Charlotte Ashfield

BA (Hons) Interior Design

What makes a great designer….?

This is a question I have been asking myself for many years. At school and in my personal life I constantly compared my work to other artists and designers, however, since joining university I have found my voice within the design world. I believe that in order to be the best designer you can possibly be you have to embrace your own unique and personal creative aesthetic.

My passion and drive for design and creativity was noticeable from a very young age and has significantly grown since I found my love for interior architectural design. My 3 years at university has shown me that not only do I appreciate an aesthetically pleasing space but that I am incredibly passionate about designing spaces that help those in need of help; particularly designing spaces that help those who suffer from mental illnesses. This desire to help others was evident in my thesis, where I explored Craig Thomas’s idea of ‘object, space, and experience’ and used it to investigate whether the interior architecture of institutional spaces e.g., hospitals and prisons impact our behaviour, wellbeing and quality of life. I hope my desire to help others continues to be the main focus and drive for my design endeavours with the aim to work alongside companies and charities like MIND UK to change the way we design spaces to ensure the greatest wellbeing of individuals.


Beth sy’n gwneud dylunydd gwych….?

Mae hwn yn gwestiwn yr ydw i wedi bod yn ei ofyn i mi fy hun ers blynyddoedd lawer. Yn yr ysgol ac yn fy mywyd personol roeddwn i bob amser yn cymharu fy ngwaith ag artistiaid a dylunwyr eraill. Fodd bynnag, ers ymuno â’r brifysgol rydw i wedi dod o hyd i’m llais yn y byd dylunio. Er mwyn bod y dylunydd gorau y gallwch fod, rwy’n credu bod yn rhaid i chi gofleidio’ch esthetig creadigol unigryw a phersonol eich hun.

Roedd fy angerdd a’m brwdfrydedd dros ddylunio a chreadigrwydd yn amlwg o oedran ifanc iawn ac mae wedi tyfu’n sylweddol ers imi ddod o hyd i’m hoffter o ddylunio pensaernïol mewnol. Mae fy 3 blynedd yn y brifysgol wedi dangos imi nid yn unig fy mod i’n gwerthfawrogi gofod sy’n ddymunol yn esthetig ond fy mod i’n hynod angerddol am ddylunio mannau sy’n helpu’r rhai sydd angen cymorth; yn enwedig dylunio mannau sydd o gymorth i’r rhai sy’n dioddef o salwch meddwl. Roedd yr awydd hwn i helpu eraill yn amlwg yn fy nhraethawd ymchwil. Ynddo, archwiliais syniad Craig Thomas o ‘wrthrych, gofod a phrofiad’ a’i ddefnyddio i ymchwilio a yw pensaernïaeth fewnol mannau sefydliadol e.e., ysbytai a charchardai, yn effeithio ar ein hymddygiad, ein lles ac ansawdd ein bywyd. Rwy’n gobeithio y bydd fy awydd i helpu eraill yn parhau i fod yn brif ffocws ac ysgogiad i’m hymdrechion dylunio, gyda’r nod o weithio ochr yn ochr â chwmnïau ac elusennau fel MIND UK i newid y ffordd yr ydyn ni’n dylunio mannau i sicrhau’r lles mwyaf i unigolion.

Other Exhibitors:

Sara Khoshroo

Sara Khoshroo

My interest in creating pleasant spaces goes back to my childhood and my family background. I am the daughter of an Iranian architect, who is full of taste and motivation to create and design better surroundings. I look at everything differently and try to set a new...

Aston Morgan

Aston Morgan

Unlike some, I cannot say that I always knew Interior Design was the route I was destined to go down. While I have always had a keen eye and a strong love for artistic design, for me, designing a space seemed like more of a hobby rather than a job that I could pursue...

Elliot Rolley

Elliot Rolley

I’m not one for grand philosophical ideas through design that will ultimately end up being someones living or work space. As a designer all I really aspire to do is create something that is of value to the person using that bit of design whether it’s a space or a...

Erin Cornelius

Erin Cornelius

What interior design means to me is creating a space that reaches its purpose’s full potential. Creating a successful interior design is to produce designs that are easily understood, have functionality and have recognisable aesthetics. When approaching an interior...

Ashley Cassandra Placide

Ashley Cassandra Placide

The intrigue within me in relation to creating inclusive dimensions derives from being well travelled and primarily being in close contact with disabled children. In 2015 I volunteered for an organisation called Allsorts in Stroud, aiming to provide fun activities for...

Stephanie Lamont

Stephanie Lamont

To me, design is about working with others to find solutions to their problems. It is only by getting onto someone else’s level and experiencing their journey and needs can one create an experience that doesn’t make assumptions. It is how we use design as a tool to...