"At ArtEZ, I have learned to trust the process."

Having just finished her senior secondary vocational education training, it took Melisa Ögec (24) a while to get used to the freedom she had during her Interior Architecture course at the Academy of Art & Design in Zwolle. Below, she looks back on a period during which she has made great strides, both personally and professionally. “I also found it very inspiring to follow my classmates' development. Over the past four years, we have become a tight-knit bunch.”

Although Melisa enjoyed her vocational training in Interior Design, she missed a bit of depth. “It was mainly about styling, colours and materials,” she explains. “And while there’s nothing wrong with that, it sometimes felt a bit shallow. At ArtEZ, interior design is about more than just a space surrounded by four walls. In that sense, the Interior Architecture bachelor’s course was a perfect complement to my preliminary education.”

Position as designer

What lesson has she learned most over the past four years? Melisa laughs. “A lot,” she says. “I used to think way too much about a design. At ArtEZ I have learned to get to work quickly and trust the process. In my case, overthinking easily can get in the way of creativity. Now, I can let go of that and just get on with it.” She also feels comfortable with creating her own stance as a designer. Melisa: “Over the last two years, I have spent a lot of time on my creativity and my own vision and learned how I can distinguish myself from other designers. Even on a personal level, I am no longer the Melisa I was four years ago."

Course with depth

Melisa developed a new way of looking at things during her studies: the understanding that a space is more than just a physical place. "With the right design, you can influence the experience from start to finish," she says. “To get to that point, you first have to do research and have a solid understanding of the relationship between the space and the person using it. I came to be comfortable with that approach to research and the different methods that exist for it here at ArtEZ.” She knew that the course would be quite in-depth, but she had not expected it to delve so deeply. “In retrospect, I really enjoyed that element. Instead of just doing something, you learn to make sense of why you make certain choices.”

Her classmates' visions

The amount of freedom she had to choose her own path was also a surprise to Melisa initially. “Truth be told, I found the lack of boundaries tricky at first,” she reflects. “I was quite younger than I am now and didn’t know exactly what was expected of me. But gradually I came to appreciate that freedom more and more.” She also came to feel more at ease with the research element of the programme, which was not always something she enjoyed, partly because she was allowed to decide for herself how to approach it. “My classmates and I all went our own ways, which made it very interesting. Someone focused on sustainability, another on landscapes. You learn from each other and are inspired by other visions and methods.”

Master's programme or entering the workforce

When asked if she thinks she is ready to enter the corporate world, Melisa thinks for a moment. “It's funny,” she says, “I was just talking about this recently with my family. Sometimes I don’t feel that I’m good enough yet for a full-time job. But my mother-in-law pointed out that that little voice of doubt will probably never go away.” Melisa is also questioning whether she should pursue a master’s programme at all. “I think that if I pursued a master's programme and finished it, the same doubtful feeling would come back. That common feeling of uncertainty is something that many recent graduates experience. The only way to get rid of it is to get a job somewhere and gain some practical experience.” According to Melisa, you can always pursue a master’s degree later. “I'm young, and I feel that I have studied for long enough. Now I want to get to work.” She would like to start her own company in the future, and also engage in teaching as an art and interior design lecturer. “That has been on my mind for a long time,” she says. “I can see myself teaching. But first, I'm going to look for a job in the field, then we’ll see what the future brings.”

Learn more about the bachelor's course Interior Architecture

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Comment: Melisa says that many events are taking place in the grey areas of the world. The introduction of spaces and boundaries all too often interrupt these areas. Her final work - this wall with collapsible parts - serves as both a separation and a connection.