PresentationChoosing your rhythm according to your needs

Cycle 1 - Interior Designer Title

Cycle 2 - Interior Architect & Designer Title (Masters)

Being an Interior Architect is based on the acquisition of 4 skill sets, relating to the mastery of an interior architecture project.

  • Analysis of the interior architecture / design project and development of its program.
  • Creation of new objects, spaces, and living environments in interior architecture and design.
  • Project management, direction of the construction of the interior architecture project, and the fabrication of the design project.
  • Management of the Interior Architect / Designer's activity.

Obtaining a Certificate of Competence as an Interior Designer / Interior Architect Assistant / Collaborator 

  • Cycle 1 - FCDI or FCDAI 1, 2

Obtaining a Title of Interior Architecture / Design Continuation of Cycle 1 and equivalent to a Master's degree

  • Cycle 2 - Master 1, Master 2

 

Reco 1

 

From Finance to Interior Architecture: Sophie's Successful Career Change

 
It's not necessarily easy, but you have to be open to being revealed.

What did you want to be when you were little?
When I was little, I wanted to be a doctor - completely unrelated - but I didn't pursue it because I was afraid of hazing at the time of university. Which was really silly.

What was your educational background?
I have a scientific high school diploma and then I did a preparatory course for business schools (HEC) and attended EDHEC. I worked for over 20 years as a salesperson in market finance for banks.

So why interior architecture?
Actually, it was a series of circumstances. I had been thinking for a long time that I couldn't do this job until retirement.

  • I was laid off in 2013: it's never pleasant when you haven't decided it, but maybe it wouldn't have been my decision... I would still be there and maybe not very happy.
  • A strong desire to start my own business, to no longer be an employee.
  • My apartment burned down in 2010. Despite the trauma of this event, I really enjoyed the reconstruction, working with the architect who redesigned the apartment.

I think all of these events triggered my vocation. I learned a lot and enjoyed working with all the craftsmen who worked on the site.

A message for those considering professional retraining?
To bear in mind that it's complicated, very time-consuming and energy-intensive. It seems easy, that it's a creative job, but it's not fun, you learn a lot of very technical things, and you shouldn't be afraid of working a lot. I had studied before, but I had never worked as hard as I did in school. These are really tough studies, and you shouldn't approach them casually, it's not possible.

A memorable teaching moment?
This last year has been difficult because we were asked to do a lot, but it's mainly the creation of my design project that I really loved. I imagined a topiary with birds with a dual function: a bird feeder in winter and a support for climbing plants in summer.

A jargon term you like?
"Charrette," yes, that resonates with me!

What was the first thing you learned at school?
To draw. The first time I dared to pick up a pencil and scribble something on a sheet, feeling like I was diving into the deep end, I was afraid, I felt like I was jumping into the void. The school made me more confident in my drawing.

Your best memory?The interaction with the teachers and the students, everything that creates teamwork, it's very powerful, however, it applies to all professions. Solidarity.

Your worst memory? The frustration of not being able to practice the software enough, especially 3D, because practice is needed for it to sink in. Because the hardest part of continuing education is managing everything at the same time: married, three children, a young entrepreneur for 2 years.

A word or phrase that comes to mind?
The slogan of ESAM Design, "We are not born creative, we become creative." Me, the finance person, I never thought I would become creative. The school revealed my creativity. You just have to be open to being revealed, and it's not necessarily easy.

What qualities do you recognize in the school?
Support, kindness, time allocated.

How did you finance your education?
The first two years were financed by my former employer, and the last two by myself.

Reco Pres 1

Where will you be in 5 to 10 years?
I hope to still be in my company, which will have grown. I am a partner, and it's good to be two - to have safeguards - and to exchange ideas, a large company with employees will depend on the flexibility of work. But with many partners and clients!

A favorite subject? What I loved and still love is sales, as finding clients is the name of the game. Listening and exchanging. Finding clients, doing or having things done, in short, it's the development that interests me, putting my mark on projects, my company is called "Scènes en couleurs" (Scenes in colors). The rough too, I realized that learning to look around oneself was very inspiring, architecture, people.

Your definition of design?
Drawing and use. Your definition of creation? Creation is wanting to go beyond drawing and paper.

Your coolest project: The bird feeder from my final year design project.

Your biggest failure: The first one.

2h or 2b?
2b, I like greasy stuff.

In short, what did the school bring you?
An extraordinary opening to life, and new encounters other than those in the environment in which I evolved.