Isabel Sophia Maria Dorn Salazar
When I graduated in 2019 from my undergraduate degree at the Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL London), I actually left thinking that I did not want to pursue a career in architecture. I started working in different fields, including project management and fintech, and even started my own company. But deep down, I always knew that something was missing.
When I discovered last year that IE was offering a Master’s in Interior Design, it immediately sparked my interest. A relatively short program covering all the important aspects of interior design, allowing me to put my mind back into this world of work, sharpen my skills, and specialize: it ticked all my boxes. Today, with our graduation fast approaching, I can safely say that I actually wish this program would last a little longer.
"IE made me promise to myself to design with more intention, coherence, and meaning."
Q&A with Isabel Sophia Maria
How has your experience in the program changed the way you think about space and design?
I think this degree has helped me truly realize my calling, as even though it is challenging and requires hard work, every day I am excited to sit down and begin. This is especially thanks to the incredible professors we have been able to learn from and form relationships with. One of the most important things we have learned is that, as designers, we need to approach any context with humility and the understanding that meaningful systems might already exist. Our role is to ensure that our intervention adds value rather than extracting it.
Can you tell us about a project you’re especially proud of? What made it meaningful to you?
I believe the project I am most proud of (at least so far) is my thesis project. I think the thesis is always the one you can pour all your passion into — where you can truly dive into a subject, obsess a little, and design something that holds a lot of meaning to you. I am developing my thesis around Ecuador, the home country of my fiancé, where I will move after my Master’s. This makes it deeply personal and also an exciting canvas for me to explore, as it is an incredibly biodiverse and historically rich country. It also offers many opportunities when it comes to architecture and design, with local construction techniques, materials, and environmental challenges. Right now, I am in the research phase. Next term, we move into the design.
What role does sustainability or wellbeing play in your projects?
Both play an equally important role, as they should be core concepts addressed in any interior. As interior designers, we shape the spaces that people live in, use, and are exposed to every single day. As such, we not only have the power to make people feel comfortable, but also to influence their behaviours, habits, and emotions within a space. I would even go as far as to say it is our duty as designers to incorporate these principles and shape environments that strive for sustainability and wellbeing through layouts, material choices, usage, and overall experience.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about applying to the Master’s in Interior Design?
Overall, I have really enjoyed this program, although I have to say that one of the biggest challenges is actually its compact nature. Time flies, and you really need to stay present and engaged in order to make the most of the experience. My biggest piece of advice, especially for those who are not regularly practicing architects, is to get yourself back up to speed with the software and technical elements required for the course. If you can get ahead in this area, your experience will be much more exciting, and you will feel more capable of translating great ideas onto paper.