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Arts University Plymouth wins British Institute of Interior Design Challenge 2024
Monday, 9 December, 2024 — Arts University Plymouth BA (Hons) Interior Design & Styling students have won the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) Student Design Challenge 2024.
<p dir="ltr">Arts University Plymouth has won the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) Student Design Challenge 2024.</p>
<p dir="ltr">A team of final-year <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-interior-design">BA (Hons) Interior Design & Styling</a> students from Arts University Plymouth were selected as winners of the ninth annual <a href="https://biid.org.uk/news/arts-university-plymouth-wins-biid-student-design-challenge-2024">BIID Student Design Challenge</a>, competing against Interior Design and Interior Architecture degree students from universities across the UK. The students were challenged to respond to a client’s brief, collaborate in teams, and present to a panel of professional interior design experts.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Arts University Plymouth team included Elena Faulkner, Bethany Cornish, Chloe Nutt, Mae Sheppard, Poppy Holmes, Carmen Oppermann, and Harrison Eaton. The team was selected by BA (Hons) Interior Design & Styling Course Leader, Ally Turner.<br /></p>
The winning team from Arts University Plymouth
<p dir="ltr">20-year-old Poppy Holmes, from Gloucester, said: “When the winner was announced we were all ecstatic. I feel a great sense of pride and accomplishment for participating and being able to represent the university. Over the course of the competition we were mentored by Cat Hoad, an industry professional working at Absolute Project Management and Interior Design Declares. The opportunity to receive feedback from such an experienced member of the industry is one of the great things about the BIID Student Design Challenge.” </p>
<p dir="ltr">The 2024 brief focused on designing a Social Media Creators House for a group of influencers in a multi-functional live-work space, located in a former student accommodation in Glasgow. The design required flexibility for content creation, communal living, collaboration, and relaxation. Teams had to consider technology, lighting, and aesthetic adaptability for various video formats, as well as sustainability. </p>
<p dir="ltr">26-year-old Beth Cornish, from Newton Abbot, Devon, said: “We were tasked with creating a living and work space for a group of fashion and beauty influencers. The space had to reflect their personal brand and allow for content creation and collaboration. We were very eco conscious with our design choices, ensuring all of the furniture and materials were sustainable or from companies with sustainable credentials, such as BCorp or FSC certifications. We were competing against some amazingly talented students, so to come out with a win was terrific!”<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">20-year-old Mae Sheppard, from Essex, said: “We put ourselves through a day in the life of our client to decide how to best use the space we were designing, as a way to think of what they would need and how they would use the different spaces. This informed our design choices, prioritising aspects like multi-functionality and sustainability.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">20-year-old Harrison Eaton, from Plymouth, completed an Extended Diploma in Art & Design at Arts University Plymouth’s Pre-Degree campus, achieving a Distinction, before progressing to study BA (Hons) Interior Design & Styling at undergraduate level.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>About the BIID Student Design Challenge 2024</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">The teams had three and a half days to develop their proposals remotely in line with the brief, and each was assigned a practising BIID Registered Interior Designer as a mentor for guidance. This year’s mentors included BIID Registered Interior Designers Michael Schienke, Cat Hoad, Debra Kacher, Chris Dezille, Simon Mcilwraith, Susie Rumbold, and Sammy Bikoulis. </p>
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<p dir="ltr">Final presentations were recorded and judged by BIID President Angela Bardino, President Elect Liz Bell, and Former President Matt Freeman. Judging criteria encompassed adherence to the brief, addressing the client's needs, innovativeness, drawing quality, and presentation excellence.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The winning team from Arts University Plymouth, mentored by Cat Hoad, was recognised for its outstanding project that deeply addressed the brief. The design showcased a well-thought-out use of space and cohesive aesthetics, creating a functional, sophisticated environment suitable for content creators.<br /></p>

Hand-drawn concept sketch for the BIID challenge
<p dir="ltr">BIID President and judge, Angela Bardino, commented, “The BIID Student Design Challenge offers an invaluable opportunity for students to sharpen their skills and bring their knowledge to life in a high-pressure setting, guided by experienced BIID mentors. This year's brief mirrors real-world design projects, providing students with a meaningful glimpse into the kinds of challenges they may encounter in their future careers.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Senior Lecturer and joint Course Leader for BA (Hons) Interior Design & Styling, Cathryn Bishop, said: “The BIID Student Design Challenge offers such a valuable experience to our students. Working in a team with a professional mentor on a quick turnaround brief puts a lot of pressure on them, but they rise to the challenge every year. We were as excited as them to see them win this time, against some very strong competitors.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Senior Lecturer and joint Course Leader for BA (Hons) Interior Design & Styling, Ally Turner, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate our third year students for their remarkable success in winning the prestigious BIID Student Design Challenge. The team's collaboration and innovative approach culminated in a creative final presentation that truly showcased their fantastic design skills and creativity. A heartfelt thank you to the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) for providing our students with this invaluable platform to engage in a professional setting. We eagerly look forward to participating in next year's competition.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">This year, teams from seven universities participated in the BIID Student Design Challenge: Anglia Ruskin University, Arts University Plymouth, De Montfort University, University of Portsmouth, University of Gloucestershire, London Metropolitan University, and University of Plymouth.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Speaking about why she chose to study BA (Hons) Interior Design & Styling at Arts University Plymouth, Poppy Holmes said: “I have always been creative and when I discovered that I could study interior design at university it just made sense to me. After visiting Arts University Plymouth for an Open Day I immediately knew that I wanted to study here. I was inspired by the work displayed and felt encouraged speaking to the lecturers about the course. I also found the atmosphere of the campus really friendly and inviting and could already envision my journey into the design industry starting here.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Bethany Cornish said: “I fell in love with Graphic Design over my school and college years, progressing to complete a Foundation Diploma in Graphic Design. A few years later, when I decided to go to university, I was unsure about whether to study Graphic Design further, so attended an Open Day at Arts University Plymouth to see what courses were available.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“When I met Lecturer <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/people/louise-noakes">Louise Noakes</a> at an Open Day, she explained that by studying BA (Hons) Interior Design & Styling I’d be able to use all the skills that I developed and loved studying graphic design and apply them to the field of interior design. She showed me some amazing presentation boards and I knew that was exactly what I wanted to do! Arts University Plymouth was the only university I applied for. After my Open Day I was absolutely sure it was the place I wanted to study. Everyone I met was super friendly and eager to answer any questions I had. It was a bonus that I’d be studying so close to home, offering the best of both worlds!”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Mae Sheppard said: “I chose this course because we learn about the smaller details, ethics and aesthetics of interior design and styling, which I really enjoy. The genuine excitement from course leaders when I visited during an Open Day sealed the deal for me. It's inspiring to learn from people who are so passionate about what they do.”<br /></p>
<p>If you are considering a career in the UK’s world-leading creative industries, the next Open Day at Arts University Plymouth is on Saturday 11 January 2025, with options to find out about <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/events/openday-ugpg-jan25">undergraduate degrees</a>, <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/events/openday-ugpg-jan25">postgraduate MAs</a>, our <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/events/openday-foundation-jan25">Foundation Diploma in Art & Design</a>, plus <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/events/open-day-pre-degree-jan25">Pre-Degree</a> post-16 qualifications that act as creative alternatives to studying A-Levels at a conventional sixth form.</p>
<p>Find out what it’s like to study at the University that was ranked <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/arts-university-plymouth-ranked-2-in-the-uk">#2 in the UK for Student Satisfaction</a>.</p>