Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bianca Van Vuuren. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Bianca, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today.

If I were starting over, especially in the field of interior design, I’d be a lot more intentional with self-study. While formal education is essential to becoming a qualified interior designer, university only gives you the foundation. The real growth comes from what you teach yourself outside the classroom.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that your degree will teach you everything. It won’t. You need to do your own research, explore, and experiment, but that only works if you have a clear end goal. Interior design has so many paths: residential, hospitality, retail, even yacht or set design. Knowing which direction you want to take helps you focus your efforts and get there faster.

So if I were to do it again, I’d set clear goals from the start and dive deep: watch tutorials, talk to people in the industry, network, and explore real projects. I’d focus on building my own practical knowledge from day one, and shift my mindset away from the typical study-test-forget cycle. This isn’t just about passing, it’s your career, your life, and what you hold onto long term matters far more than what gets you through an exam.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Bianca van Vuuren. I’m a qualified interior designer currently completing my Advanced Diploma in Interior Design. My journey into this field wasn’t linear, like many creatives, I was told that art was just a hobby, not a career. For a long time, I believed that. I didn’t even know interior design existed as a formal profession. I was stuck in the mindset that I had to choose between following my passion or finding financial security.

After school, I took a gap year to figure myself out. I started making and selling handmade clay items, worked in a craft shop, and surrounded myself with creative people. Through conversations with friends studying architecture, I discovered interior design, and everything clicked. I threw myself into researching the field, applied, and was accepted as one of only 30 students out of thousands of applicants. That was nearly four years ago, and I haven’t looked back.

I’ve spent the past few years pouring myself into this discipline, the late nights, the problem-solving, the deep thinking and design challenges. I’m now in my fourth year and, alongside my studies, I work part-time as a social media graphic designer. That passion naturally overlaps with interior design, especially when it comes to presentation, visual storytelling, branding, and identity. I also work with a local architectural firm during study breaks; they’ve mentored me since my second year and have played a big role in developing my technical and professional skill set.

At this stage, I don’t offer formal services yet. I’m still a full-time student, focusing on building a strong foundation through practical experience. But I know where I’m headed. I’ve developed my brand, MAU – interiors that purr, a playful nod to my love for cats and the feeling of comfort, character, and calm I want my spaces to evoke. It’s still in its early stages, currently documenting my student journey, but it represents my bigger vision: to design spaces that tell personal stories, whether that’s a restaurant with custom branding, or a guesthouse that needs a refresh.

As for what sets me apart, I don’t believe anyone should try to be a one-size-fits-all. Specifically in the built environment, which is a collaborative effort: architects, engineers, designers, artisans, we each bring something unique to the table. I think what makes me different is how I approach that puzzle. I don’t try to fit into a specific box; instead, I try to understand the box and find creative ways to respond to it.

What I’m most proud of is that I’ve found my voice. I know what I want to do with my life, and I’m building it, one project, one drawing, one idea at a time.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn, and this might be a bit controversial, is the fear that AI will replace creatives. In my fourth year, we’ve been studying AI and how it can support design work, and I’ve come to realise that while AI is a powerful tool, it will never replace human creativity.

AI is entirely dependent on human input. It can’t think for itself; it only reshuffles what it’s been fed. One of our assignments involved creating a physical white model, then feeding that same model and prompt into three different AI platforms to compare the outcomes. The results from the AI were honestly disappointing, generic, unrefined, and lacking intent. It proved that without a creative mind behind the vision and execution, AI just produces surface-level content.

I’m not the first to say this, but I believe that in the future, hand-crafted design will become even more valuable, like a rare gem. People will pay for authenticity, for the feel and soul that only human touch can bring. AI might be able to mimic the outcome, but it can’t replicate the thinking, emotion, and intuition behind it.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Something I wish I’d realised earlier is just how powerful digital tools can be, especially AI, social media, and the internet in general. As I mentioned before, AI is completely dependent on human input. It can’t think for you, but if you learn how to prompt it properly, it can push your ideas further than you imagined. I wish I’d learned sooner how to use it creatively, instead of being intimidated by it.

We live in a time where everything is at our fingertips, and I believe in using it. Don’t be one of those people who dismiss AI or social media to “preserve creative integrity” while the rest of the world evolves. Of course, your original ideas and personal input still matter most, but if a tool can help bring those ideas to life faster or stronger, why not use it?

In ten years, the creatives who embrace these tools will be miles ahead. The key is to stay curious, stay learning, and use the tools without letting them use you.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mau_interiordesign?igsh=bGtsODd3MWprcXFx
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bianca-vv?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app