#GradsDoingGreatThings: Zhana Garkinis from Fourteen Oh Five

We love seeing what our graduates get up to when they are out working in the industry... the beautiful work from Zhana Garkinis caught our eye, and we just had to catch up with her to find out what she had been up to since studying with us! 

When did you study with us? Design School Group 3 (a while ago - we are now up to Group 30!)

What is your occupation now? Interior Designer & Decorator

What kind of projects do you work on? Residential Interior Design & Decoration, New Homes & Renovations  

How would you describe your personal design style?  

I’m very drawn to Modern American Homes, because they feel sophisticated in their design but are so wonderfully comfortable to live in. I love to design modern contemporary homes too. 

What did you do before this / what initially attracted you to study at our Design School?

I worked in the corporate business sector previously. I was attracted to study at Design School after attending an information session. I instantly fell in love with what the design and styling industry had to offer, and signed up to join the course that week.

Can you share a memorable experience from during your studies with us?

I was approached to work as a style assistant at Chris and Rebecca Judd’s home in Prahran. It was one of the first styling jobs I had done and I was so excited to do it. I also had my work featured in Domain Melbourne/The Age Newspaper shortly after I finished my studies. 

How did the course prepare you for the challenges of working as an interior decorator?

I think that this particular course is really well designed in that, what you are taught within the modules, is work that you’re likely to complete within your business or when you gain employment in this field. Coming from a business background, a lot of what we studied was familiar, but learning to mood board and having the opportunity to learn sketch up during the course, was the most valuable part for me. I still use SketchUp to create 3D visuals and elevations within my client design projects to this day. 

What role did the support from your trainers play in your growth as a designer?

My trainers supported me immensely during my time at Design School, particularly when second guessing myself. I still remember being taught, “Don’t change. That is exactly why your designs will stand out amongst your peers and that’s what will make you unique within the industry”. 

 Are you still in touch with any of your classmates?

I follow their work on socials to stay in touch with what everyone’s doing.

What advice would you give current students or aspiring interior designers based on your journey? 

Stay true to your style and the way that you design. Don’t follow trends, they fade. What’s on trend, is what you love to design and what you love to look at, and the right clients will find you if they’re meant to work with you. Share as much of your work as you can on social media, and engage with other designers that you aspire to work with in the future. That’s exactly how I found my own style assistant.

Check out Zhana's stunning interiors for yourself... @fourteen.oh.five