What makes good design?

Good design is something simple, but great enough to become an element of genius, however, in my case, since I am only in the beginning of my career path, good design is something I have dedicated lots of time and effort to, while thinking and most importantly, bringing it to life or making it work. It always has things to do with the work pace or the scale of precision.

Best advice you were given during the course?

Since our course in Brighton is considered to be ‘uber’ conceptual, we were always encouraged to think more creatively than the usual level of creativity is, at least at the first stages of the design development. Which is – make it stand out, think about the spatial experience, light, transformation, details, eliminate the unnecessary and make people feel something when they look at your work, however, the most important moments is taking into consideration the existing surroundings of your project, in most cases it is the best trigger if you are stuck….and draw, draw, draw!

What was it like being a student in Brighton?

Brighton is crazy. It is everything – from posh and elegant, to unexplainable – beyond the level of consciousness, it is full of art (which surely affects your perception on studies), forever-youngers, music, love, sex and drugs. A friend once told me Brighton is named Peter Pan town – you never grow up here or you always tend to come back, whenever/whoever you are. I find this expression very similar to how I feel about it.

How would you rate Interior Architecture at University of Brighton?

Positively. Although it hurts to be separated from the actual art campus of Brighton uni, which is a different universe. The School of Architecture and Interior Architecture here is located with Business Studies and School of Economics, which I find extremely unfair. Teachers and technicians are experienced and help you out, workshop equipment and printing facilities are good which definitely affect the quality of your work.

Where do you look for inspirations for the the final project?

My final project was about the Clinic of Sleep Disorders (‘The Factory of Broken Sleep’) in Shoreham-by-Sea, which is the industrial neighborhood of Brighton. The brief was about designing the 24/7 sleeping space which would change its function fully or party within the period of a day/month/week/year. Transformation was the crucial aspect of the design.

My inspirations here were my emotions: how I have felt and what i have experienced during the first visit, which was not something positive. I was mainly driven by the anxiety – Shoreham is extremely loud, polluted and grey (how i saw it), some bits of it remind horror movie scenes, but there is also the boathouse settlement that certainly makes you see things in the different way.

Where do you see yourself this time next year?

This year will bring many changes and it is difficult to predict that far, but I hope London will show its hospitality. I am eager for architectural experience and I would like to use my skills, explore myself in various fields of design. I am craving for some action and I see architecture as my passion.

The most useful skill you’ve gained from the course?

Survival – which means working as quickly and efficiently as you can in order to meet important deadlines, adaptability. It may sound harsh, but we have gained some serious temper there.

Email lina.timofejeva@gmail.com to offer a job in interior design