Yu-Ching Huang
BA(Hons) Interior Design, 2022
Taiwan
I visited Bristol to attend an open day at UWE, which gave me a better impression of all the practical support for students there.“
I have been interested in interior design for many years. My passion began with a fascination for furniture displays in stores and factories, where I admired textures, fabrics, and materials. Since my family also works in the interior design industry, I gradually became more involved and curious about the field as I grew older.
During high school, I spent a year in the United States as an exchange student before returning to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, to study interior design at a vocational high school. At first, I found the technical drawings and model-making challenging, but over time I began to enjoy the creative process and discovered a genuine passion for design.
After high school, I completed a foundation year in Oxford, UK. While researching universities, I discovered UWE Bristol and attended an open day at the Bower Ashton campus. I was impressed by the practical facilities and support available to students, which convinced me to pursue my degree there. I was also excited to remain in England because of its architecture, culture, and artistic atmosphere.
At UWE, I appreciated the freedom and independence encouraged in the design process. Unlike the more structured approach I experienced in Taiwan, UWE allowed students to develop their own ideas and creative direction. This taught me responsibility and helped me understand the kind of designer I want to become. My design approach is strongly human-centred, focusing on the relationship between people and space. I aim to create environments that support people emotionally and psychologically while reflecting their individual needs.
One of the most memorable projects I worked on was a six-week “Martian house” project during my first year. Our professor collaborated with specialists connected to a NASA project exploring human habitation on Mars. We researched sustainability, transportation of materials, recycling systems, and how humans might live comfortably in such an extreme environment. This project broadened my understanding of interior design beyond aesthetics and showed me how design can solve complex real-world challenges.
Living in Bristol has also been an important part of my experience. I enjoy the city’s relaxed atmosphere and creative culture, and after several years I feel very much at home there. I have also had opportunities to travel around Europe, especially enjoying Germany and Oxford for their architecture and artistic atmosphere.
As an international student, homesickness has been my greatest challenge. However, the support of friends in Bristol helped me overcome difficult moments and made the experience deeply meaningful.
After graduation, I plan to return to Taiwan to begin my career in interior design with a hope to gain industry experience before eventually establishing my own studio in the future. Studying abroad has broadened my perspective, strengthened my independence, and confirmed my passion for interior design as a lifelong career.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I returned to Taiwan for a gap year and completed an internship as an interior design assistant. The company appreciated the conceptual strength and detailed thinking shown in my portfolio. The internship gave me practical experience in construction processes and on-site work, which complemented the creative and conceptual training I received at UWE.
