Josh Ndjeka IAD

PERSONAL PROFILE

As a self-motivated + hardworking undergraduate student studying BA (Hons) Interior Architecture + Design, I find it a necessity to multitask whilst prioritising according to deadlines + importance. Having worked + shadowed a few client-based projects as well as undertaking my own projects, I have acquired skills that are useful in the world of architectural design. I am enthusiastic + driven to create innovative designs whether in a team environment or independently, as well as being willing to learn to new skills to further my development as a designer.

CONTACT joshndjeka123@yahoo.com

EDUCATION

BA (HONS) ARCHITECTURE

UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE

SEPTEMBER 2018 - MAY 2021 avg: 2:2

BA (HONS) INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN

UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE SEPTEMBER 2021 - PRESENT avg: 2:1

CORE SKILLS

· Great experience with Blender

· Rendering + architectural visualization skills

· Conceptual designs

· Graphic presentations

· Great attention to detail

· Design strategies + concepts

· Free-hand drawing skills

· Experience in Microsoft Office

· Experience in Photoshop

· Verbal, written + visual communication

residential -

PORTFOLIO

NAME OF PROJECT: THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS

CLIENT: BETH WILLIAMS

The client, Beth Williams, was after a refurbishment of her living room and dining room areas of her new East London apartment.

The aim being to create a scheme concerned not just simply with style, image + spectacular materiality, but a proposal that will resonate with the client’s personality as well as how she would live + occupy the space.

Making sure the client’s specific list of requirements + project brief will be met, is a priority that comes with the project.

Shoreditch, London.

PORTFOLIO

MARCH 2022

USER PROFILE

25-year old, a doctor, likes to cook, football, running, basketball, yoga + reading

PROGRAMME

Living room + dining room OVERVIEW

Beth - a young professional woman living in the cool + vibrant area of Shoreditch, east London. She has just bought a new flat which is in dire need of a total refurbishment.

The kitchen is a good size + the client is open to any creative design ideas.

She is very busy + hasn’t got much spare time.

The flat is a north-facing build - which doesn’t allow much natural light.

EXISTING FURNITURE FLOOR PLAN

The client is one who takes pride in her health + well-being - so it is more important than ever to consider our environment, especially in areas such as the kitchen. The hub of the home is a space where it is likely to become more busy than normal + if not managed well, this perfect multi-functional space can become cluttered + uninviting.

A subtle yet elegant theme of furnishings cultivates a way of living that encourages healthy habits can turn any space into a stress-free oasis. Decluttering certain spaces in the existing space as well as storing + organising spaces help to make eating healthier + living well a whole lot easier.

A soft palette of colours with the occasional greenery dotted around the kitchen living space not only provides beautiful scenery, but also purifies the air + would generate an ooze of calm in any space..

SKILLS ACQUIRED

This project gave me a firsthand experience in handling a client-based on my own accord. It gave me valuable + necessary skills that I would have to apply for future projects when meeting with clients to discuss their ideas, so it was essential that I communicated effectively + listened attentively.

In addition to working well with clients, I was needed to be able to communicate with contractors who were overseeing the broader project, as well as with vendors supplying artwork, furniture + fittings into the spaces..

1. Active Listening

2. Problem Sensitivity

3. Client Communication

4. Computer-generated imagery

5. Negotiation

NAME OF PROJECT: EDINBURGH WAY MAY 2022

The client fancied a render of several rooms in their new apartment bathroom, before move-in day in latter months of 2022. Harlow, Essex.

PORTFOLIO

USER PROFILE

Late-20s, professionals, like to cook, healthy eating + well-being, going for walks with the dog

PROGRAMME

Bathroom + baby room

OVERVIEW

A young couple migrating to the suburban area of Harlow, Essex.

They have bought a new apartment which will be at the forefront of a new housing complex + is projected for completion in December 2022.

The kitchen living room space is a really good size + there is a considerably large balcony space - client is open to any creative design ideas.

The apartment has plenty of spots with streams of natural light flow - which the clients are happy with.

A project where I recreated a piece from the IKEA furniture + applied it into a self-made scene. I wanted to play with rendering furniture display compared to the actual advertised images; hence I tested out lighting + scene props.

NAME OF PROJECT: MALM, CHEST OF 4 DRAWERS

RENDERS

SKILLS ACQUIRED

I wanted to learn everything about the software - its strengths, weaknesses + how to get from point A to B in the most efficient way possible. At the same time, I needed to learn about some of the essential visualization concepts as practice + doing while learning is a good approach.

Mastering the craft of architectural rendering is not easy. It takes a lot of time + effort to master all the software tools I would need to create a photorealistic 3D render.

1. Rendering Skills

2. Practice with Lighting

3. Camera Angles

NAME OF PROJECT: @CARMONALDN JUNE 2022 - PRESENT

A private service I provide creating photorealistic furniture design for a London-based bespoke furniture company specialising in alcove units, shelvings + wardrobes. My role was to help to enhance visual communication with clients before the final product is manufactured + would have to create elevations + CGIs to scale. While sketching can only get designers so far, the next stage of the design process needs a three-dimensional approach, which creates a market for a creative like myself - who is very much into 3D modelling.

PORTFOLIO

DIMENSIONS not to scale

not to scale

SKILLS ACQUIRED

It was a test of delivering high-quality renders to a clients’ standards as well as understanding what they were after + executing it.

1. Organisation Skills

2. Computer-generated imagery

NAME OF PROJECT: SCANDINAVIAN-STYLE BATHROOM RENOVATION

AUGUST 2021

An elegant, minimal bathroom design render with simple lines + a well-lit mirror! All-neutral tones such as off-white, grey, beige + white; matched with a polished concrete flooring and with natural wood textures makes for a timeless design.

PORTFOLIO

The design brief was to incorporate Scandinavian elements into the proposed bathroom design. I had implemented them in a fresh + contemporary way.

The client was keen on having a simple space but wanted practical storage + I delivered this with the choice of a cabinetry design.

A light + contemporary bathroom which included a floating bespoke vanity unit, a large walk-in shower with integral LED backlit mirror. The room receives minimal natural light so the lighting design was key.

I used a light source to give a generous wash of light. The that can be turned on individually to suit the client’s needs or time of the day.

SKILLS ACQUIRED

It was a process of ensuring all aspects of the project were well-planned for, coordinated + the execution is planned to perfection. This project was quite complex long-term as I was required a high level of coordination + to oversee every little detail. I had to ensure that I had a team ready to perform an important role to deliver a successful + completed project. I was able to oversee the entire process from drafting plans + concepts through to construction + installation then on-going maintenance. Alongside coordinating + overseeing all elements of the project including directing consultants + contractors across the project. across renovations or refurbishments can ensure I delivered a quality high end result.

1. Space-Planning skills

2. Computer-generated imagery

commercial

Over the course of the Christmas period, myself + Public Works worked on developing structures + units that would be of use within the West Library compound. Being a young resident in the Cally area as well as potential users of the projected space, it was provided that I would be a committed + skilful practitioner in the development process.

The role included working alongside a team of interior designers + architects at the practice, to develop a spatial design proposal for the new Youth Employment Hub on the first floor of West Library on Caledonian Road, N1.

The aim was to design a mobile structure that would be easy to use + support training workshops + events. Highlighting the key qualities required in the brief, the scaffolding tower seemed to be the most suitable concept idea.

NAME OF PROJECT: WEST LIBRARY YOUTH EMPLOYMENT HUB SEPTEMBER 2020 - FEBRUARY 2021

We worked on improving West Library to make the building more accessible + created a new space dedicated to helping young people into work.

We completed completed our consultation on the employment hub a few weeks prior + plans went through the planning process.

The council’s newly-established youth employability + skills team are provided targeted support to young people at risk of long-term unemployment.

Photograph used as a promotion for the Youth Employment Hub

In the initial design developments, the team + I had been giving the brief to create a space where young people could attend private meetings in a “pod” to have talks about their finances + careers.

I was able to produce these sketches and models at 1:10 scale, to display the idea that I had gathered, with the design of a scaffolding ladder at the forefront of my design concept.

It would be a portable unit, that could be easily decorated to be a multi-use structure to double-up as a marketing stall unit - baring in mind that the Cally Fest was just a few months ahead.

Proposed floor plan of the upper floor of the West Library Hub Youth Employment Hub

Proposed floor plan of the upper floor of the West Library Hub Youth Employment Hub

U-Build

In April 2022, I was fortunate enough to do some structural engineering work with U-Build to construct the meeting pods, using their self-build bespoke flat-pack service for the install in the West Library.

I was able to see firsthand how U-Build transforms architecture by simplifying the construction process down to a plywood cut-outs, a drill + a mallet.

Working alongside Nick, Oliver + the rest of the U-Build team demonstrated the significance + exciting possibilities of the self-build movement.

SKILLS ACQUIRED

Working alongside interior designers + the architects to create a space that young people will really enjoy, creating the pods which hopefully will make young people feel comfortable, relaxed + talk about what they want to do. I found it really insightful working alongside people already in the career that I want to pursue, so it was definitely a good opportunity to get some experience under my belt.

The design tasks we were set were interesting + helped me to learn how to work effectively + efficiently with professionals. It was challenging communicating + explaining my ideas to others, as it was all very new to me. I feel that it was something I used to be anxious about, but I have definitely become more confident in myself as a designer.

It wasn’t only a brilliant couple months of experience, it had also made me more confident in my own work + made me think more about the importance of design intent + the prep work before actually starting with designing.

1. Designing floor plans, elevations, 3D perspectives + models for presentations to clients, stakeholders, peers + lecturers

2. Producing 3D visualisations to meet client approval.

3. Suggesting enhancements to product design as well as interior design features that improve user experience + interaction.

4. Providing design solutions that meet the needs + budgets, without jeopardising quality or design intent.

NAME OF PROJECT: SPOTIFYHUB NOVEMBER 2021 - JANUARY 2022

The brief was to create an immersive event or environment that will give a complete brand experience. Turning an intangible brand that has no high street presence, into a tangible one with a physical presence.

Historically, brand was concerned with possession. Marking or branding cattle gave a clear indication of ownership. Then in the 50’s + 60’s companies created trademark logos that identified their products, companies such as Coca Cola were identified by their distinctive brand trademarks. Today brand is a more mature science It is much more to do with emotion, experience, loyalty, identification + lifestyle.

Nowadays, due to digital media + online retailing, people’s shopping habits are changing. Consumers are moving away from bricks + mortar experiences + spending more time online.

I believed that I was being asked to create the forum for an emotional connection between a brand + the consumer.

Spotify’s mission statement

“To unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by these creators. We envision a cultural platform...where everyone can enjoy an immersive artistic experience that enables us to empathise with each other and to feel a part of a greater whole.”

What are Spotify’s core values?

Passionate Innovative Sincere

Playful

How it links to my proposal:

The aim of my design will be to promote collaborative work. I would like to incorporate spaces that allow artists of all backgrounds - established or upcoming - to build relationships + enjoy an immersive art experience in a shared space. The same idea applies for users of the facilities who would engage in the collaborative activities on the site.

This project explored the societal aspects of interior architecture + design. It considered the relationship between people + buildings + how users perceive, understand + experience the built environment, with focus on the interior space. It explores interiors within their environment + provided an understanding of the consequence of their design for people. I had to investigate the role of public buildings + spaces in the city + the meaning in the culture of the city.

This module includes aspects of people’s needs, scale, people’s flow, permeability + resilience. The project was generally be set within an existing public building + focus on the design of a public space.

I was required to draw out conceptual ideas from a study of specific historical, social + physical aspects of the given building + develop my work to produce a final design in response to a brief.

NAME OF PROJECT: THE HOTSPOT, 67 VYNER STREET, E2 9DQ APRIL 2022 - MAY 2022

PORTFOLIO

Evaluation

I believe that the strong character of the site, as identified by its location within the Regents Canal Conservation Area, presents an opportunity for a new building to work positively with the existing character of the area. In order to create architecture that reflects its place, with the aim of enhancing + enriching the local context.

Due to the site’s location, in a prominent position, both at a curve in the canal + as the terminating facade to Vyner Street, I feel the building could play a larger role in the city - as an urban marker.

This, combined with the industrial typology of the area that promotes buildings of individual scale + character meeting the canal, gives a purpose to consider a building of increased scale, which would have presence from the southwest corner of Victoria Park, + the junction of Vyner Street + Mare Street.

TERRACE

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

FIRSTFLOOR PLAN

WESTELEVATION

Inspiration

Taking inspiration from the Former Magistrate's Court + Police Station Transformation to Co-working Space in Dartford, we have opted to repurpose the photography studio into a building where individuals can further practice their craft or even delve into a new career opportunity in business.

MOOD BOARD

SKILLS ACQUIRED

It was a process of ensuring all aspects of the project were well-planned for, coordinated + the execution is planned to perfection. This project was quite complex long-term as I was required a high level of coordination + to oversee every little detail. I had to ensure that I had a team ready to perform an important role to deliver a successful + completed project. I was able to oversee the entire process from drafting plans + concepts through to construction + installation then on-going maintenance. Alongside coordinating + overseeing all elements of the project including directing consultants + contractors across the project. across renovations or refurbishments can ensure I delivered a quality high-end result.

1. Project Management

2. Organisation Skills

3. Site Surveying

4. Computer-generated imagery