Cara Potgieter, a postgraduate student in the University of Pretoria (UP)’s interior architecture programme, believes that her qualification is helping her design spaces that will provide a solution to real-world industry issues. “It is enabling me to understand complex societal issues, as well as how interior architects can make a difference.”

Cara has always been interested in interiors. “My position is that we design for people and how they use space to ensure that their interiors make more sense. People occupy the interiors of buildings, and I want to create spaces that will help them carry out their tasks in the best way possible, while enhancing their overall interior experience.”

She explains that the Department of Architecture’s postgraduate programme focuses on the development of smart cities. The work of an interior architect concentrates on the habitation of cities as a way to understand why humans inhabit spaces the way they do. This makes it a very human-centred discipline. “Every conversation throughout my studies has included the effect and repercussions of design for humans in the spaces they inhabit.” This manifests in different ways, such as considering how people relate to space, how they move, how they use or inhabit spaces, how they navigate space, where they congregate and where they pause.

Cara believes that interior architecture is definitely a career with good future occupational prospects, both locally and overseas, “especially if we see interior architects as spatial and human habitation or movement specialists.” Interior architects have the opportunity to work in a multitude of industries, from residential to commercial and corporate spaces. They can even cross over to urban upgrades and the rejuvenation of cities as specialists in node activation across cities. On a smaller scale, they can make a career for themselves as furniture designers and material specialists. There are also great opportunities for interior architects when it comes to the restoration and preservation of heritage architecture.

Even when considering a career abroad, UP’s postgraduate degrees compare quite well with what is available on the global market. “My qualification is equipping me with better knowledge about construction, materials and overall technical skills. In terms of technical work, my problem-solving skills have been developed to an advanced level.”

Cara would recommend the Department of Architecture’s interior architecture programme to anyone interested in this field. “It challenges you in the best way possible by opening your mind to many new possibilities. The lecturers are fantastic and very knowledgeable in their respective disciplines, and they really push you as a student to reach your full design potential. I have learnt a lot about myself and other people through my studies at UP, and the field seems broader and the future clearer with each additional year I add to my educational path.”

She considers interior architecture to be an extremely rewarding career: “You can see your thoughts materialising in front of you.” There are so many things one can do with a degree in this field. It connects the creative and logical parts of one’s brain to a point where one can produce ideas that sometimes surprise even yourself, she enthuses. “It is not always easy. There will be some late nights and time crunches, but it is certainly worth it in the end.”

A final word of advice: “Always remember, balance is key. Don’t let any studies influence your wellbeing, because they can! It can sometimes feel all-consuming. But then, remember why you are doing this, and what drove you to follow this career path. That always helps.”