Creative GradFest21: Georgia lands design job straight out of university

Interior Design student Georgia Davies is about to graduate from the University of South Wales (USW) and has already landed a job at Di Oro, a Cardiff-based interior design company that works with property developers, homeowners and hotels.

As part of Creative GradFest21, Georgia, 24, from Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, tells us more about her time at USW.

Why did you choose USW?

“I chose to study at the University of South Wales because of the dynamic of the syllabus and the contacts the lecturers hold with local companies in the industry. It was great to go through University taking part in live projects - even having the experience to create an exhibition in the second year. I felt this gave a really practical understanding of exactly what is expected of a designer from start to finish.

The 'shuffle events', where university students meet and mingle with USW alumni and local companies, were also a great help in meeting like-minded people and even finding job/ placement opportunities. 

Have you always wanted to work in design?

I was a bit late in figuring out what I wanted to do. After being in a sixth form that put a lot of pressure on students to go straight to university, I decided to take two years out to go travelling. After this time away from education, I felt I had a clearer vision of what I wanted to do as a career. 

How has the course prepared you for the industry?

The course has prepared me greatly for the industry. The shuffle events were a good first step into the deep end, where I quickly realised meeting people from the industry was not scary at all but instead could be really fun and social. Then, having the opportunity of a placement year in industry between my second and third year allowed me to have a taste of what it is like working as a designer in the real world, which was absolutely brilliant – an experience I would recommend to anyone and everyone if they can! 

Tell us about your role at Di Oro?

I’m working as a junior interior designer. It has been really exciting to get started, and I am looking forward to learning and progressing even further as a designer.

Any advice for someone who wants to study design and work in the industry?

My advice to someone starting would be to enjoy every minute of it. University is the only time you can be as creative and wild with design as you want to be – so embrace that! And take any and all opportunities that come your way throughout; it is all experience.”