What was the experience of entering the Interior Awards in the student category like for you? What inspired you to enter?

Edward Ge (EG): A tutor that I hugely respect once told me to never underestimate the value of spending three to four hours preparing for a jury presentation. As a student, I carried many thoughts, emotions and ideas, many of which became lost during the project’s development – you often come out of a project defining it with a single final afterthought. Applying to the Interior Awards provided a platform for the work to be deconstructed and then rediscovered through a fresh lens.

How did you feel about the live second-round judging? 

EG: My entry was a deeply personal project about my own experience as a person caught between two cultures, and the University environment has allowed me to cultivate this as a tool for a personal design practice. Moving forward as a young design professional, I need to be willing to utilize these tools to help others. The live presentation to a series of jurors forced me to think about how my personal issues could empathize with a wider audience, what common issues we all face as a society, and how my personal practice manifests in a project for someone else? Also, it was a great moment when we all had a chance to converse at the end.

How would you encourage other students who might be thinking of entering the Interior Awards?

EG: Never be afraid to put your hand up for these things. By competing against some of the most talented designers in New Zealand, it gives you an opportunity to discover your own creative voice. Also in a practical sense, it doesn’t hurt to format your projects so that they are ready for future awards or job applications. 

What was your first thought when you heard your name called as the Student winner?

EG: Disbelief. I am quite pragmatic, so as a survival mechanism, I never thought I was going to win no matter how confident I felt after hitting the “submit” button. I had a fantastic company supporting me on the night, so perhaps when our corner of the room shouted the loudest, it kind of shook me out of my shocked state.

What have you been up to since the Awards last year? 

EG: I have been working with Warren and Mahoney Architects ever since, but soon I will be moving overseas to work for HOK, a US-based international architecture firm. 

What did you do with that giant check? 

EG: I kept it sitting in my room for a while until a colleague told me my local bank accepted novelty checks if I just bring it in on any working day. They don’t.

See the key dates for the 2020 Interior Awards here, and submit your projects for entry here.