Online Interior Design student lands exciting new job at leading Landscape Design company

Libby Watkins, a student on our Interior Design BA(Hons) (Online) course, recently landed a role as a Design Technician at Chris Beardshaw Design while still studying for her degree.  

Libby gained the role at the Landscape Design company founded by landscape architect and broadcaster Chris Beardshaw, aka The Flying Gardener, after completing a self-promotional course challenge to present her design manifesto on LinkedIn. From there, her new employers found her work and offered her this exciting opportunity.   

Now only in the second week of her new job, we caught up with Libby to find out more.   

When did you discover your love for interior design?  

As a child, I had a slightly unconventional dream of designing interior spaces. Throughout secondary school and further education, I sought opportunities to explore the field through art and design subjects. My Fine Art GCSE involved a self-led exploration of the figure’s relationship with its interior environment.

Despite having some work experience in landscape design, my first opportunity to design interiors was by undertaking my interior design degree after a gap year, which has confirmed and amplified my passion; my love for interior design grows every day.  

Can you tell us more about the LinkedIn task you were set by your tutor?  

During reading week of the third year ‘Professional Identity’ module, we were challenged to create and upload a pitch presentation of our design manifestos to LinkedIn as part of an extra-curricular, self-promotional competition. The top five students with the most engagements received the chance to have their content shared with a network of studios in the interior design industry. This fantastic opportunity to gain exposure with employers and clients was exciting, so I couldn’t pass it up.  

How did your new employers reach out to you?   

By sharing with my existing network, my LinkedIn post reached a local creative recruitment company, who were looking for an applicant with the design skills I had demonstrated in the presentation and on my profile. Before the university competition deadline had arrived, the recruiter had reached out and the ball was rolling. It goes to show just how fantastic an idea the self-promotional challenge was; the power of social media is incredible. In this competitive world, it’s so important for students and graduates to aim to stand out, and pitching our professional design manifestos did just that.  

What can you tell us about the design role you have accepted?   

My new role as a Design Technician for Chris Beardshaw Design involves developing and applying transferable skills that I've learnt so far from the course on a wide range of residential and commercial projects. The opportunity to contribute to the inspiring work of Chris Beardshaw, whose award-winning portfolio and reputation for excellence in landscape design are second to none, is incredibly exciting and a real privilege. I'm particularly enjoying using SketchUp, LayOut, AutoCAD and InDesign to create and communicate bespoke design solutions and client presentations whilst working directly with the Director, Chris. Every day offers a new challenge and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.