As we are about to enter the new term, through our In The Beginning series we catch up with first year BA Interior & Spatial Design student Rahaf Alsubaie, from Saudi Arabia, about her experience of the first term at Chelsea.
Describe you experience at Chelsea so far in 3 words.
Challenging
Inspiring
Independent
(Doll)houses – A Collaborative Project with the Foundling Museum by Rahaf Alsubaie
Why did you choose to study at Chelsea?
I chose to study at Chelsea because it is a well known university to study a degree in interior and spatial design.
What has surprised you most about your university experience so far?
One of the most valuable things is that I got to now know a group of friends from different backgrounds. It’s very independent, which has pushed me to learn how to be responsible for fulfilling my own potential.
What project (s) have you worked on so far in your first term? Which has been your favourite and why?
The most positive aspect of this term has been working on a variety of different projects. One of my favourite projects has been designing floats for the Mexican Day of the Dead festival held at Chelsea. During the process of making I improved many skills. We were given assigned roles and responsibilities in groups to share the workload, this improved my communication and interpersonal skills. It was also a great opportunity to work closely with the artist Francis Thorburn.
(Doll)houses – A Collaborative Project with the Foundling Museum by Rahaf Alsubaie
What skills have you learned so far in the workshop? Have you used any materials / processes that you haven’t used before?
Throughout creating the float, we used materials such as wood, wire and paper. The construction method was based on that of the Japanese Nebuta Floats which was new to me.
What do you get up to outside of college time?
The daily schedule is regular, so I have more time to explore London, attending exhibitions , museums and trying out new places. These activities have been really inspiring.
Is there any advice you would give to prospective students thinking of applying to your course?
You can achieve your ambition through hard work, great effort and devoting a sufficient amount of time.
Read more about Chelsea’s BA Interior & Spatial Design course