We caught up with Heike Munro about her time on Graduate Diploma Interior Design, how she overcomes ‘creative stuckness’, and what she will miss the most when graduating from Chelsea this year.
Where are you from ?
London
What course are you studying on?
Graduate Diploma Interior Design
Describe your experience at Chelsea in 3 words
Challenging, inspirational and reflective
Please tell us about what you are working on for your final show
I have researched emerging business models and selected single product and personalisation as my main theme: a popcorn space where popcorn is made freshly to order using many different flavours. The project encompasses holistic design from brand creation, website design (check it out at andpop.co.uk), product design (including edible packaging) and space design (low environmental impact, popping sound visualisations).
Architectual model of alternative space design, Heike Munro
What has been your greatest challenge so far in working towards the degree show?
Leading up to the show is probably the busiest time of the whole course with submissions adding to the pressure of creating something special. Such pressure has occasionally resulted in ‘creative stuckness’, which at times feels seemingly impossible to overcome. What feels like a few hundred sketches later, inspiration strikes and the exhilaration is immense. Nothing can surpass that feeling of joy in creating, that drive from wanting to succeed over failure.
Visualisation of popping sound I, Heike Munro
What do you see yourself doing after you graduate, what are your career ambitions?
I have already set up a number of projects working in residential refurbishment, taken work experience with an interior design business, and creating an exhibition and work space for a charitable association providing facts about the holocaust.
Edible Popcorn box (material: wafer paper made out of potato starch), Heike Munro
What have you enjoyed most about studying at Chelsea?
Creating new friendships and learning from fellow students has been a key highlight. The creative buzz that surrounds the campus is invigorating and something that I will miss tremendously.
What have you most enjoyed about the area around Chelsea? Any tips?
Chelsea College of Arts is so central, you can get to most places within a very short time. Inspiration is also on the door step with Tate Britain just across the road. My main tip would be to venture south, often overlooked but getting more and more interesting. Visit Brixton, Herne Hill and Camberwell.
Architectural model of space design for Popcorn stand, Heike Munro
What would you say to someone who is thinking about doing your course? Any advice?
I think the course is great if you already have the key skills, you want to hone in on some of these skills and improve your portfolio for further study or employment. Think carefully whether further study or work experience will be more appropriate to what you want to do afterwards.
You can see more work on Heike Munro’s website as well as the &Pop website
Read more about our Graduate Diploma Interior Design course
Check out our Undergraduate Summer Show
Header image caption: ‘Visualisation of popping sound II’, Heike Munro