Jenni Greenwood

Jenni Greenwood was a student at the University of Chester and she studied Fine Art and Art History for 3 years. She then started to work her way into interior design, she got a job as a interior designer at a place on the Wirral, in which she learned how to talk to clients, fabric schemes and was able to shadow designers. She enrolled onto a night course at MMU, this is where she learned about auto cad and drawing/surveying. She then started a job as a junior designer at a company in Chester, but as she had been on the night course a lot of her work was drawn into a sketchbook which the company didn't really like. However she continues to work in that way, at this new company she was thrown in at the deep end, where she had to learn quickly. She had to liaise with suppliers for high end residential, she had to design furniture, learn all about the types of materials from timbers to metals, any finish she was basically in charge of, even though she was a junior. Some senior designers were able to show her what to do and how to source materials etc so that was a huge help for her. 

Greenwood discussed that her favourite job she has worked on was a holiday home in the Caribbean (Antigua), it was around 10 buildings with a centre complex (grand pavilion) As she was working on this job she became very aware of important things like the importing of furniture, logistics which by the end she was basically a "Wiz" at. As the building was in a hot and humid country she had to source materials that were weather proof, from the sun, storms, rain, humidity etc. This was an 18 month contract and she was able to gain relationships with suppliers etc. After this project ended Greenwood was headhunted, she was offered a job still in Cheshire but the building was in London and she just couldn't miss the opportunity. It is known as Londons biggest home and was one of the largest projects she has worked on. It has been a 3 and half year project in which she designed every single aspect with her team, from the floor to the carved window frames, to the chandeliers to the banister, you name it she had an opinion on it. She was the project manager. 

After discussing her work Greenwood explained that interior design or any creative subject isn't a 9-5 job, you take it home with you and if your want to be successful it becomes your way of life. Which to me makes perfect sense as the creative industry is super competitive and you have to be the best at what you do or you get no where.