The time I spent at the academy of design in Florence is the most memorable so far. I visited Italy in 2012 and I fell in love with the country. Moreover, I fell in love with its beauty. Italy gave me the inspiration to pursue architecture and design in college. Thus, I decided that I wanted to do it as my profession. Later, in 2018, I graduated in architecture, and the only thing on my mind was to go back to Italy. But this time, as an architect. Moreover, as my passion is history and Florence is rich in it, I felt that it was the perfect city to study in.

I‘m an architect from Turkey, so my main goal is to improve my architectural practice. During the Master in Interior Design at this academy of design in Florence, I found an opportunity to focus on the lack of my architecture and interior design knowledge. I learned a lot of new things that I did not study during my studies in college. I could design everything by thinking about every detail. Also, I could experience the language of shape, the importance of light, sketching, and even drawing techniques gave me a new approach and a new way of thinking. It is a privilege to be able to work with professors who are professionals at their job and willing to teach.

One of the most important things is that Star- Florence Design Academy allowed me to experience working with people from different countries. Learning to collaborate with different people from different cultures and backgrounds enriched my mind and my architectural knowledge. I met a lot of great people, and I can now call them my friends. It is a good feeling to be with people who have the same purpose and goal.

I saw a lot of historical places in Florence. Palaces, churches, parks, squares, and museums. It is amazing how the city is related to history. It is unbelievable how the city has a relationship with art. There is always an event for people to join and experience.

Moreover, life in Florence is dynamic. Florence is a really good city with nice and kind people. I cannot even count how many people I greet on the streets in a day. In fact, it is a very crowded city and has a lot of students. And it is good to have someone in the same position as you. It makes you feel safe and makes you not feel alone anymore. Last but not least, what I love is the food. Italian restaurants are one of the best. To take a break and enjoy Italian food is one great pleasure to experience

I joined different courses and workshops in interior design during my studies at Star – Florence Design School. During the first workshop, I learned more about the materials. I also had the chance to learn how to use and prepare them. During this Interior design experience, we designed our own flowerpots to make this experience more useful and memorable. We got to know how to give a shape and how to color them. Another workshop was about the international fair called Marmomac placed in Verona. The Marmomac fair was a material course for us. We had a chance to experience materials in real life and get information from professionals. I learned how to use them in both interior and exterior design. Because that was an international fair we had a chance to compare the materials from different countries.

Lastly, I consider these months as a great opportunity to get in touch with a new culture and people. I believe that it strongly enriched my future studies and helped me to have a better perspective on my career. Also, it was a good experience for me to get to know different approaches to Architecture and Interior Design. I could really understand the role of architects on a global scale. What makes this experience extra special is that it happened in a country which inspired me to discover my biggest dream – to be an architect. I am forever grateful for the unforgettable experience that I had in Florence at Star-Florence Design School.