Seonaid Munn

Name

Seonaid Munn

What was it about Northumbria that made you decide to study here?

The facilities as well as the enthusiasm shown by staff members on the open day about the subject. The location was also a bonus offering a mix of city living while still being close to greenery and the beach.

What was it like studying at Northumbria?

Overall, it was a great experience. The facilities were always easily accessible and helpful. The staff care about students and their success and once I found a good balance of work and social life, it was a really happy place to learn.

What impressed you most about our academic staff?

Their passion for the subject. They all seem to genuinely enjoy Interior Design and want to share their enjoyment of the subject with others.

How connected was your course with industry?

There were multiple trips to see professionals and businesses in industry across the UK. Some trips were local and showed the practical routes interior designers could go into.  Other trips ranged from Manchester to London and showed higher end/ bigger companies that were also an option to graduate interior designers.

How did studying at Northumbria help you achieve your career goals/give your career an edge?

Had it not been for Northumbria University I would not have been encouraged to do a placement year in industry and would most likely have completed university without that experience. That year in work has given me an edge on my CV and made me stand out to employers more. It also gave me an architectural understanding which helps back up my interior design decisions.

What was the best thing about your course?

The course was very good at allowing people to be completely creative. This meant the final outcomes of everyone's projects ranged massively and there were no carbon copy projects. The course was very good at allowing people to find an interest and create a project around that within reason.

What aspects of your degree course best prepared you for the transition from a student to a professional designer? 

The final year of study helped us create a professional portfolio, business cards and social platforms such as LinkedIn to enter the professional world. There were also shows held in London and Newcastle that allowed us to speak to professionals in the industry and gain insight into what improvements employers would like to see. The social aspect of this and delivering our project via verbal presentation transitioned us from students to professionals as that it allowed us to practice those skills required of us in the workplace. 

If you had to give a first year student one piece of advice what would it be?

Try to do something that interests you. The course can be time-consuming however it won’t feel like a bad thing. Hopefully, if you can create a project, you are interested in and passionate about, you will want to work on it and do the best you can. Not many careers are like that.