Sarah Woolf is a 22 year old graduate from Jersey, who recently completed a degree in Interior Architecture and Design. At her hub, The Arts University of Bournemouth, Sarah feng shui’ed her way through four years of interior mayhem. Rather than simply choosing an aesthetic style and running with it, Sarah’s training taught her to create functional interior spaces that demand attention to detail. She told me when it comes to the indoors, “there’s a lot more going on than most people realise”.
One of Sarah’s greatest decisions was not rushing to pick a degree. She felt it was important “to test the waters and explore various creative fields”. Textiles had always been her passion, and something that she excelled in. It is the subject that led her to her Foundation Degree, after she completed a project on the interrelation of architecture and fashion.
After studying both subjects for a year, Sarah left the fabrics for something a little more concrete. She came to the conclusion that Interior Architecture and Design was where her “true passion lay”, adding “I have always been adamant that I wanted a career I enjoyed”. Where she lost motivation in fashion design, she found it again in architecture. Her choice proved to be “incredibly fulfilling”, allowing her “to combine creativity with functionality in a meaningful way”.
Sarah’s specialty is community-centric spaces, as she aspires to create space for social connections to be fostered. She sees a world becoming increasingly isolated, in particular across generations. Her dissertation focused on intergenerational co-living, and was specially designed to suit the unique needs of our island. Her graduation exhibition showcased the product of her studies, which aimed to mitigate the impacts of an ageing population against an outward migration of young people. The ethos behind her design, titled ‘Generation Junction’, was that irrespective of our age, we all crave meaningful social connections. Her dynamic, multi-purpose space hoped to facilitate an inviting environment, where inhabitants would experience sentiments of inclusivity and interconnectedness.
Speaking on her post-graduation feelings, Sarah admitted she was slightly intimidated. She said “I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that finishing university is a daunting time, full of decisions and a strong sense of imposter syndrome”. However, she’s not letting this hold her back, using it as fuel to keep up the grind and build her creative portfolio. She’s currently designing a restaurant for Harrisons School of Design Competition, and once this concludes she plans to apply for graduate schemes. She wants to continue learning, and hopes one day to achieve “a strong reputation in the field”. Helping individuals fulfil the potential of their spaces is the motivation behind her architectural designs.
If you were to boil it all down, Sarah’s looking forward to working in a job she loves. Finding joy in her career and maintaining this passion is for her the main marker of success. In terms of her personal projects, she’d love to travel and see the world, before settling down and renovating her dream home. She’s “always been drawn to creating harmonious spaces that serve as personal sanctuaries”, and thinks it’s important that our homes reflect who we are. “Your home is your oasis,” she said, “your escape from the world”.
Instagram: @sarahwoolfiad
