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Mother and daughter share academic success

Mother and daughter Andrea and Abigail Loades are sharing academic success, after completing their studies at º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s MIMA School of Art & Design.

Andrea and Abigail, from Bishop Auckland, have completed the BA Hons (Interior Design), with mum Andrea signing up for the course after accompanying daughter Abigail for an open day. Although initially thinking about studying part-time with a view to enrolling the following year, Andrea was so impressed with the course and facilities she decided to leave her job to study full-time that same year, alongside her daughter.

Both Andrea and Abigail have a shared passion for interior design. Andrea said: ‘I’ve always been known for wanting to keep up with décor trends, and regularly changing things at home, and Abi has always been interested in helping me make decisions.

She added: ‘We’d always both notice the interiors of places we had visited and would discuss what we would do to change them. Abi encouraged me to join the course with her so we could share the experience together.’

Andrea, who says she has always had an artistic side, added: ‘I loved to be creative when I was younger, and I’ve rediscovered my love of this. Sometimes life gets in the way of doing things that you really enjoy – it's taught me to not lose sight of these things.’ Andrea added: ‘I didn’t really think coming to university was a possibility for me.

‘However, when we spoke to academics on the open day, everyone was so enthusiastic and helpful, I realised it was actually possible.’

Andrea is now looking forward to starting a 12-week internship with artist Gillian Arnold, an interior design company based in Darlington.

Abigail, 24, chose º£½ÇÖ±²¥ for her studies due to the impressive course content. She said: ‘The modules included textile aspects, which allowed me to incorporate previous experiences into my degree.’

She added: ‘I really enjoyed the creative freedom the course gave me. It allowed me to explore my ideas and concepts in greater depth without feeling my thought process was ineffective.’

Abigail, who has already secured a job as a full-time designer with PWS in Newton Aycliffe, added: ‘After handing in my final project on the same day I accepted a junior designer position at a company close to home.’