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Class of 2021: Shaping the future of interior design

Keep an eye on these students graduating from BA (Hons) Interior Design & Styling, as they enter into the world of industry.
<p dir="ltr">Plymouth College of Art boasts one of the rare few <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-interior-design">BA (Hons) Interior Design &amp; Styling</a> courses in the UK, designed to develop your skills in interior design, emphasising colour, surface and ambience in a range of environments. The course ensures that graduating students enter industry as well-rounded interiors specialists, with this year producing students whose final major projects excel in creative innovation, bold concepts and a fresh approach.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Inspired by the ethical beauty and skincare brand Burt’s Bees, Chloe Wickham’s project looks at how design can be used to encourage people back to shop on the highstreet, as well as the importance of being environmentally and ethically conscious about the types of products that we buy.</p> <p dir="ltr">Taking the Covid restrictions on the retail industry into consideration, Chloe has developed a flagship store design that has educational areas for those who want to grow their knowledge, as well as plenty of photo opportunities for Instagram influences, acknowledging the role that social media plays in modern society. <br /></p>
Plymouth College of Art graduating Interiors student Chloe Wickham mood board for final major project featuring Burts Bees, interior and exterior shots, coloured hexagons, floor plans and products in autumnal tones

Mood board for Chloe Wickham's final major project, featuring Burt's Bees

<p dir="ltr">Using the Burt’s Bees’ slogan of being ‘True to Nature’ and using natural ingredients in their products, Chloe has reflected that trend in her choice of materials and finishes, with a blossoming floral wall design on the front of the store and reclaimed pine and water-based colours within.</p> <p dir="ltr">You can keep up to date with Chloe’s work by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chloewickham.designs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">visiting her Instagram</a> or <a href="https://chloeewickham.wixsite.com/website" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">checking out her website</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Lizzy Hand’s aim for her final major project was to focus on the social impacts of the pandemic and use design to help comfort people during the easing of lockdown restrictions. Tackling mental health and wellbeing in two ways, Lizzy developed both a magazine and a holistic spa design. </p> <p dir="ltr">Finding that she was spending a lot of time in front of a computer screen during the lockdown, Lizzy wanted to offer something that would encourage people to take time away from their screens, so she created Fresh Water; a magazine filled with practical tips and articles about how to look after our mental health. <br /></p>
Plymouth College of Art graduating Interiors student Lizzy Hand's mood board for final major project featuring Serenity Spa and Fresh Water Magazine concepts, with blue and green muted colours, product shots and a spa floor plan

Lizzy Hand's moodboard for her final major project, Serenity Spa and Fresh Water Magazine

<p dir="ltr">One Ocean Beauty Spa was Lizzy’s second idea, designed to help individuals deal with the stress of social expectations as restrictions begin to lift. Showcasing this concept for a holistic serenity spa, with calming plants and muted tones, in her Fresh Water magazine, Lizzy has created a cohesive wellbeing experience that showcases some of the breadth of her skills and plans for the future.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/handmadeinterior_/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Check out more of Lizzy’s work on her Instagram page.</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">Lily Hearmon-Cush’s final major project aims to create a calm, homely and safe environment for those dealing with terminal illness, relieving anxiety and stress for both the patients and their families at Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, in Farnham.</p> <p dir="ltr">Providing a sense of escapism, the private patient bedroom and ensuite design has been inspired by local woodland trails that the patients and family within the area would be familiar with. The goal is to take people away from the clinical perception of healthcare surroundings, by using the comforting, calming benefits of nature.<br /></p>
Plymouth College of Art graduating Interiors student Lily Hearmon-Cush's mood board for final major project, an end of life suite featuring interior mock ups, products and textures and textiles

Lily's concept for an end of life suite at Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, Farnham

<p dir="ltr">Utilizing inclusive design, Lily creates a calm and adaptable environment for patients with accessibility needs, ensuring independence and ease of use. Blending natural soft colours and muted textures, Lily also incorporates innovative functionality with sensory hygiene solutions in the bathroom, iPad controlled lighting and temperature and infection control finishes for a safe and accessible space.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Charlotte’s final major project, ‘Swimming in Plastic - The Reality’, represents a theatrical interactive interior design style, working alongside her belief that design can play an important part in educating and engaging people about key issues such as plastic pollution and environmental health.<br /></p>
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The concept for Charlotte's 'Swimming in Plastic - The Reality' interactive art installation bus

<p dir="ltr">Housed in a bus, the project conceptualises a UK touring interactive art installation that would be created in collaboration with The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, raising awareness of ocean plastics, as well as being a means to raise funds for charities creating change. The aim of the project is to express the consequences of plastics in the ocean and promote the importance of a positive environmental change.</p> <p dir="ltr">You can keep up to date with Charlotte’s work by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/charlotte.wilson.designs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">visiting her Instagram</a> or <a href="https://charlottewilsondesigns.portfoliobox.net/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">checking out her website</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">You can see more work from the <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-interior-design">BA (Hons) Interior Design &amp; Styling</a> graduating students at their Summer Show at Ocean Studios from July 3 to July 8 2021.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Plymouth College of Art’s 2021 Summer Shows are part of the <a href="https://www.ignitefutures.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IGNITE Festival of Creativity</a>, which connects creative graduates, businesses and members of the public in exciting new ways to spark employability, drive community engagement and develop new creative economy opportunities across Plymouth and beyond. IGNITE runs until 19 July, putting a unique spin on the traditional art degree show model by combining online technology with physical installations and exhibitions in community spaces to showcase work by graduates from Plymouth College of Art and the University of Plymouth.</p> <p dir="ltr">IGNITE, which has been shortlisted in the 2021 HEIST Awards for Best Student Engagement Campaign or Initiative, is supported by Plymouth City Council as part of the iMayflower project, and by The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, who fund the Cultural Development Fund (administered by Arts Council England).</p>