How did I End Up Here? My Journey to Urban Design.

A Bit About Me:

I’m Ella, one of the many master’s students in MA Urban Design here at Newcastle and a participant in this blog. One of my favourite things about our cohort is the diversity of backgrounds everyone brings. It adds so much perspective and depth to our discussions and projects, making the experience incredibly enriching. With students from different ages, countries, and academic backgrounds, these past two months have already been such a journey.

How I Arrived at MAUD:

My personal journey started in Newcastle in 2021 when I joined my undergraduate course in Architecture and Urban Planning. This degree gave me the basic understandings of many disciplines ranging from architecture, landscape, urban planning, urban design and many more. Through this course I worked out what I wanted to pursue and, for me, this was urban design. This is how I found myself on the Masters course.

My Background and Passions:

Growing up in England and Turkey I was exposed to two very different places with very different built environments from a young age.  Both areas in which I grew up in, although different, both hold very strong, positive memories for me. This got me thinking about how there are so many variations on successful design and how many more are waiting to be created. This is what initially got me interested in Architecture / Urban Design / Urban Planning.

In this blog you can expect for me to write about inclusive design, environmentally friendly design, and playful areas. These are areas which I am passionate about and am excited to learn and research further. I hope through this blog, I will connect and engage with others who are excited for the future of sustainable, inclusive, and fun urban design!

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I can’t wait to share more!