UCLan students better by design

2 March 2017

Miller Homes select winning design in UCLan competition

Miller Homes is celebrating with interior design student Charlotte Dempster after she won its interior design competition in collaboration with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

Miller Homes approached UCLan last summer to offer the University’s interior design students a chance to design the fifth bedroom in one of its show homes in the North West, and ultimately, the opportunity to work alongside its interior designers, Killer 5.

The collaboration has provided the students with valuable access to industry experience and invaluable feedback from a client, whilst having the chance to work alongside accredited interior designers who are able to offer a wealth of invaluable knowledge and guidance to the students.

The students jumped at the opportunity and spent the start of the academic year coming up with designs to win over the leading home builder.  Eight students presented their concepts to a panel of experts who judged the students on their ingenuity, innovation and interpretation of the brief.

"Charlotte impressed us all with her professional interpretation of the brief, the uniqueness of the design and the thought that had been put into the design and space usage."

The panel of experts included Rebecca Pearce from ‘Killer 5’ interior designers, Miller Homes representatives and the students’ own University lecturer Pamela Eccles, in an X Factor judging-style set up.  After much deliberation, Charlotte Dempster was chosen as the winning student.  A second-year

interior design course student from UCLan who is originally from Smithills in Bolton.

Rebecca, from Killer 5, commented: “The quality of work all the students brought to the table was very impressive, in the end it was really difficult to pick just one winner.  Charlotte impressed us all with her professional interpretation of the brief, the uniqueness of the design and the thought that had been put into the design and space usage.  We are excited to work alongside Charlotte with the upcoming show home and can’t wait to see her reaction when she sees her end design in the home.”

Charlotte will continue to work closely with the interior designers and observe her concept coming to life in the Miller Homes show home located in Sandbach, on the Heathlands development in Cheshire.

Winning student Charlotte Dempster (left)
Winning student Charlotte Dempster (left)

"It’s been such a great opportunity and I really enjoyed interpreting the brief. The other girls did such a great job, winning was a great surprise, but I can’t wait to work alongside Killer 5 and Miller Homes and to see the final room."

Charlotte said: “It’s been such a great opportunity and I really enjoyed interpreting the brief.  The other girls did such a great job, winning was a great surprise, but I can’t wait to work alongside Killer 5 and Miller Homes and to see the final room.”

Sam Johnson, Sales Director for Miller Homes in the North West commented: “It’s a privilege to be able to provide such valuable work experience to the students at UCLan.  Miller Homes is committed to the communities in which we have developments and it is wonderful to be working with a local University and their students to take this initiative forward.  Charlotte’s design was an immediate favourite and her personal interpretation of the brief won us over.”

Pamela Eccles, the Interior Design lecturer at UCLan said: “This is such an exciting opportunity for the students to get their teeth into some relevant and tangible work experience.  Universities are always keen for their students to seek as much work experience as possible and working alongside a well-respected company such as Miller Homes has been a unique opportunity for these students."