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nieuws  28-10-2024 

Integrating as a designer: an expat’s path to growth

 

Juanita Cardona
Architecture (BAarc) – UN Colombia
Interior design (MSc) – Politecnico di Milano
Independent Route BEP

 

At first, I saw my background and experience in architecture and interior design as a big advantage, but as time went on, I realized that it was more of a challenge than I expected. After several failed attempts to break into the job market, I found myself asking: How do I do, as a non-EU expat with basic Dutch language and limited networking opportunities, to make my way into this industry?

 

The answer, for me, was the BEP and luckily, the amazing team at INTER / ALTER guided me through the entire process, helping me realize that my real strengths and passions are in the conceptual, exploratory, and creative phases of architecture and at the same time the process helped me rediscover my abilities in technical and detailed thinking, while also expanding my knowledge of construction techniques, processes, and environmental requirements.

 

Even though I had already mastered a lot of the BEP’s requirements, revisiting them through this experience gave me a fresh perspective. It was eye-opening to compare them with what I had learned before. I also got to explore new materials, construction systems, technical limits, and how projects are organized and managed to adapt here in The Netherlands.

 

The logbook became a great way for me to pause and reflect on each stage of the design process, something you don’t often get the chance to do in the fast-paced work environment. For me, it became a roadmap to assess successes and missteps and to find ways to improve my processes as a designer.

 

One of the most unexpected -and most beneficial- outcomes of this whole experience was how much it made me think about my values and who I am as a designer. Now, after this journey, I feel more ready and excited than ever for what’s next: joining a strong team that will help me grow into my dream role: a leader in interior architecture, working on mid-to-large-scale space rehabilitation projects.

 

Juanita Cardona

 

 

 

More personal stories about BEP and PEP?

This story is part of a series sharing experiences with the professional experience period. Visit this page for more stories shared with BNI to inform and inspire others about the routes to achieving the qualification.

 

Meer ervaringsverhalen over BEP en PEP?

Dit verhaal is onderdeel van een serie verhalen waarin ervaringen met de beroepservaringsperiode worden gedeeld. Kijk op deze pagina voor meer verhalen die met BNI gedeeld zijn om anderen te informeren en te inspireren over de te volgen routes naar de titel.

 

 

 

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