Well, for starters, I did my research. I think there were a lot of different routes I could have gone down, but the BID program at Yorkville immediately jumped out at me because it covered all the different sectors within the industry. So I knew that I was going to be designing hospitality, restaurants, residential and commercial work. And I was excited that I was going to learn about health care design as well, which is something that isn’t always covered. So the breadth of it — and the way it prepares you for all sort of career paths — really stood out.

As a mature student, and a parent, the flexibility also really appealed to me. I’m in Montreal, and the program is based in Toronto, and it allowed me to plan out my class schedule, where I could be a part-time or full-time student, and then map out a graduation date in a way that fit my life. And it’s the only fully CIDA-accredited program in Canada that you can do online, which makes a huge difference, because I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about additional accreditations after graduation.

Even though it’s all online, there were lots of opportunities to work in groups, which really brought the students together. I was pleasantly surprised that I actually came out of the program making a couple of really close new friends — even though we all live in different places. One is in Ontario, one is in Alberta, and I’m here in Montreal. We actually first got to know each other through the online discussion boards, which were an important part of the programs. It’s surprising how much you can learn about people just by sharing your perspectives on design. From there, we worked together on group projects and really got to know one another well. So we really hit it off and worked together every chance we could. We still text and call now, and we were all hoping to meet up at graduation but couldn’t because we were all working!

At one point, one of our professors really pushed us to branch out and work with more classmates — which is how I ended up making another new friend — who actually lives here in Montreal. And overall, the professors were also really supportive in that way, and they were always available for help with any questions. Some had open virtual office hours where you could pop in any time, or otherwise make an appointment to speak to them, but it all felt pretty seamless. And I always felt supported.

Another interesting part of online education was the diversity of the instructors. I had a professor in France, a few from the United States, and of course from all across Canada.  So we were able to explore all the different sectors and industries that relate to interior design — but also different philosophies in points of view. When it came to colour theory, for example, it really opened my eyes to a whole variety of ways of looking at it, and a range of perspectives I wouldn’t have otherwise thought of.

It’s interesting how we don’t tend to think of aviation and interior design in tandem. I’ve always loved both, but honestly never thought about a career in aircraft design — until I saw the job posting. I read it over, and I thought to myself, “I can do this.” I think that also says something about Yorkville University and the BID program. Even though the curriculum didn’t touch on aviation per se, the fact that we were exposed to such a broad view of the design industry really opened me up to the diversity of possibilities. (And that’s true for my friends in the program as well, who are doing all sorts of different things in commercial and residential firms across the country.)

And it’s been a really wonderful experience so far. Bombardier feels like a family — the whole team has been incredibly supportive, from the senior designers down to the shop floor. And it’s really amazing to be able to see every interior come to life in the paint studio and the shop. With an aircraft, you’re obviously working within a really constrained setting and a small space. So it almost distills and amplifies the importance of each design decision — of every colour and surface and texture coming together to create a comfortable, luxurious space. I’m learning so much.

I think that an important strategy for success is to organize yourself early on — which the structure of the program really lends itself to. It’s set up in a way where you get your schedule and all your assignments and due dates at the start of the semester, which lets you plan things out. I had a whole colour-coded system, and detailed notes, and I really went the distance. That really helped.

At the same time, be open to new things. I had this idea that I’d graduate and then sort of hang up my shingle as an independent designer. Then a very different opportunity came my way — and I couldn’t be happier about it.  The great thing is that the program really prepares you for so many different opportunities and career paths.

I remember first studying theatre in school, which I loved. And all of the professors and students had so much passion for it. And yet, they never prepared us for the reality of how hard that industry would be — or what it would take to find work and make a living. It didn’t really engage the professional aspects of it. Yorkville University is totally different. The professional practice part of the curriculum was amazing. They go through your portfolio and cover letter in detail — and then there’s an internship component to help you get real world experience. And the professors are there if you need any extra help. You come out ready. The sky is the limit.