Manchester Metropolitan University interior design students showcase socially conscious projects
From June 6 to 19, 2025, students from Manchester Metropolitan University’s BA (Hons) Interior Design program showcased their projects at the Degree Show, tackling various social challenges. Notable works include Tiffany Baines' Stride, a women-only running hub in collaboration with Sweaty Betty; Sophia Arentz-Graham's Bloom, a creative space for children's mental health; Julianna Tecson's Ultradian, a sleep-oriented area developed with The Sleep Charity; and Emily (Pui San) Ng's The Continuum, an intergenerational learning center. Other projects include Evie Burrows' Thread, Neeyan Wali's Seed for displaced individuals with Migrateful, Lucy Paul's The Wash House addressing hygiene poverty, Alex Bell's The Underbank for educational support, Lara Aptowitzer's Wade, a trauma-informed hub with Stockport Without Abuse, and Ellie Candlish's U3A: The Living Market for older adults. These initiatives highlight issues like gender bias, loneliness, sleep deprivation, hygiene poverty, and ageism. The course received the 'Course of the Year' award at the 2025 Student Union Teaching Awards.
Key facts
- Tiffany Baines designed Stride, a women-only running hub in partnership with Sweaty Betty.
- Sophia Arentz-Graham created Bloom, a creative hub for children's mental health.
- Julianna Tecson's Ultradian addresses the sleep crisis in collaboration with The Sleep Charity.
- Emily (Pui San) Ng proposed The Continuum, an intergenerational learning hub for 2075.
- Evie Burrows designed Thread, an intergenerational storytelling space.
- Neeyan Wali's Seed supports displaced individuals in partnership with Migrateful.
- Lucy Paul's The Wash House reinterprets the 19th-century public wash house for hygiene poverty.
- Alex Bell's The Underbank aims to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged students.
- Lara Aptowitzer's Wade is a trauma-informed support hub for domestic abuse survivors.
- Ellie Candlish's U3A: The Living Market reimagines Stockport Market Hall as a learning hub.
- The Degree Show runs from 6 to 19 June 2025 at Manchester Metropolitan University.
- The course won the 2025 Student Union Teaching Awards 'Course of the Year'.
Entities
Artists
- Tiffany Baines
- Sophia Arentz-Graham
- Julianna Tecson
- Emily (Pui San) Ng
- Evie Burrows
- Neeyan Wali
- Lucy Paul
- Alex Bell
- Lara Aptowitzer
- Ellie Candlish
- Lucy Gannon
- Joe Trickett
- Simone Ridyard
- Helen Darnell
- Lois Blackwell
- Andrew Thurman
- Jade Wilson
- Jingshu Tang
- Tara Sutton
- Kitty Wilkinson
- George Bernard Shaw
Institutions
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- School of Art and Design
- Dezeen
- The Sleep Charity
- Migrateful
- Stockport Without Abuse
- Sweaty Betty
- University of the Third Age (U3A)
Locations
- Manchester
- Greater Manchester
- Stockport
- United Kingdom
- Stockport Market Hall
Sources
- Dezeen —