Meet Tara Rodrigues

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tara Rodrigues. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tara below.

Hi Tara, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

I got married shortly after completing my LPC (legal postgraduate degree) and soon after my firstborn daughter arrived, what started as nesting very quickly became an emerging pathway to a new career. I’m of a working class dual heritage (Caribbean and Indian) background which statistically put me at a disadvantage to even enrol on an Interior Design course. Only 15% of designers in the UK are from lower economic backgrounds and even fewer are Black. The landscape of the interiors industry in slowly changing, but Black designers are still massively underrepresented. This was a hurdle I acknowledged but was certain it wasn’t going to slow me down. As a single parent with two children it took me a while to save up the money (and courage!) to enrol at Design School. I was indeed the only person of colour in my class which didn’t bother me at all but as I approached graduation little pangs of fear started to hit me when I faced the anticipation of actually securing work within my industry. I was familiar with stories of employers saying vacancies had been filled to Black applicants whilst still interviewing their white peers or being told directly that you would be welcome amongst the team but clients would not be happy if you showed up. I managed to stay focused on the life and career I had envisioned for myself and after getting a merit on my course, felt encouraged that my skills would position me at tables I wouldn’t otherwise have been welcomed at. I, in fact did not struggle to get Junior Design roles at all, I had several interviews within weeks of graduating. I worked as a Junior Designer for around a year and a half, but being a single parent in London demanded a much higher income than those roles offered. Again I took another leap of faith when I received an instagram message about a new TV Design Competition. The lack of representation of Black designers in studio is completely overshadowed by the even minuter number we see on televsion. I aimed for the stars and was not only declared winner of the competition by a world renowned architect and judge, I also took home a staggering prize of a mortgage free 2 bed flat!

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m absolutely crazy about interiors and feel people underestimate the impact of it on their well-being both physiologically and psychologically. I love being in a people facing job, as that’s what makes it all worth it for me, knowing I’ve been able to create beautiful and sustainable changes that will enhance people lives for the long term. What price can you put on your satisfaction and enjoyment of your home? I get to create the backdrop for people to make lasting and meaningful memories. There’s powerful memory association with linking happy moments to the places you experience them in. I love the process of transforming spaces to be tailored to the way people live – taking into consideration neurodiversity, ethnic and cultural practices, emotional, spiritual and physical wellbeing. There are so many strands to design and I enjoy taking a multifaceted and holistic approach to delivering unique and inspiring spaces. I also adore children and am co-founder of a non profit organisation who do bedroom makeovers for children of single parent families experiencing extreme financial hardship.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Self belief, diligence and acquiring technical knowledge at Design School. I studied through the Covid pandemic so I was homeschooling, working on furlough leave and studying at the same time. I didn’t have a weekend in order to fit everything around my children’s school timetable. I am very committed to doing whatever is necessary to achieve my goals and I had to work doubly hard to get to the same end goal as many others on my course.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I would love to connect with other interior designers or people passionate about biophilic design to collaborate!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tararodriguesinteriors.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tararodriguesinteriors/
• Linkedin: tararodriguesinteriors

Image Credits

J Watson Media