Vanessa Thomas

My motivation for architecture is fueled by my deep desire to see something as simple as an idea, a sketch, a thought, in its first stages transform into a living existing space. One that is filled with character, fully functional not only within its context but also in relation to specific needs of its users. I have always been intrigued by design, in all aspects of lighting, graphics, fashion, materiality, product, furniture, user experience, but I find my greatest passion is in designing livable spaces in harmony with our environment. In spite of the personal health, financial and time constraints brought about as a result of COVID 19 during my undergraduate study, I determinately graduated top of my class with a second- class upper honors degree, with a CGPA 0f 4.28 out of 5, in May 2021 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from Makerere University Kampala. I was thereafter sought out and offered a position as Graduate Architect at a leading architectural firm in East and Southern Africa, Symbion Uganda Limited where I have immersed myself daily in the understanding of the life cycle of design projects from the initial stages of concept development to completion while working on projects ranging from institutional, hospitality, educational and residential. I have honed my skills in creative problem solving, project management, collaborative design and time management. Working with experienced professionals in the fields of project management, interior, lighting, furniture and environmental design over the past two years as well as taking part in Symposiums and CPDs organized by the Uganda Society of Architect, as a graduate member, has encouraged me to seek to gain a deeper understanding of our present architecture, how it’s been influenced overtime by our history and culture, its effect on the improvement of the quality of human life and how design can be done to better respond to our specific environments more sustainably. It is for this very reason that I’d like to study architecture at graduate level and strengthen my skills in innovative problem solving through design.