Kalliope Tsouroupidou: BA Hons Interior Design

Kalliope Tsouroupidou

BA Hons Interior Design, 2002

"I am now an Interior Designer for an architects’ practice, Aedas, in Huddersfield."

Kalliope loves her job as an interior designer – and worked hard to get it.
The 24-year-old, who was born and bred in Athens, applied for 40 jobs after leaving Luton and only got a reply from one.

She had considered doing a Masters in Exhibition Design and moved to Manchester – to get a year’s work experience in the interim.

After one job at a kitchen company, working as a freelance interior design consultant, she was unemployed for a month.

“After a lot of perseverance I managed to get an interview with Aedas, in Huddersfield, which has offices in the UK and overseas. A month later I was offered the junior-medium interior designer job, which I gladly accepted."

“Nine months later, I still live in central Manchester and commute to Huddersfield every day. I would still like to do my Masters but I don’t intend to stop working. I like my job too much, so would probably do it on a part-time basis.”

Kalliope says her University degree offered her invaluable knowledge, which she has been able to develop in the workplace.

“I am now proud to work for one of the biggest architects' practice nationwide,” said Kalliope, “and consider a degree is the minimum requirement for getting a decent job from which you can evolve.”

Interview took place in 2004.