My Design Journey

My name is Inês Ramos, and I am a 22-year-old Portuguese immigrant living in London, UK. I was born and raised in Abrantes, Portugal.

There are a lot of people that say that Architecture is just a business, but it is not just that. For me, becoming an architect would help me give people their own home. Not just the place where they live, but also where they learn, work and even pray. All these are different homes, in our hearts. I understand that within an architectural course I will learn more about the techniques used in architectural practice: sketching, planning, researching, designing and how to present the work and show it to others.

I feel inspired by everyone around me. We all have memories, stories and they all have places where they are made. It could be parks, beaches, churches, houses, bridges, towers. In the end of the day we all have our favourite places and I want to work hard to create spaces for people to be able to create their memories.

I have always loved art and photography so I studied at Lambeth College for UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design and graduated with a Merit. During my time at Lambeth College, I had the opportunity to gain work experience at Squire & Partners in February 2020. I engaged in a comprehensive work experience program within the architecture sector to gain deeper insights into the field and evaluate its alignment with my career aspirations. Throughout this experience, I developed proficiency in industry-standard tools such as hand sketching, model making, AutoCAD and SketchUp, and expanded my skills with hands-on practice in Photoshop. I actively participated in the conceptualization, sketching, and development of a hotel plan, which culminated in a detailed presentation to the project team. This opportunity not only refined my technical abilities but also enhanced my understanding of collaborative work dynamics and project execution within the architecture domain.

In 2020, my project titled 'The World of the Hangerman' was showcased at the London Design Festival.

I just completed my 3rd year of Architecture RIBA Part 1 at the University of East London in May. I have worked with the university as a student ambassador, which has helped me with teamwork, communication, organization and problem-solving skills whilst helping set up for events, communicating with future students and families, and guiding them inside the campus whilst sharing my positive experiences of these past 2 years.

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On my last year studying I had the chance of doing a work placement at ZAP Architecture, I gained insight into the various roles architects play in their profession and the challenges faced by small architecture businesses. I was surprised to learn about the diverse responsibilities architects have, including negotiating and leading a business. My first task involved creating positive and inviting signs for a specific demographic in Stratford, which required extensive research and creativity. This experience improved my technical skills and highlighted the importance of adaptability in the field.