Budding interior designers get a taste for industry with Linden Homes
As part of a wider partnership between Linden Homes South and Southampton Solent University, five young interior design decoration students have presented their original design ideas for a show home to a panel of top local professionals.
The second-year students - who were invited to Linden Homes’ St Michael’s Place development in Waterlooville for inspiration earlier this year - went off to create and perfect their schemes before being shortlisted for the final.
This month, the five finalists, selected by the senior lecturer from Solent University’s BA (Hons) Interior Design Decoration course, took it in turns to pitch their ideas at Linden Homes’ Hawthorn Mews development in Bedhampton. The finalists included: Jason Livingstone (23), Eve Morgan (19), Danica Younghusband (24), Anna Richards (21) and Molly Gatcum (19).
The judging panel included Andrew Reynolds, sales and marketing director at Linden Homes South and Tina Chalk, the marketing manager at Linden Homes South and Carrie Edwards from the interior design specialists, Claude Hooper.
The panel were impressed by what it saw, Andrew says: “All of the students’ designs were excellent – the skills they are showing at such a young age are so impressive. They have designed fabrics of wallpaper as part of their detailed interior schemes and also provided samples. It was an extremely difficult task to choose a winning concept as the standard was so high.
“The winning design selected really encapsulated our target market for our St Michael’s development. The colours, textiles and accessories used to support the concept were very well thought out, creating an attractive space that would appeal to potential buyers.”
Out of the final five design concepts pitched to the panel of property experts, they felt that Jason Livingstone excelled in his design and execution.
Jason said: “I want to thank Linden Homes for the opportunity to present and pitch my ideas for the show home project. The project has allowed me to gain real life experience in the field of interior design and one that I have enjoyed thoroughly. Not only to be a finalist and then be chosen as the overall winner but the chance to have feedback from professionals on my designs and work has been an experience I will not forget in a hurry!”
As the winner, Jason received £100 worth of shopping vouchers and the runners up received £50.
Speaking about the project, Lydia Southwell, course leader at Solent University says: “The students have gained invaluable experience in the arena in which they plan to work. Being able to go and visit sites really helps them understand how the industry works in practice; it brings their learning to life.
She went on to thank Linden Homes saying: “An opportunity such as this is second to none, as it allows us to bring industry and education together, reinforcing the vocational aspects of the degree and enhancing the real learning aspect.”
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE MEDIA OFFICE ON 023 8201 3040 or press.office@solent.ac.uk
With a population of around 12,800 staff and students, Southampton Solent University offers over 200 qualifications ranging from HND to PhD, in subjects as diverse as maritime education and training, fashion and design, media and television, music, health, sport and leisure, business, IT and technology. Every year we are joined by around 10,000 additional students on short professional courses.
Winner of the Times Higher Education ‘Most Improved Student Experience’ Award 2015, the University was also awarded the 2013 Quality Assurance Agency kitemark for quality and standards of teaching and learning, and voted one of the UK’s most creative universities in Which? University‘s 2013 and 2014 student polls. Solent’s business school has been awarded ‘Gold approval’ by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and also holds the Small Business Charter Award, which is supported by the Association of Business Schools and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
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