Durban University of Technology’s Interior Design students have been tasked to revamp the City Campus, a job they have gladly accepted.
The second-year students will be renovating the campus as part of their Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programme which requires students to do 80 hours of community work.
The Interior Design Department was approached by the DUT Arts Faculty Executive Dean Dr Kenneth Netshiombo as he wanted the students to uplift the campus. The student courtyard, canteen as well as the staff courtyard will be targeted in the revamp.
Michelle Hankinson, Interior Design Lecturer pitched the idea to the students as part of their community work. Students were given a brief to individually design a scheme that will create a happier and artistic space for the campus community.
“For the past nine years, second year students get involved in community work as part of their WIL. They design and create spaces for different community organisation, but this year after Dr Netshiombo had approached us, we felt charity begins at home and that is how the My Campus Project came to life” said Hankinson.
Three students were selected based on their outstanding designs to lead different tasks. They have been sectioned into three working groups for each designation. To lead the student courtyard project is Sifiso Shange. Nkululeko Nzuza will lead the canteen project while Nda Ncube will lead the staff courtyard section of the project.
Nzuza said this project will create a good atmosphere for students and lecturers. “We hope to achieve a united campus, a space where students can sit together and share ideas”, he said.
Lefedisa Moshesh, a second-year Interior Design said he is extremely excited about the project. “I will have a chance to put into action the theory I have learnt. I have been given a chance to design something that is real and to see the project being implemented. To me, that is unity,” said Moshesh.
The Interior Design Department is still approaching other departments around campus to get involved. “This is everyone’s space, we need other departments to be involved so they can have a sense of ownership of the project as well, and to be part of the change”, said Hankinson.
Hankinson has also appealed to people or any party to sponsor the project. The students need wall paint, pendant lamps, plants, potting medium, fixed sitting, mosaic tiles and timber slats to name a few. The project will start on Monday September 10, 2012. The students have given a deadline of Friday September 14, 2012 to finish the task, after which City Campus will have a new look and feel.
–Nomvula Sikakane
Caption: Interior Design Lecturer Michelle Hankinson (first on the right) and the second-year Interior Design class who have been tasked with giving three areas of the DUT City Campus a new look and feel.
