In September 2015, one of MCM’s Project Leaders, Lauren Crilly, was approached by Professor Kevin Singh at Birmingham City University (BCU) to join the teaching team for the for the final year BA (Hons) Interior Design course.
Historically the interior design course shared common modules with product and furniture design and lacked a little of its own identity. After being absorbed into The School of Architecture and Design the aspiration was to develop the course into one of the most progressive, architecturally led, exciting and rigorous degrees in the country. By introducing practicing visiting tutors who have a wealth of experience, BCU will be able to give their students not only a valuable education in design theory and practice but also the benefit of significant sector knowledge, an edge of commercialism and real connections to industry, ultimately helping them become better equipped to enter to workforce.
Lauren visits the University one day a week and conducts group and one-to-one tutorials and workshops to support their final Signature Project. Students are asked to devise their own brief; which starts with them showing an understanding of the client, user, location, building and most importantly the issue that their space will deal with. Lauren encourages conceptual thinking and referencing architectural theory as well as practice to form the basis for their design. Once the foundations of a strong strategy have been laid they can get really creative and push the boundaries of design. This is university after all and they won’t have a QS to tell them they don’t have the budget!
The thing I am enjoying most about this opportunity is watching students flourish and develop. It’s incredibly exciting to be part of what, for some, will be a lifelong passion and career.
- Lauren Crilly, MCM
The thing I am enjoying most about this opportunity is watching students flourish and develop. It’s incredibly exciting to be part of what, for some, will be a lifelong passion and career.
- Lauren Crilly, MCM
