CJ’S:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF COLIN DAVIES (Gramps)
My final ever interior design project for my degree at Cardiff Metropolitan University has been filled with highs and lows. It has challenged me as a designer in ways that will only help me enhance the quality of my work and design projects in the future. Losing my Gramps during my final year of Uni was my incentive for this project, and whilst it had the potential to be an incredibly emotional process, I found it incredibly therapeutic and rewarding. Therefore, alongside my Perform project which took place earlier on in the year, I believe that this has been one of my most successful projects.
As a child, I was shown images of the original CJ’s and often referred to them as relics due to their grainy, black and white appearance. However, speaking to my grandparents about CJ’s allowed me to gain a better understanding of the atmosphere and mood of the space. Not knowing everything about the space allowed my project to be open to my interpretation of the space and therefore, I was able to create a space that not only incorporates the original aesthetic but also satisfy modern societal needs and requirements. During the design process, I believe I successfully captured the aesthetic required for CJ’s Restaurant, Wine bar and Deli to function to their best ability. My use of colour, texture, tone and form incorporated a combination of minimalistic materials such as wood, stone and metal whilst contrasting with the maximalist use of the original Sanderson wallpaper. Whilst some people may find the overuse of wallpaper overwhelming, I believe it tells a story and brings the old restaurant aesthetic to life. Although the design of my chosen spaces was progressing nicely, I was concerned about using the software AUTOCAD as I had never used it before and was told it was a requirement for 3rd-year submissions. I spent several weeks getting to grips with the software and initially became incredibly frustrated as I could not see myself progressing to the high standard required. However, week 3 of using AUTOCAD was a breakthrough and I managed to push aside any fears and frustration I had towards the software and trusted the process. During this time, I managed to produce several high-quality scaled plans, sections and elevations which have shown me that if I just believe in myself and trust the process, I can overcome any challenges I am faced with as a designer.
My 3rd and final year of Uni, unfortunately, occurred during a global pandemic which complicated and changed the way lectures took place. Although my learning experience and face to face lectures were compromised, I believe I continued to attend, engage and fully commit to the lectures which were set online. Consequently, trying to maintain my levels of motivation was incredibly tough and at points, I could not see the point in what I was doing or trying to achieve. Although I went through periods where I lost motivation, I believe that this has enabled me to rediscover my love and voice within interior design and why I decided to do this course in the first place. I believe I have managed to successfully reach my potential during a very stressful and scary time of our lives.
I hope that this is just the start of my career within interior design and can’t wait to further my knowledge and understanding of the design world during my future endeavours.
Charlotte's blog 