Interior Design Student Wins 'Get Me 2 the Top' Competition

Final year Interior Design student, Tacan Ibrahimoglu, has won the prestigious international ‘Get me 2 the Top’ competition from The Society of British and International Design (SBID).

Get me 2 the Top is an annual design competition which seeks out the next generation of innovative and talented students, and aims to build relationships between the country’s newest talent and potential employers, both locally and nationally.

The winner receives a 3 month internship with a leading design agency, architectural film or manufacturer. Tacan will be undertaking her internship at an award-winning interior design studio; 1.61 London. After being given the choice between focusing on practical work or project management during her placement, Tacan opted for project management.

Tacan’s winning project focused on the interior design of an Eco Ceramics Hub at the site of a demolished taxi rank in Preston. She explains her concept:

“I saw this as an opportunity to create a place I would like to see in Lancashire and will be beneficial for locals’ lifestyle. I wanted to create an emotional, warm and sustainable environment and a public space for everyone, which encourages the process of 'making' handmade art.

“The space is specifically designed for making pottery and is a space that will ensure social and cultural development and participation. It’s also designed to be made out of eco-friendly materials like solar panels.”

Judge Vanessa Brady, commented one what made Tacan’s work stand out and proceed to win the award:

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"Tacan submitted an inspired presentation - I was personally impressed and pleasantly surprised to see such insight circumventing the barriers young creatives face as a start-up in business. I also liked that the theme inspired constant evolution shown through materials, time-tested crafts and techniques used. The project was eco-aware and also created the feel of a thriving hub which generated a community ethos.

“All the important elements of success for a creative to consider had been addressed in this project. In addition, I believe it was the type of project that a Client would have paid a professional Designer a fee to design, and that is a rare commodity for a designer in training. Superb.”

The scheme allows students to develop connections with industry professionals and receive the relevant advice and guidance as they begin their careers.

Lecturer in Interior Design, Pam Eccles said:

“We were delighted when The Society of British and International Design (SBID) contacted us to announce that Tacan had won first prize. Both myself and Jason Kearns (Senior Interior Design Lecturer at UCLan) wish Tacan all the very best for her future career and have no doubt she will impress her employers with her creativity and special aptitude for interior design.”

As Tacan nears the end of her BA degree at UCLan, she offers her advice to others:

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“If you are interested in something and want to spend your life doing it, work hard to develop it and just believe in yourself; do your best and good things will happen.”

Hosting student competitions like Get me 2 the Top is an effective way of supporting the design industry through recognising talented creative students of the next generation, which in turn shapes the future of design. Their latest student competition, Designed for Business, gives one creative student a life changing opportunity to win a £30,000 cash prize. SBID created this new equal opportunity competition in a bid to showcase and reward emerging talent in each realm of the design industry, as well as providing the link and nurturing relationships between those in the studies and those already working in the industry.

Where next?

  • How to become an interior designer

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  • Interior Design, MA

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