interior Designer
Company:
IF YOU STUDIED YOUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME AT YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES, DID YOU GO ON TO POSTGRADAUTE STUDY?
No.
WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN THIS PHOTO AS YOUR YSJ SNAPSHOT?
My photograph is a bit of a ‘pinch-me’ moment. Since graduating and struggling to get into the industry, I am starting to appreciate how far I have come as a professional and a designer. Recently joining a relatively new company and being involved with its growth and development evokes a sense of imposter syndrome, but our new team headshots have reminded me of how far I come since graduating!
WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND YSJ TO SOMEONE?
I loved my time at YSJ due to the more intimate feel to the campus and the environment it provides. Being smaller and all in one place helped me to make friends for life and have a better relationship with the lectures and team in the design school. Everyone is heard and nothing is off-limits.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YORK ST JOHN UNIVERSITY OR FOUNDER COLLEGES?
I chose YSJ due to being unsure on the university route and location to my home town. Being the first person in my family to go to uni, the entire experience was new to myself and everyone around me. Having the option of being closer to home helped me break-into uni life and eventually move out in second year.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE COMPLETING YOUR STUDIES?
I struggled to get into the industry after graduation. I toured the UK interviewing for various roles in practices with a variety of portfolios. I settled on a marketing role as part of the creative team, which ultimately helped me get my first Junior Designer role. I stayed in this practice for five years, working in the hospitality sector and perfecting my craft. Recently, I have joined a new team to gain a more varied experience.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR SPECIFIC COURSE?
I have always been creative but was unsure of the right path for me. I have always been inspired by restaurants, hotels etc and knew that these experience was something I wanted to specialise in. I did have a moment where I was considering graphic design and the team there were supportive in helping me make the right decision with no pressures. Ultimately I decided that Interiors was the right course for where I wanted to go in my career and what I was interested in.
WHAT WERE THE BEST FEATURES OF YOUR COURSE?
The trips were a great feature of the Interiors course. Being able to visit Lisbon and experience the city’s design influence and culture alongside other students was a highlight. I still want to go back to Lisbon to this day!
HOW DID STUDYING AT YSJ HELP IN YOUR CAREER SEARCH/SUCCESS/CURRENT ROLE?
I took part in a 4 week placement through the summer of my second year. This was in a showroom in Clerkenwell, creating designs and quotes for designers, hosting lunch and learns and getting to know faces across the industry. This experience helped my confidence and introduced me to friends I still have to this day.
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A CURRENT STUDENT, OR ONE ABOUT TO GRADUATE?
Don’t give up! I felt that my journey was going to take forever to get into the industry, however looking back it was only a couple of years of my whole life (which does still seem a long time!). All experience is good experience and is great for your cv.