NEWSWORTHY
PG BISON 1.618 EDUCATION INITIATIVE 2023 WINNER
Carmen Gregan , interior design student at Design Time School of Interior Design ( Cape Town ) was announced as the winner of the 2023 PG Bison 1.618 Education Initiative . Tiago Loureiro Goncalves from the University of Johannesburg - Interior Design placed second , and Kayla van Speyk from IIE Vega - Interior Design ( Cape Town ) came third . The competition is aimed at showcasing creativity , innovation and skills of emerging young architects and interior designers , providing a platform for them to gain recognition from industry professionals and create valuable connections within the design community . Gregan was delighted to hear she had won . “ Working on this project has been a lot of fun , and I want to express my gratitude to PG Bison for this fantastic opportunity !” she said . This year ’ s brief required the students to design a dream desert oasis consisting of an Instagrammable luxury residence , with entertainment areas and landscaped surrounds , celebrating the basic human needs of eating , sleeping , bathing and socialising , using the four elements of fire , water , earth and air . Gregan ’ s winning design , titled “ The Chrono ”, was inspired by the passage of time . “ When I first received the brief , I started thinking about time and how humans affect our environment . This inspired me to explore the difference between our impact on nature and how nature thrives when left alone ,” said Gregan .
Left to Right : Tiago Loureiro Goncalves , Carmen Gregan and Kayla van Speyk
SPATIAL DESIGN - THE CRUCIAL MIDDLE GROUND BETWEEN ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN
For too long , South Africans perceived the design and décor field to consist of two main career options - Interior Design and Architecture . This has left a prominent gap in the market for the middle ground of Spatial Design .
Although traditional design fields like architecture and interior design cater for space and people , Spatial Design crosses the boundaries of these traditional design domains . Spatial Designers solve complex design challenges by focusing on human emotion , sustainability and even exploring new ways for people to live , work , play , relax , learn , and experience space .
In other parts of the world , Spatial Design has become a sought-after discipline , with a vast array of job opportunities . Those with the right qualification can go on to crafting the interior of a swanky hotel as an Interior Stylist , create an interactive exhibition space as an Interior Space Planner to even rejig the functional layout of a major supermarket chain as an Interior Visual Merchandiser . The possibilities are endless .
Marga de Vos , the coordinator at STADIO School of Architecture and Spatial Design , explains that although Spatial Design is a relatively new field in South Africa , it is an immensely significant one . “ Spatial Designers serve as a valuable connective tissue between traditional built environment disciplines such as Architecture , Interior and Furniture Design and the requirements and desires of the communities they serve . The demand for skilled Spatial Design practitioners is growing exponentially in South Africa , where there is a pressing need to address a multitude of social housing challenges , including creating more inclusive spaces ,” she says .
A much-needed middle ground Until now , there has been no dedicated qualification on offer in South Africa to develop the necessary skills and knowledge needed to excel in this dynamic field .
The Higher Certificate in Spatial Design offered by STADIO School of Architecture and Spatial Design , backed by the African Institute of Interior Design Professions ( IID ), is challenging this status quo . The new contact learning programme offered at STADIO ’ s Belville campus also serves as a fantastic alternative for those that struggle to meet the current entry requirements for courses like Architecture and Interior Design or simply want a broader career scope .
“ The qualification provides graduates with a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving industry as it blends theoretical and practical elements and marries related fields . This helps prepare graduates to enter the job market being able to tackle complex design challenges , and become experts in the design , planning , and management of habitable spaces more broadly ,” says De Vos . For more information , please visit : https :// stadio . ac . za / arts-fashion-design / school-architecture-spatial-design / higher-certificate-spatial-design
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