In conversation with AND learner Priyanka Mishra, we explore her journey at AND Academy and career transformation. Read on for details on her experience, project work, future aspirations, and some fun personal anecdotes.
“It's easy to procrastinate when you’re learning from recorded sessions. But live classes engaged me so well that even after a full day of working I didn’t feel exhausted sitting for lessons.”
Joining us for this much-awaited edition of Student Journey is Priyanka Mishra, a student of our Diploma in Interior Design program. Priyanka brings with her a wealth of diverse experiences, drawing from her background as a corporate employee. Her journey is a true inspiration for aspiring designers waiting for that green light to pursue their design aspirations.
In our conversation, we delve into Priyanka’s journey so far, exploring her Residential Design Project and sharing snippets from her time at AND Academy.
Here’s a peek into our conversation!
- Priyanka’s background and interests
- What made her interested in Interior Design
- How did she come across AND?
- How would she describe her experience at AND?
- What makes a good interior designer?
- Walkthrough of her Residential Design Project
- Challenges she faced
- Learnings from the project
- Her current career aspirations
- Advice for AND learners
- Would you refer AND to peers?
Without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Q1. How about we start with your introduction? Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and your interests.
Yeah, sure. So my name is Priyanka Mishra and I’m currently pursuing a Diploma in Interior Design at AND Academy. However, before joining AND, I pursued a Bachelor's in Journalism and Mass Communication and was until recently working in Public Relations as a Junior Account Executive.
Speaking of my interests, I am a professionally trained dancer and am well-versed in 4 dance forms. I have also dabbled a little bit in theatre, but now I feel my love for theatre has transitioned into a love for traveling. And yeah, as a designer, art has always been a part of my life. I mainly paint and specifically enjoy Mandala making and doodling. So yeah, that’s about me.
I must say you have quite a diverse set of talents.
Q2. But, I’m curious. How did all this lead to an interest in Interior Design?
Art and design have always been a fun hobby for me. So much so, that I actually have some knowledge of graphic design too. But, I always saw it as more of a hobby than a potential career option.
My interest in interior design was largely influenced by my home environment. My father is a Civil Engineer, so I’ve watched him design furniture and measure every corner of our home all through my childhood. And I think that is where my inclination toward design first blossomed. To top this, I also have several friends who are interior designers. I would occasionally visit them and indulge in the aesthetics of their projects. So my father helped me build a technical outlook toward the field and my friends helped me develop an eye for aesthetics.
However, it was during my professional life that I first had the inclination to pursue this field. My office basement area was being renovated and I would spend a lot of time with the designer there just understanding the process and discussing the layout. It was those endless conversations that made me realize that I did not want to continue with my corporate job, but rather wanted to take interior designing as a profession.
Q3. So adding on to that, how did you find AND Academy and what made you pursue our course?
So when I thought of professionally pursuing interior design, I naturally started looking for courses that could help me upskill. Since I’d already completed my bachelor's, I didn't want to go ahead with another full-time qualification like a Bachelor in Architecture or something along those lines. I was also working alongside, so I wanted something that I could manage with my work responsibilities. Third, I wanted an online option because my work life does not allow me the time to travel. These were the major criteria I had in mind when I was looking for a course.
I did shortlist a few options but wasn’t fully convinced about any particular course. Coincidentally, two of my close friends had enrolled in graphic design courses at AND. It was through them that I got to know about AND Academy and also the fact that they offer courses in Interior Design. So I went through the website and surprisingly all my checkpoints were covered by the courses.
The best part, and the one that sold AND to me, was the interactive classes because I didn't want to learn through pre-recorded videos. I wanted something interactive and live. So, AND fit into my requirements quite perfectly.
That's interesting because you've kind of listed all our USPs.
Q4. So, if you have to describe your experience here at AND in 3 words, what would those words be?
Three words that I would use to describe my experience at AND would be insightful, fun, and grateful. I’ve learned a lot and made genuine connections here, and I am truly grateful for that. There were times when I couldn't attend classes, and would be so clueless. Especially when I had submissions coming up the following week. In times like these, my peers and mentors extended a helping hand through notes and support.
In fact, I actually have four points that made this experience exceptional for me.
First was the learning process. I absolutely loved the live classes. It's easy to procrastinate when you’re learning from recorded sessions, but live classes engaged me so well that even after a full day of working I didn’t feel exhausted sitting for lessons.
Second, I liked the activities we had during our interactive sessions. For instance, in the initial phases of the project when we were learning basic concepts like the principles of interior design, I remember we had those craft-making activities. I think they were amazing, not only from the point of view of making the concept clear but also for igniting that zeal within a learner. It's interesting and fun when you're crafting, it awakens your brain.
Third was the mentors and the ease with which they conveyed every piece of information. There was a balance between theoretical resources and industry exposure, and all sessions were equally interactive.
Last but not least, I would say placement sessions. I could only attend a few placement sessions due to my workload but I have already implemented whatever I learnt. You get tips on the best practices for updating LinkedIn profiles and how to pitch yourself to recruiters.
So, these four aspects, I would say, best summarise my experience.
We are also grateful to hear such inspiring words about your experience!
Q5. This brings us to the next question, what, according to you, makes for a great interior designer?
Okay, I have identified a few points during my course. There could be other things too which I believe I’ll only understand with experience, but for now, this is what I feel makes a good interior designer.
This is often an ignored aspect, but I believe having a good grasp of the foundational principles is very important. It's said that the elements or principles of interior design are easy topics, but if you are not clear on the basic concepts it’ll get difficult when it comes to practical implementation.
Second is interior design software proficiency because everything is done digitally in the modern world. It is not feasible to hand-draw sketches, and even clients nowadays want 3D references of designs. So, a good grasp of basic concepts and software proficiency are two key characteristics of a good interior designer.
That’s some solid observation!
Q6. This sets us up perfectly to learn about your residential design project. Would you like to take us through it?
Yeah definitely. I’ll start with a brief about this project. Essentially, we were tasked with engaging real clients and working on a residential interior design. It mostly included redesigning their bedrooms and incorporating any other requirements that the clients may have.
My clients were Mr. and Mrs. Jha who are residents of Noida Sector 75. They reside on the 8th floor in a high-rise apartment building and wanted a few small changes to their bedroom to meet their needs. Mr Jha being a marketing professional primarily wanted his bedroom to be free of chaos and wanted a design that could help him relax. They also wanted a clutter-free space with good circulation. One specific demand they had was the use of pastel colors. Mr. and Mrs. Jha also wanted to maximize storage efficiency through this renovation. So, as you can see, their demands were very specific but were mostly limited to their everyday needs.
Client Profile
My first step was to create different layouts and mood boards to better understand their requirements. One contradiction that I faced quite early was that while both Mr. and Mrs. Jha wanted more storage, their bedroom was rather empty and only had one attached wardrobe and side table. They also wanted a dedicated sitting area which would have defeated the purpose of an uncluttered look.
Hence, I decided to make use of the attached balcony as a solution for improved circulation and more space. We moved the seating area to the balcony and turned it into a relaxed space where they could enjoy the city lights and spend leisure time. Storage was maximized in the room through the addition of storage headboards, a TV cabinet, and more side tables. The original bedroom layout did not allow the incorporation of all these elements, so I changed it to create more space and reduce clutter.
Finalised Mood Board
For the overall aesthetic, I felt a Bohemian-styled bedroom would work best for the couple since they wanted it to be very soothing to the eye. I went ahead with a green and brown color palette, combined with mood lighting and indoor plants. Accessories like rugs, paintings, and mirrors were also included and I avoided adding any heavy furniture since it was a rented apartment. To bring the entire look together I incorporated fluted panels for that warm and fresh aesthetic.
Final renders of the Bedroom
Once the bedroom design was finalized, I moved on with the washroom renovation. Staying in alignment with the fresh Bohemian theme, I used light-shaded tiles in the washroom. The WC area and the shower area were separated by a glass partition. An upstand mirror and flooring with lights were also incorporated.
All in all the client feedback was quite positive. Mr and Mrs Jha liked the creative use of color and the different mechanisms I utilized to create a cozy mood.
Client’s Feedback
It seems like you’ve put a lot of thought into designing the room.
Q7. Were there any challenges you faced during this project?
One of the major challenges I faced was staying consistent with one approach. This was mostly because my clients changed their briefs quite often. One example of this is that initially, they wanted a headboard with a unique design or carving. But at a later stage, they also seemed happy with a standard minimal headboard design. Along similar lines, they initially wanted a recliner in the sitting area, but that would make the room more cluttered. Whereas the balcony would make excellent use of the recliner. That is what we went ahead with and the clients did like the overall appeal.
Another challenge that I faced was with coming up with fresh ideas. The room was quite small and even the brief I got initially was quite straightforward. So there weren’t many decor ideas I could finalize right away. This is when mentor guidance really came in handy for me. My mentors encouraged me to think outside the box to crack the styling aspect.
One strategy to achieve this was to suggest decor options from a designer’s perspective. When we’re working with clients it becomes our job to step up and explore ideas beyond the brief. This advice in particular turned out to be helpful, because the second layout, which was the finalized one had both a floor cabinet and a TV cabinet. However, these elements were not there in the initial client brief.
Q8. Are there any other learnings that you had during this project? Anything that you think really stood out, particularly with this project?
My experience working on this project has definitely been enriching. The first and most important learning as an interior designer at AND was understanding the importance of patience.
Patience is key when it comes to engaging with real-world clients. As I mentioned previously, there were times when the brief would suddenly change or when there would be a clear distinction between the client’s actual needs and what they seemed to want. There's always a chance that your thought process and that of the client will not match. This is where patience pays off. Just taking a step back and understanding where your client is coming from can open doors to novel solutions.
There would also be other problems that one has to manage as a designer. For instance, in my case, I was working full time and only had the weekends for site visits. The distance I had to travel was also significant, given the fact that I was residing in Delhi and the apartment was in Noida Sector 75. There were times when the client would not be available and I’d have to wait for them or travel back without a meeting. It’s moments like these that build up and make you want to rush ahead with the project. Staying patient can be a great challenge in such cases, but it can be key to reaching the right solutions.
The second learning I’d say came from the tip my mentor gave me. You should always think outside of the box; if the client says A suggest to them a B or even a C. This is very important because your client is not a designer. They do not have the expertise or the clarity to visualize their wants and it's your job as a designer to come up with a solution that closely resembles the client’s needs. And if doing that requires thinking outside the box or the brief, it’s worth doing so and can reap benefits sometimes.
Q9. What are your career aspirations going forward?
I think pursuing this course at AND has definitely made one thing clear to me - hobbies are hobbies. All the dancing and the traveling will go on in the background, no doubt. However, pursuing this course at AND reinforced my own understanding of what I wanted to do professionally.
I’ve always wanted a job, but my ultimate dream was to eventually get into entrepreneurship or own a business. I always wanted to have something of my own, but I wasn’t sure what stream or career trajectory I wanted to take up. But today I know my career aspiration in the long term is that I want to have my own interior design firm. Before that though I think I would want to assist an interior designer to gain more experience and improve my efficiency. I also want to expand my design expertise into various other niches, like furniture design and visual merchandising.
Q10. Since you are very close to your career aspirations, what is the one piece of advice you would like to give an AND learner like yourself?
I only have one advice, just go with it. I am saying this based on my experience. I chose AND Academy because I knew what I was looking for and the institute fit into it pretty well. If you are someone like me who has a list of priorities but is hesitating to take the next step, don’t worry much and just go for it. I am sure regardless of your area of interest, be it graphic or interior design or UI UX, AND Academy would not disappoint you.
Why do you have to wait so long? If it's your passion, just go for it. I also hesitated initially because of my job and was worried about how I’d manage, and I was even asked this during my orientation and interview. But because I knew I had the drive and was genuinely passionate, I was confident I’d do it. And eventually, I did end up doing pretty well. So do not hesitate and just go for it.
Q11. Last question, based on your experience, would you refer courses at AND Academy to your peers and friends?
Yes, definitely! In fact, I’ve already recommended AND courses to two of my juniors who are interested in pursuing a design career. Their criteria are very similar to mine and they primarily wanted an online program to manage their work. So yeah, I feel very confident that AND courses would work out well for them or anyone truly passionate about design.
That’s truly very kind of you, Priyanka. We are honored and glad to know our courses could have such a positive impact on you. We wish you all the best for your future and hope to see you excel as an independent interior designer soon.
Has Priyanka’s inspirational words ignited the designer within you?
If you are an interior design enthusiast looking to walk in Priyanka’s footsteps, explore our 34-week Diploma in Interior Design.
We also have an 18-week Certificate in Interior Design course for beginners still discovering the field.
For further queries, please feel free to contact our Course Advisors.
Note: All information and/or data from external sources is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication.
