“When we support each other, we create magic”: Interior Design Online student Gabriella Horvath

When the Employability Service advertised an internship with The Live Design Project, a role intended for recent graduates, that didn’t stop second year student Gabriella Horvath from applying. Now a year later, Gabriella has spent the past twelve months sharing design projects with the programme while studying her third year of Falmouth’s Interior Design BA(Hons) (Online) course.  

Reflecting on the application process, Gabriella said: “At first, they were hesitant to hire me as I was only halfway through my second year, and they usually recruit those who have already graduated. My portfolio was slim at the time, including only a few 3D renderings. 

“To gain the position, I asked for two days to ‘gather my renderings’. It gave me a deadline to create a portfolio that would secure me the job, and the first thing I did was learn how to use Enscape with SketchUp. I remember barely sleeping to ensure that I could deliver high-quality visuals. To my delight – they gave me a shot!” 

Since taking on the role, Gabriella’s designs have been highlighted on the platform’s LinkedIn page, and she has now received her first payment for a design. The winning proposal was based on her vision of what calm would look like as a colour, a project that illustrated the home as a quiet celebration of balance, flow, and intention.  

This proposal win came after Gabriella was given a brief from a client: to create a minimalist style that has a warm, inviting feel. Gabriella’s designs responded to the brief while addressing client concerns such as designing a table that fits six to eight people, finding a way to hide the television, and creating a feature wall opposite the entrance. Gabriella approached creating a ‘warmth’ through drawing on feng shui principles and the client was so happy with Gabriella’s solutions that her design won.