From her roots in Uganda to life in the UK, Singapore and China, Rachael Nakawungu has a story that spans continents. Discover how she’s continued to develop her skills with the NDA, progressing from the Interior Design Diploma to specialist courses in software and AI.
Originally from Uganda, a proud UK citizen and now based in Spain – Rachael Nakawungu has travelled across the world, including living in the UK, Singapore and China. Alongside her international experiences, her story with the National Design Academy reflects a commitment to learning and developing her interior design skills.
After studying the Diploma in Professional Interior Design, Rachael was keen to keep building her knowledge. She went on to take the Online Interior Design Software Course, expanding her technical skills, before recently exploring new tools and approaches through AI for Interior Design.
Read on to discover Rachael’s story, her experiences across all three courses, and how she plans to put her growing skill set into practice.
Could you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
Before studying with the NDA, I was a Surgical Nurse Practitioner. I honour this profession as it has provided me with invaluable experience.
After spending the early years of my career at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where I was fortunate to have exceptional mentors who enabled me to excel and advance my career in a short period.
I subsequently relocated to Singapore where I encountered numerous challenges in navigating diverse cultures and environments. Overcoming these obstacles allowed me to achieve greater professional success than I had anticipated.
Although I enjoyed my previous profession, it was characterised by significant stress. By the end of my time in Singapore, I experienced burnout and decided to take a career break. From there i relocated to Shanghai, China, with my husband. During this time I pursued other interests while studying healthcare courses online to maintain my registration and also had the opportunity to explore my other passions.
I also undertook healthcare voluntary work which gave me the opportunity to assess my feelings about returning to full-time healthcare work.
Where did your interest in interior design begin? Are there any people, places or experiences that have influenced your approach to design?
I have always been passionate about design and fashion.
From a young age, I watched home renovation programmes and relocation shows and enjoyed house design programmes on Channel 4 such as Love it or List it.
I also discovered HGTV programmes featuring various interior and exterior designers. The Scott brothers in particular caught my attention as they are highly skilled and empathetic.
I have always been captivated by the architecture of cities such as London, Paris and Rome and many more cities around the world.
Places in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. This appreciation extends to the parks and gardens. My love for the outdoors has always been complemented by a passion for nature.
What inspired you to enrol on the Professional Interior Design Diploma? What were you hoping to achieve, and why did you choose the NDA?
In 2024 my mother decided to construct her retirement home and I was entrusted with its management. This experience rekindled my passion for interior design and reignited my enjoyment of transforming spaces.
I also watched a BBC design programme where many candidates from diverse backgrounds designed spaces with the ultimate goal of securing financial gain and contracts. This programme demonstrated the difference between those without design qualifications and those with them.
Consequently, I decided this was my calling. I began researching interior design courses and schools. I discovered NDA online and decided to enrol for the Diploma in Interior Design.
Although I had no prior design experience I knew I was always creative had an eye for beauty and could put things together to look aesthetically pleasing. I decided to stop considering a return to healthcare and dedicate time to the interior design diploma for a complete career change.
Although I was uncertain of my future goals I was pleasantly surprised at my rapid progress and weekly improvement. It is the best decision I have made for a career change.
How did you find your experience on the Diploma? Were there any projects or moments that particularly helped you develop your skills and confidence?
The Diploma programme was highly beneficial. It reignited my passion for design and demonstrated my capability in the field.
Weekly feedback from tutors enabled me to improve and address my weaker areas.
I particularly enjoyed the history of interior design which provided insight into the various styles and their contemporary influence. Understanding the history of all these furniture pieces we see in our interiors and appreciating them was particularly enlightening.
It was also interesting to learn about the different designers and architects who have contributed so much to design and architecture.
Antoni Gaudà particularly interested me in my class as I had visited Casa Batlló, Casa Mila and Sadrada Familia with my family. I was particularly impressed by his creativity and the uniqueness of his architecture and interior design and the connection to nature in all his work.
The lighting unit was particularly engaging as it ignited a new level of enthusiasm. I found the importance of light in interior design particularly compelling. The unit on colour was also enjoyable as I have an interest in mental wellbeing.
Understanding the use of colours and their role in daily life was particularly significant to me. For my final project I applied colour in relation to psychological aspects and our wellbeing. I was very proud of the final design and the items chosen. .
After completing the Diploma, what made you decide to study the Interior Design Software Course? Were there particular skills you wanted to build on?
Following the completion of my interior design diploma, I was determined to work internationally and remotely. While I enjoyed the manual drawings,
I sought to develop proficiency in CAD and 3D modelling and rendering to provide my future clients with a comprehensive design package that accurately represented the final product.
The renders presented during the course further inspired me to pursue a Software course.
How did you find learning to use interior design software? How has the course changed the way you develop and present your ideas?
Learning to use the software has significantly improved my work by enabling me to create drawings and email them more quickly. Although I am still learning, I find SketchUp particularly useful for rendering and producing walkthrough videos for projects. I was able to share my final project with friends and family who have subsequently offered me future projects based on my work.
The SketchUp and Rendering unit was very interesting as it allowed me to visualise the design in 2D and build the house using my mood board, furniture and lighting. I was able to see the finished product. I worked very hard on this unit and was pleased that my tutor recognised my effort.
Being able to use the software has also enabled me to produce drawings more quickly. For my SketchUp final project I constructed a kitchen following my tutor’s guidance.
I thoroughly enjoyed the process and it encouraged me to continue making furniture which subsequently led to designing my brother’s wardrobe when he expressed dissatisfaction with the available options.
More recently, you studied AI for Interior Design. What interested you about the course? What were your initial thoughts about using AI in your design work?
I enrolled in the AI for Interior Design course because I was aware that Martin our Sketch-up tutor was responsible for this unit.
I had researched the AI course on the NDA website and recognised its significance in design. I decided to join to explore how I could enhance my work processes and improve my workflow.
Initially I was concerned about relying solely on AI to create my designs. However, my tutor clarified that AI was an assistant and during the final project I utilised it to complement my design and expedite my workflow while allowing my creativity to flourish.
What stood out most from your experience on the AI course? Could you talk us through a piece of work you enjoyed creating and what you learnt along the way?
I found the concept of AI assisting in bringing my ideas to life particularly compelling. For example, in my final project I envisioned London as a bustling city and sought to create a space that was tranquil and restful for a family.
Drawing inspiration from my appreciation for nature, I imagined how ideal it would be for a busy London couple to have a bedroom that evoked the serenity of a forest. I developed the concept and utilised various mood boards to convey my thoughts.
Previously, I had discussed with my tutor my selective approach to selecting images for the mood board. However, with AI I was able to select the primary image and the technology assisted me in creating a mood board that effectively communicated these ideas.
Through this experience, I have learned that with my creativity and passion AI will enhance these skills and help build better for the future.
Your tutor, Martin Nealon, was particularly impressed with your work. How did it feel to receive that recognition?
I am deeply honoured by this recognition. My family were equally pleased as they are aware of my longstanding passion for this course and the dedication I have shown to all my assignments.
Martin’s work has taught me a great deal and his examples and explanations have made it easy for me to understand and learn quickly. Therefore, I am truly grateful and humbled to receive this recognition.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for the future? How do you hope to bring together the skills you've developed across all three courses?
The foundation of the interior design diploma provided me with the core knowledge and skills to communicate my ideas, create manage and execute design concepts for clients.
The software course enables me to present and communicate my ideas visually to clients while the AI course serves as a collaborative tool streamlining my design process exploring my creativity and generating ideas. This enhances my efficiency and ensures my design judgement remains central to all my work.
My future plans are to work as a freelance designer. My initial projects will be with family and friends before I begin seeking other opportunities online via Instagram and a personal website. I am continuing to learn and improve with each project. I am also developing my social media presence and designing a logo for my business.
These projects are in the early stages but are progressing steadily. I recently designed a bespoke wardrobe for my brother which he was very pleased with. I have also designed my mum´s kitchen.
My transferable skills from my experience as a healthcare professional will be valuable in this new role. I am eager to pursue this path with the passion and positivity I naturally possess. I am happy with my choice of profession and excited for what lies ahead.
Thank you to Rachael for submitting her student spotlight!Â
You can find her instagram & LinkedIn below.Â
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