Celebrating Gaby’s First Year of University

We are proud to share that Gaby completes her first year at London South Bank University in a week, marking a major milestone in her journey as an Architectural Apprentice.

Balancing university study with hands-on experience in practice, Gaby has continued to grow in both confidence and capability, applying her academic learning to live projects while gaining valuable insight into the realities of architectural design and delivery.

It’s been inspiring to watch her develop over the past year, and we look forward to seeing what she achieves next as she progresses through the apprenticeship programme.

“My first university project challenged me to design a space where people could work, relax, and socialise. As someone completely new to design software, I found it difficult at first. Instead of letting that hold me back, I focused on expressing my ideas through sketching and physical models while slowly building confidence with digital tools.

By the time I reached my second project, I had learned a lot through hands-on experience. I began using Photoshop and rendering software to communicate my ideas more effectively. The Design 102 brief, which focused on creating a co-living and co-working space for the Hackney community, gave me the chance to explore how thoughtful design can shape real life interactions and community spaces.

Over the course of the year, I’ve grown both creatively and technically in ways I hadn’t imagined. I’ve learned to take challenges as opportunities, and I’ve become more confident in sharing and developing my ideas. Most importantly, I’m grateful for the continued support from my colleagues, tutors and peers, who have helped guide me throughout this journey.”