Teesside students partner with leading housebuilder
A group of interior design students from Teesside University have been given the opportunity to work on a real life project with Miller Homes North East.
Second year students will be helping to interior design a showhome at the leading housebuilder’s upcoming development in Middleton St George, Hunters Fold, and will gain first-hand experience of working for a client as part of their studies.
The project will see the students create a design for the interior of a children’s bedroom within The Stevenson showhome at the development, with one design being chosen to be brought to life by the winning student, assisted by Miller Homes’ interior designer.
The winning design will be seen by those looking to buy a new home in the area when viewing the showhome, which is set to open in May 2017.
To launch the project, students attended a briefing from Miller Homes North East’s sales manager Lyndsey Walton, as well as North East-based interior designers Q Interiors, who will be designing the additional rooms in the four-bedroom showhome, as well as supporting the winning student with fitting their room.
As part of the project, students will create a mood board showcasing their design, and present this to Miller Homes and Q Interiors, before a lucky winner is chosen in December, and will work on the showhome with Q Interiors in 2017.
Andrew Somerville, regional sales manager at Miller Homes North East, said: 'We are really pleased to have partnered with Teesside University to work with students on shaping the interior of The Stevenson showhome at our upcoming development Hunters Fold.
'We hope the experience will help to enhance their studies, with the student responsible for the winning design also gaining practical skills thanks to the chance to work closely with Q Interiors. We’re looking forward to seeing students’ designs and wish them every success.'
Leanda French, senior lecturer in the interiors section of the School of Design, Culture & the Arts at Teesside University, said: 'At Teesside University, we like to work with businesses to develop our graduates’ skills and experience, ensuring that they are relevant to the needs of employers.
'This fantastic opportunity with Miller Homes will give students invaluable experience of working on a real life project with an insight into what life is like in the industry, something which we simply cannot teach in a classroom. The students are so enthused about the project which is great to see.'
Julie Watson, design director at Q Interiors, said: 'It was great to meet the students and I’m looking forward to seeing their visions, as well as working with the lucky winner. As a young budding interior designer I would have jumped at the chance to have an opportunity like this with a real life client and hope that students enjoy and benefit from the process.'
Hunters Fold will be a development of 122 two, three, four and five-bedroom homes in Middleton St George, set to launch in May 2017 with two showhomes, The Stevenson and The Darwin.