UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 04 AUGUST 2015
Students on the 3D Design course have been working on a project that has taken them to Milan and Selfridges in Birmingham Bullring.
BA Interior Design students visited Milan and exhibited their work, produced as part of the ‘Phase II Project’.
We asked Interior Design Graduate Nina-Roberts James, winner of the Associate Architects Internship Award her thoughts on the project:
"I loved the live element of the Phase II Project! It was great to work with Chris Hufford and Peter Cochrane, directors who work within the industry. We also received tons of support from 3D Design staff – Jackie, Monica and Tony.
"Visiting Milano Expo 2015 was a breath-taking experience, it featured technology from more than 140 participating countries. I was particularly interested in seeing United Kingdom’s contribution to the Expo’s theme ‘Feeding the planet, Energy for life’, which was amazing.
The live project involved students on the 3D Design course collaborating with industry professionals and academics, and ran for two weeks, included a site visit on the first day.
I’m going to continue to pursue myself as a designer and develop a social media presence as I think it plays a massive part in branding,” says James, who graduates this year. “I will also take the time to concentrate on my portfolio and piece together all of my previous work.”
The Phase II project required Interior Design students to work in groups to provide a seating, display and exhibition area within a heavily used circulation space. This would be located within the new Atrium Space of the Phase II Curzon Building, opening to Birmingham City University students in September 2015.
Working with Willmott Dixon
Students worked alongside Interior Design academics and Project Directors. They also worked with residential development and property support company Willmott Dixon, and design-led architectural practice, Associate Architects.
Adriana Luminata Gaur, a final year Interior Design Student whose winning structure was repurposed as an installation for Birmingham Made Me 2015 said:
"This project offered me a ‘real world’ opportunity and has added to my professional development and preparation as a designer. I was thrilled to be part of the winning team for Phase II and win an internship with Associate Architects.
Birmingham Made Me
The Birmingham Made Me exhibition ‘celebrates home-grown creatives in the Midlands area, exploring and experimenting with design boundaries and finding beauty in the everyday’. Birmingham City University and Birmingham Made Me selected innovative designers and makers that seek out experimental techniques.
Jackie Norton, Course Director of the Three Dimensional Design programme at Birmingham City University commented:
"Two of our 3rd Year Interior Design Students were selected by Associated Architects for their outstanding work and offered an internship working for the company."
The students considered both aesthetic and practical elements whilst exploring and texting spatial qualities of the New Atrium area by using metallic, transparent and translucent materials.
The successful collaborative partnership has resulted in to two further associated enterprise initiatives.
High-end department store, Selfridge’s, located in Birmingham’s Bullring, has also showcased work produced by Birmingham City University students recently.
The Birmingham Made Me expo took place between 15 to 18 June 2015, and showcased work from 3D Design graduates Thomas Hardwood, Beau Birkett and Helen Martin.
View more work from our 3D Design students on their blog.