Liz has designs on a new future

The future is bright for Liz Waller – not only has she achieved a First Class honours degree in Interior Design, but she has also been awarded with an academic prize.

Liz, 23, from Norton, had a lifelong interest in art and design before deciding to make it her career. She enrolled on the BA (Hons) Interior Design degree after spending a year working in a bank. Shortly after beginning the course, Liz learned she was pregnant and gave birth to daughter Freya during her first year.

Liz said: "I knew the University was a good place to study because my brother Matthew had graduated in mechanical engineering. I also needed to stay close to my home and family because I was having a baby but had to make sure I was on the right course. I've always enjoyed art but I wanted to do a practical design-led degree rather than fine art.

"The first year was difficult, juggling a new baby with course work but I got through it and never looked back. I loved every minute of the course and the University had all the facilities we needed. The tutors were always there to offer advice and acted very much as mentors as well as teachers.

"I was over the moon when I found out I had won an award! It was for my project where I explored the possibilities of converting a Middlesbrough church into a single luxury dwelling. The design was presented at the University's Design Degree Show and was awarded the 'Best in Show- Spatial Design' prize."

Liz is now working on a temporary contract at IKEA in Gateshead where she has been involved in designing store layouts and room sets for Work and Children's IKEA. Liz added: "My University of Teesside training has equipped me with both the theoretical understanding of spatial design and the technical skills to use industry standard computer software to design the store layouts."

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