The story of a journey: from creating products to creating interiors
28 May 2024
Image courtesy of Ivana Cicchelli, 2020
My name is Ivana Cicchelli, and I am a Creative Director. So, why did I choose to dive into studying Interior Design online with Falmouth? I'll share my story.
I was born in a city in southern Italy to a caring family with strong values, yet my parents had limited education because of life challenges. Growing up, I often felt like the odd one out because of my insatiable curiosity and thirst for knowledge. I often found myself with a pencil in hand, sketching anything that captured my interest and my parents worried that I was spending too much time drawing instead of focusing on my studies. I pursued studies in economics and law in high school, although I always harboured a dream of studying art and design. When the time came to decide on my university, I had limited options and continued with economics.
Fast forward 10 years: after relocating to Milan and going through a break-up, I made the bold decision to take control of my life. I took a leap of faith and ventured to London solo, eager to begin a new chapter; to become the author of my own story.
I have learned so much from the teachers, the tutors, and my student peers and I am developing my design voice more and more.
Thanks to my wonderful older sister, I had the opportunity to schedule some interviews with Designers Guild for a buying position. I will forever appreciate how they gave me a chance when I had no experience and limited English skills. Despite this, they believed in me, and I gained valuable knowledge during my time there that laid the foundation for my career in the fabric and furniture industry.
However, one of the most significant experiences was working for Laura Ashley. I was employed as an Assistant Buyer, but after a couple of months my boss left without notice, and I found myself leading the entire furniture department with no experience in managing a team. It was a great opportunity to engage with different responsibilities – mainly developing new products and collections alongside the Head of Design – and most importantly collaborating with other buyers in the company and attending key meetings. At first, it was overwhelming, but I learnt to observe and listen, to be open.
I transitioned from my role as a product developer at Laura Ashley to embrace a fresh challenge. I accepted the role of Creative Director at a start-up involved in producing and selling homeware and accessories. This new position provided me with an excellent chance to enhance my networking skills. The weekly meetings with marketing, e-commerce, and sales were a fantastic opportunity to give feedback on the company’s performance, tasks, and market response.
It was then that I discovered my true passion for creating and designing spaces and products. After searching for over 5 years, I finally found the ideal match: the Interior Design BA (Online) course at Falmouth University.
I am in my second year of the course (I study part-time over 3 years), and I am so excited to think that the third year is approaching soon! During these two years, I have learned so much from the teachers, the tutors, and my student peers and I am developing my design voice more and more. I am an interior designer who loves to create meaningful spaces; I believe in soul-soothing and nurturing interiors and am obsessed with creating lifestyles and focusing on offering memorable experiences.
I’m so glad I joined the course at Falmouth. Designing interiors, even if it only plays a small role in others’ happiness, is truly fulfilling.
During the first module of my second year, I worked on a project designing a unique co-working office space different to options already on the market. As a proud dog mom, I always feel anxious when I have to leave the house because I hate being away from my beloved pet. My dog is my loyal companion, and if she could, she would be by my side every hour of every day. I know that I am not the only one that experiences the same difficulties, so I decided to create a paw-some office where furry friends could join the daily grind alongside their humans!
Meeting with clients and interior designers has brought me closer to the world of design. Collaborating with an architect on designing and decorating a retail store, starting from the construction phase to the final layout styling, has been a valuable experience.
I’m so glad I joined the course at Falmouth. Designing interiors, even if it only plays a small role in others’ happiness, is truly fulfilling. From my experience in work and education, I've learned that every design process should originate from within, letting go of fears and worries to express your true voice.