BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design graduate Molly May Ratcliffe’s work has recently been featured in an editorial round-up of student projects on the Dezeen website. Dezeen is the world's most popular and influential architecture, interior and design magazine, with over three million monthly readers and six million social media followers.
Molly May’s work had previously been featured in a Dezeen spotlight article that showcased the work of ten students on Birmingham City University’s BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design Course.
How did you become involved with the Deezen School Shows?
I got involved with the Dezeen School Shows from my tutors sending my graduation project to Dezeen. It was so exciting to showcase to the world what potential my work has.
How do you feel about your work being included in Dezeen’s editorial round-up of student projects?
I am very excited that my work has now been displayed on Dezeen as this was an ambition of mine, now not only once but twice showcasing my passion for biomaterial research. Many people are very sceptical of what I was producing as it was weird and new, but it's brilliant that this is becoming more accepted and that biomaterials are now being shown as the future of materials. It is also interesting to see other students investigating this field.
Can you tell us a little more about your project?
My project was influenced by conventional material alternatives, after being exposed to biomaterial research and its possible potentials, especially in the current climate where waste is a huge issue. The project focused on retail interiors as this is one of the quickest turnovers of material used. I looked into the most common materials used in a retail space and experimented with waste to create theoretical alternatives which wouldn’t damage the environment or end up in a landfill.
What have you been up to since graduating from Birmingham City University?
This is a very exciting time for me as since graduating I have taken my research in biomaterials even further. I am currently developing a new material made from waste aiming to create interior surfaces and now starting to scale up and have my samples tested in a laboratory. I am currently growing my research and business alongside my job as a surveyor and architectural technician.
What would you say to anyone considering studying BA (Hons) in Interior Architecture and Design at Birmingham City University?
I thoroughly enjoyed my time studying interior architecture and design at BCU, I would say to anyone who has the opportunity to explore something different in this course to do it. I found my passion in the second year of my course with a collaboration project and it changed my trajectory in the field I wanted to go into. My graduation work was only theoretical, however now I am creating a new material from this research which is aiming to have real-life applications in interiors and become marketable.