Meet ShaoRu Mac, a GIS Alumni from the Class of 2020, an aspiring interior architect who has taken her first steps into the complex world of design. A graduate of Oxford Brookes University with a First Class Honours degree in Interior Architecture, ShaoRu has been recognised with the university’s Buckley Gray Yeoman Prize for her exceptional use of materiality in design. Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship and dedication, with her tutors providing invaluable guidance that led her to explore innovative design approaches involving materiality, precedent analysis, prototyping, modelling, and meticulous detailing.
ShaoRu Mac’s educational experience allowed her to develop an architectural language and experiment with the fusion of materials and spatial qualities. Her achievements showcase a remarkable blend of talent, hard work, and a profound passion for user-friendly designs that are both adaptable and atmospheric. As we delve into her story, we discover an interior architect developing her craft with the hope of making a positive mark on the world of design.
Shao Ru, can you share a pivotal moment or project during your time at Oxford Brookes University that significantly influenced your approach to interior architectural design and materiality?
The way I viewed interior architecture drastically changed when I explored the ideology of adaptable mechanisms. A key precedent for me was Maison de Verre by Pierre Chareau, a design that worked to meet its users’ changing needs across daily life rather than creating fixed designs. Beyond this project’s transformational qualities, I admired the well-balanced use of new industrial materials of the time that were intertwined with soft and warm materials. For me, this design stands as an example of how understanding a brief and its user needs allows atmosphere and usability to merge together in a design.
Could you provide insights into your creative process when working with different materials in architectural design? How do you balance innovation with practicality?
Rather than beginning with a blank slate, I start by analysing what kind of atmosphere and design the design brief requires. From there, I refer to a variety of precedents, drawing practical and stylistic inspiration. I believe that innovation is best when created from the need to meet practicalities.
Can you tell us about a particular GIS mentor or teacher who had a profound impact on your development as an architect?
My teachers, Ms Abbott, Ms Doyle and Mr Padgett, supported me across my IGCSE and A Level art projects. They arranged many different opportunities, such as school trips, art exhibitions and sketching sessions, to allow me to improve my own skills and expand my horizons. The structure of the art program encouraged me to experiment with various mediums and subject matter. My interest in architecture and interior design peaked during a trip to Penang in Year 12, where a workshop with a local artist required us to sketch Peranakan houses we saw along the streets.
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals in the field of interior architecture and design? Are there any specific types of projects or challenges you’re eager to tackle in the future?
A personal interest of mine is in creating designs that understand and support users over a long period of time. With a lack of space, and resources and an energy crisis, modern-day designs should be able to adapt easily to new briefs rather than become obsolete. This is prevalent in housing, where affordable but small square footage properties are being forced to accommodate not just the personal life but the work life too. I hope to one day be able to implement flexible designs that can transform a space through simple user-friendly mechanisms. However as a starting designer, I am eager to help create atmospheric designs with spatial qualities that support its users and meet the client’s brief.
How did your education at GIS prepare you for what you are doing today?
My education at GIS allowed me to develop my decision-making skills, an ability which has proved to be vital in the world of design. Because Interior Architecture is subjective, there are often conflicting criticisms and no right choice. My English Literature classes led by Ms Grey and Ms Amos taught me to analyse, form conclusions and create supporting arguments, a skill I apply in project development. Furthermore, my various classes all taught me to share and showcase my ideas to teachers and peers, a skill vital for any designer.
What is the most important thing you learned while you were at GIS?
Something that has stayed with me these last few years was learning to push myself to volunteer for different projects. To put aside my doubts and give it my all, whether it was trying to edit a magazine, making props for a drama performance, or working with a real-life client for the first time. GIS gave me many opportunities to expand my horizons.
What advice would you give current students or recent graduates interested in pursuing a career in your professional field?
Before making the choice to pursue this career, take time to intern at a design company to see if it suits you. It is useful to have worked with physical model making and have a background in drawing, but double check with university requirements and keep in mind that this field includes a lot of computer work on CAD and 3D software. Overall, the world of design is a very demanding yet fulfilling field. My days of university have been filled with constant work, stressful late nights and accepting no project will ever be perfect. However, these things allowed for fun studio days, strong friendships and the satisfaction of seeing how you’ve grown from your first-ever design.
Thank you, Shao Ru, for taking the time and sharing your experiences with us.
If you would like to be featured as part of our ‘Alumni Spotlights’, just get in touch with us at alumni@gardenschool.edu.my. Because every story matters! Alternately, connect with us on social media via Facebook and LinkedIn or read more inspiring articles via our Global Alumni Website. If you haven’t become a registered member yet, please do so via this link.