THE NEW AGE INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO TO KNOW

Interior Architecture Design has become a p rofession wh i ch requires precise skill and educational know-how. As the residential and leisure industry grows, the need for professional Interior Designers is becoming i ncre a s i n g l y important. Shenali De Fonseka shares her thoughts on how to take an initial step towards a career in Interior Design and the opportunities in the industry.

How would you introduce your younger self? Were you always interested in design?

I started my education at Methodist College Colombo and thereafter moved to Bishop’s College Colombo. I enjoyed painting as a child and enrolled with Mrs. Sweenitha De Alwis Art School and had my first art exhibition at Lionel Wendt at the age of 8. In school I used to get involved in organizing events and taking on décor projects. My parents always encouraged me to follow my passion and I think I got my talent from both my parents as my Mother could draw well and my Father used to paint and also do carvings when he was in school.

How did you decide to study Design and consider it a career option?

After leaving school, my focus was on Event Management. During this time I attended Sri Lankan Design Festival (SLDF) and the 3 week program which included Fashion Design, Interior Design and Graphic Design seminars. After completing this programme, I chose to move forward with interior design as it involved everything that I was passionate about.

What did you consider when choosing a design university to follow your passion?

I got a great insight to AOD at SLDF which introduced me to the programmes, the work and the culture at AOD. Lecturer Joel Rapp and the content he presented convinced me to follow Interior Design and made me realize that this would be a career path which I would love to follow. As AOD was one of the most recognized Design Universities in Sri Lanka, I had no hesitation in signing up.

How did your education help you grow as a creative individual and instill professionalism into you?

I started with Design Foundation and then moved on to my Degree in Interior Design. I had great lecturers like Diana Criswell and Joel Rapp who worked tirelessly to bring out my true potential. What I like about AOD the most was that we were not restricted to classroom lectures. We had a lot of practical exposure where we visited creations by legendary Architects of Sri Lanka, Art Exhibitions and local and foreign Study Tours. One of my favorite experiences was the Colombo Art Biennale where I got an opportunity to shadow a renowned local artist Anoma Wijewardene, which gave me an amazing insight to the art scene in Colombo.

Once completing my education at AOD I was quite confident to start working in the industry; thanks to my lecturers who sharpened my skills and built my confidence by sharing their knowledge and real life experiences.

What was your experience working in the industry after graduation and what are the projects you are handling now?

Soon after my graduation I was employed at Murad Ismail Channa Daswatte Associates ( MICD A). It was a great opportunity to work on many projects such as Residential, Commercial and Retail Design under the guidance of Architect Murad Ismail. I later ventured out to launch my own design studio ‘Shenali de Fonseka Interior Design’. At present, I’m working on many projects covering both Residential and Commercial design.

One of the projects I’m currently working on is alongside an International group of Designers on a local project.

Botanik Bistro & Bar by Cantaloupe & Co. situated at the roof top of Fairway Colombo is a project which was recently completed. The concept was curated to stay true to the Bistro’s name, giving the space a very rustic eclectic feel with the use of local herbs and flowers introduced to the ambience.

What do you find most challenging as an Interior Designer with her own studio?

The most challenging part of being an Interior Designer is to find professional suppliers and contractors who could meet the designer’s and client’s quality requirement, time and the agreed budget. This area needs to be improved with professionalism and skill.

What do you love about your career?

The best thing about my career is that I get the opportunity to meet different people and talk to them about their dream spaces and support them to make it a reality. It is always satisfying to complete a project and receive positive feedback. This helps me stay inspired to design more and take on more challenging projects.

Interior Designer Shenali De Fonseka, is changing the Interior Architectural Design landscape with her total solution design studio

What would you say to someone young who is wondering whether a career in interior design is for them? Would you recommend it for stability, personal fulfillment or financial lucrativeness?

I recommend Interior Design to anyone who has a passion and a gift for design and who is willing to improve their skills and work hard to meet challenges in the field of design. There is a big scope locally and internationally for Interior Designers where they could create a name for themselves and achieve personal and financial success.

The interior design programme at AOD pushes designers to be much more than professionals with a sense of style, and promotes critical thinking, collaboration, and research which are today’s professional expectations. By creating an educational environment that approaches the study of interior design from all angles, AOD ensures that their graduates are fully capable of seeing space in terms of function, style, materials choices, furnishings, colour, lighting, building systems, health and safety etc.

For free design career counselling, or to understand more about studying Fashion, Fashion Marketing, Interior Design Studies, Graphic Design and Motion Graphics & Animation Design with 100%internal design degrees from Northumbria University UK, reach AOD on 0775727772, 011 5867772 email info@aod.lk or walk in between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday - AOD, 29, Lauries Road, Colombo 4. www.aod.lk