My best choice

Interior designer Arwa Mufaddal Gulamhussein, 24, has worked at Tommy Hilfiger and is currently based at international design firm PG Bison, writes NJOKI CHEGE

Tell us about your job and what it entails.

I work as an interior designer at PG Bison, a subsidiary of Steinhoff International, which manufactures and distributes sawn timber, poles, wood-based panel products, decorative laminates and solid surfacing materials. I design furniture, mainly kitchens and wardrobes —

Interior designer Arwa Mufaddal Gulamhussein, 24,

something I have always wanted to do.

Why kitchen furniture?

I wanted to master one module of interior design and I chose furniture designing mainly focusing on kitchens. It’s very interesting to do different kitchens everyday with new concepts.

Interior design seems to be your thing, is it something you always wanted to do?

I have always loved art and architecture. My first option was architecture, but things did not work out so I chose something close to that — interior designing, and today I have no regrets. I love every bit of it and the credit goes to my brother (Abdulkadir Abuzer) who helped me develop interest in art and drawing from a very early stage at school.

Tell us about your work history?

First, I went to college in Bangalore, India, where I attained a Bachelors in Interior Designing and a Diploma in Architectural Cad. My first job was in, India where I worked for designer clothing store Tommy Hilfiger, as a visual merchandiser for a year. I was involved in coming up with creative and artistic concepts for in-store displays and constantly conceptualising new and fresh store design ideas.

My second job was in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania after I came back from India, I did a six-month basic internship at a construction company called Mohammedali Builders, a completely new experience and I learnt a lot of construction details being on site.

What do you love most about your job?

There are so many things I love about what I do; the chance to be creative, communicating and conveying a message that causes others to act, and the ever changing technology and trend, the breadth of opportunities to learn. I also love the installation, which is very fulfilling. I’m a hands-on person and this experience of putting it all together is probably the most truly rewarding part of the job.

What are some of the challenges you face in your line of work?

Getting work done on time. Meeting schedules, limiting costs and keeping the client happy are all challenging aspects of the job. Good communication is really important. You have to be a salesperson, you can’t be quiet and timid as that’s not going to work. It’s important to present your ideas well.

So what does it take to be a great interior designer?

You not only pick out products but you must have a colour sense, understand how the kitchen goes together, read the plan and specification documents all the time and combine them into a 3D design then convince clients to buy your design.

Tell us about your other achievements/ awards and what they mean to you.

I was in college in Bangalore and I was awarded ‘The Performer of the Year 2007’. My achievements would be my current job with international firm -PG Bison. I have learnt a lot and met a lot of well known Kenyan personalities. I have also worked on interesting projects including Najib Balala’s house and those of other personalities in Vipingo Ridge, Mombasa.

What is your advice to young people who want to have successful careers?

The first step in considering a career is to think carefully about what really drives you. You might find it hard to get past thinking about "what pays the most" or "what is most secure," especially in today’s economy. However, it’s important to first discover your primary interests and passions. These can open doors to careers that you might not have considered.

How do you manage married life and a busy and hectic career?

Well it is a very hectic job especially going to sites, and meeting clients pressure but I have no complain so far because I am blessed with wonderful In- laws (Dr Johar and Akeela Gulamhussein) and I have very strong support from my husband (Mufaddal Johar Gulamhussein) who always stands by me in all times and helps me a lot as he has definite tastes compounded with an eye for details which helps me a lot in my career.

Five years from now...

I would like to see my dreams fulfilled, my ambitions materialised and my energy still at its peak to dream more. My goal is to be in a position whereby the values I set have an impact on the entire organisation and its employees; I want to be a trendsetter