It’s the end of an era. I have given up the student life shenanigans to focus on my professional life. Wistful? Yes – being a student was indeed enjoyable. But where I am now is a hundred times more satisfactory. After graduating from my (for now) last university degree, a wee bit of travelling and a few weeks of serious dedication to finding the perfect job I was asked to work for Orange Bus. The generous offer from outgoing and funny directors was of course appealing, but what attracted me more than anything was the endless possibilities to develop as a designer. In July this year I stepped into the position as head of design, and it is proving just as challenging as I had hoped for. I get to lead the design stage, which is totally up my (Claremont) street. My days are also spent meeting cream of the crop clients and subsequently taking part when the Orange Bus team plan out projects.

I was introduced to the design discipline during my stay in Trondheim. The subjects whet my appetite – I wanted a university degree – and I was tempted to go abroad.

I moved to Newcastle when I was 22, and I must admit that the city and culture started to grow on me the minute I set foot in the Toon. Plenty of things take my fancy; the Geordie people, the football club, the Arena, Grainger Town, the quayside scenery and the Yorkshire pudding. I am as anglophile as you can get, and the thought about leaving England just saddens me.

Although I am experiencing cultural beating every day, and the never settling wind is messing up my casual but carefully styled hair-do I genuinely love Geordieland and I am not planning to leave that behind just yet. Having said that – I love my country to bits and the bargain tickets between England and Norway are a true blessing!

With regards to the wind, I just have to find a way to turn it into my advantage. Bring on the kitesurfing!

Read my CV