Personal Blog

This term has made me realise how naturally I connect with materials, culture, and sensory experience. Throughout both the JLR Bloom project and my Morocco–Spain CMF development, I learned that the meaning within a material often comes from the story around it. In the intercultural project, I explored cultural significance before choosing any materials, and I found myself understanding how Spanish clarity and Moroccan tactility shape atmosphere long before I selected swatches. Allowing culture to guide the palette made me recognise a real strength in my practice. I am able to interpret context and translate it into CMF decisions that feel grounded and emotionally considered. The JLR Bloom project pushed me in a different direction. It required me to imagine materials that live between reality and near-future speculation. I discovered that I can be imaginative while still staying grounded in what feels achievable. The chromatic alloy concept is the best example of this. It is innovative...

I’ve realised that what excites me most is working with my hands. Whether it’s ceramics, wood, or metal, there’s something about the physical process that feels natural to me. My mind just understands what needs to be done. It’s been a passion of mine since I was young, and I want to get more involved in that kind of making again. Recently, I’ve also developed a love for creating experiences for people. It’s more than just making a product; it’s about shaping how someone feels when they interact with it. I enjoy building a moodboard, developing it, and turning it into a full sensory experience. If I could design my dream job, it would be one where every day feels like an experiment, testing materials, exploring finishes, and crafting sensory experiences that stay in people’s minds. I don’t really look up to any one person, but I admire Silverlining, the bespoke furniture company. Their direction and philosophy are incredibly inspiring, especially their balance of craftsmanship, detail,...

Final Reflections & What’s Next Looking Back on the Year Looking back, I’ve developed a lot—especially on a personal level. My mindset feels a lot more professional , and I feel much more ready to take on serious design projects . Working with people from so many different cultures and backgrounds has made me more flexible and adaptable , which is important since I haven’t committed to a specific career path yet. Keeping my options open and being able to fit into different environments is something I’m proud of. Academically, it’s not something that directly pushes my bachelor’s forward, but it definitely adds valuable experience . It’s helped me understand people better and how different minds work in design. What I’m Most Proud Of Without a doubt, the Design Factory is the highlight of this whole year. Being part of that community has helped me grow the most—both in terms of skills and confidence. It’s what I look back on and feel genuinely proud of. How This Year Shaped ...

Becoming a Mentor at the Design Factory What is the Design Factory? The Design Factory is a module you can take that teaches you how to structure your design thinking . It lays out a framework—almost like a series of milestones—to help guide your design process and make your thinking clearer, more intentional, and more impactful. It’s not just about making something look good—it’s about solving real problems through a solid structure . How I Got Involved I really enjoyed my time in the Design Factory. I found myself looking forward to going every week , and I noticed that most of the mentors were students. That caught my attention. I thought, “Why not try it myself?” So I spoke to Scarlett, the module lead, and she said I could go through the training and become a mentor —and just like that, I got involved. Why I Wanted to Mentor I’ve always believed that to really understand something, you need to teach it . Reading about design thinking is one thing, but when you teach it, you’...

Everyday Life & Cultural Differences in Germany First Impressions and Daily Life Moving to Germany came with a lot of new experiences, and one of the first things I noticed was just how different the everyday lifestyle feels compared to the UK. For starters, trains are a much bigger part of life here, and you quickly learn how to navigate the whole system. When I first arrived, my buddy picked me up and we drove on the Autobahn—he was going fast, like really fast. That was my intro to Germany, and honestly, I thought it was pretty cool. Even the fashion here feels different. In the UK, you see a lot of what we’d call "roadmen" style, but in Germany, people just seem to be styled out effortlessly. Everyone’s look is clean, intentional, and expressive. I’ve also met people from all over the world—Mauritania, Iraq—you name it. I’m still looking for more Moroccan people, but it’s been great to see so much diversity. What I’ve Come to Appreciate One thing I’ve really come...

First Design Projects at Hochschule der Medien When I first came to Germany, I expected my projects at Hochschule der Medien (HdM) to introduce me to a new way of thinking about design . While I did gain some fresh perspectives, a lot of my biggest insights actually came from my work at the Design Factory —but I’ll save that for another post. At HdM, the most notable project I worked on was the perfume project , where we had to design a perfume inspired by Caravaggio and create different media around it. I worked in a group of three , both of my teammates were German, and overall, we collaborated really well. We had weekly meetings , shared ideas, and created something I don’t think I could have worked on in the UK. How HdM’s Design Process Compares to Coventry The teaching style at HdM feels more relaxed than at Coventry. At Coventry, everything is structured, with clear deadlines and expectations . At HdM, it’s more like, "Alright, I need to do these things, and then I’m ...