The questions below were poised by a student of design and we thought it would be fun to post them on our blog with responses by our Design Director Danielle Lumbus.
Q.How many years have you worked in the creative industry?
A.11 years
Q. Is your work full time or just part-time?
A. As I have 2 small children under the age of 3 so I presently work 4 full days per week and have Friday’s off.
Q. Do you usually work alone or in a collaborative group?
A. It depends on the task. When we’re in the creative stage of a project such as Design Development we work collaboratively sharing ideas, thoughts& opinions. When dealing with tasks such as budgets and timeframes etc we tend to work solo.
Q.What training or study did you undergo?
A. I studied Interior Design at Central Tafe and obtained my Advanced Diploma. During my final year of study I also obtained work experience for 1 to 2 days of the week at a leading design firm in Perth.
Q. What are some or your major achievements in you career so far.
A.Working on the retail concept guide for Lotterywest and then seeing it implemented in shopping centres around the state was quite fulfilling. The refurbishment of Landgate Midland customer services hall is another highlight. Designing a space around the interface between the client and general public was challenging but the element that excited me the most was being able to create a space that had the luxury of depth & height. We are presented with very limited opportunities of when you can stand back and view a job in it whole from afar as a complete composition.
Q.What factors have helped in you in your career?
A. I’m very focused and have always believed in the fact that if you want something bad enough all you have to do is set your mind to it, it will be yours ……eventually.
Q. Do you or have you ever had a mentor? If so who?
A. Bob Britton has been my mentor for the last 10 years. He has always told me that his purpose in life was to appreciate beauty in all aspects of life. My interpretation of his philosophy means looking for the best in a situation and to be more accepting. He has also taught me that many hours can be lost engaged in conversation whilst pondering the workings of the world.
Q.What advise can you give me starting out on a career path similar to you?
A.-Don’t let knock backs deter you from your goals.
-Work hard and be patient.
-Learn and absorb as much as you can from those around you regardless of what position they hold. You can learn so much just by watching & listening to the way people approach things.
Q.Are there any major issues facing the interior design industry at the moment? If so what are they?
A. I think we have 2 major issues at present.
1st) Surviving the current economic down turn.
2nd )The issue of sustainable design
Q.Where do you get inspiration?
A.I think one’s style constantly evolves and each decade through history provides us with inspiration which we can take and cast with more contemporary flavour. At present I’m in love with the old movie sets of the1940’s & 50’s. It’s the luxury and extravagance of it all, the attention to detail.
Q. Do you enjoy your work? And what are the highlights of the industry?
A. I absolutely love my job. No project is ever the same. You are constantly being challenged on your ability to be creative whilst remaining within your budget.