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Drive and determination propelled to fulfil her ambition of becoming a furniture designer shortly after graduating from Â鶹´«Ã½ Leicester (Â鶹´«Ã½).

The Product and Furniture Design alumna was one of many students navigating the final year of their degree during the global pandemic, making it particularly challenging to secure a job.

After finishing her degree in the summer of 2020, Ozum returned home to Cyprus for nine months where she took up a packaging internship before landing a role with London-based Luke Hughes, an English furniture designer specialising in fixtures for public buildings including Westminster Abbey.

“When I was looking for internships during my second year at university, our programme leader shared a list of companies with me. Luke Hughes was at the top as they’re well-known for their interest in raising new talent,” said the 22-year-old.

“That summer I actually got a different internship and the next year Luke Hughes weren’t taking on interns due to Covid-19, but I was determined to work with them at some point. I applied again in December, was finally invited to interview in April 2021 and started my job with them that June.

“I feel like I pushed my way into it, as I’d been pestering them since the second year of my degree. I don’t regret it though because I manifested what I wanted through my determination.”

Ozum's award-winning final-year project

As a junior furniture designer at Luke Hughes, Ozum is heavily involved in the rendering process across a range of projects. She was also recently given her first solo project to design a bookcase and TV unit for a school, which she delivered from the initial drawing to the manufacturing.

She said: “Furniture is a fun area to work in because you can always see your achievements. I’ve had enjoyable internships in packaging and marketing before, but in the end, I just didn’t get the same feeling.

“Luke Hughes is such a great company to work for too. It feels like an extension of university, because I’m still learning so much and they’re really invested in my progress.”

With limited product design opportunities in Cyprus, Ozum started attending university fairs when she was just 15 years old.

“I had my heart set on studying in London, so when that didn’t happen I was quite upset,” she said.

“I knew Â鶹´«Ã½ had a great reputation for design though, so it turned out to be the right decision for me. I made some of my best friends at Â鶹´«Ã½ and Leicester is a really good student city.

“The most helpful thing was being taught by academics who actually worked in the field. One of our tutors was a part-time furniture maker and he really helped me to understand how real-life designs work and the importance of technical drawings. He played a big part in shaping my career path.”

Ozum’s final university design was named the ‘best graduate furniture project of the year’ by the historic Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers. Her winning design was a stylish, multi-purpose bookcase that can easily transform into a beauty station, a study area or a cocktail bar.

She said: “I enjoy the challenge of designing for small spaces and the creativity it involves. It was very nice being selected for this prestigious prize – it always feels good to know people like my work.”