CHILDISH DREAMS

I think I was about six years old when I realised I wanted I think I was about six years old when I realised I wanted to be an interior designer. Well, I did not know the to be an interior designer. Well, I did not know the specific terms of course, but I was certain of one thing: I specific terms of course, but I was certain of one thing: I loved dreaming about the inside of buildings and all the loved dreaming about the inside of buildings and all the colours of the furniture, walls, ceilings and floors coming colours of the furniture, walls, ceilings and floors coming together into one unified peace. My imagination was together into one unified peace. My imagination was limitless and reached all the outer parts of my brain. My limitless and reached all the outer parts of my brain. My teacher always told me she was astounded by my work, teacher always told me she was astounded by my work, and by work she meant the multiple bundles of different and by work she meant the multiple bundles of different colours all coming together into one colourful blob. I colours all coming together into one colourful blob. I mean, do not kid yourself, I was six, what did you expect? mean, do not kid yourself, I was six, what did you expect?

But, I was special, she said. Special comes in all kinds of But, I was special, she said. Special comes in all kinds of forms and I was the kind that knew how to combine forms and I was the kind that knew how to combine colours and people. When creating something, there colours and people. When creating something, there always are multiple factors striving together to make always are multiple factors striving together to make one whole. This whole can only be achieved if all factors one whole. This whole can only be achieved if all factors have been taken into account. I was great at that. I knew have been taken into account. I was great at that. I knew people and I knew colours and therefore knew how people and I knew colours and therefore knew how to create and combine colours to the specific needs to create and combine colours to the specific needs of a person. This skill gave me a nudge into my future, of a person. This skill gave me a nudge into my future, helping me towards a career as an interior designer. helping me towards a career as an interior designer.

Today, I am 28 years old. I am sitting at my desk, my hands Today, I am 28 years old. I am sitting at my desk, my hands wrapped around my head, digging through my hair, wrapped around my head, digging through my hair, trying to find my inner child again. Trying to re-interact trying to find my inner child again. Trying to re-interact with that young colourful person full of outgoing ideas. with that young colourful person full of outgoing ideas. I have a deadline coming up in four weeks where I have I have a deadline coming up in four weeks where I have to show my ideas for the interior of a new theatre. This to show my ideas for the interior of a new theatre. This project demands more than only combining the right project demands more than only combining the right colours with the right furniture, which is why I come colours with the right furniture, which is why I come together twice a week with experts on the field of sound. together twice a week with experts on the field of sound. A theatre needs to own up to certain qualifications A theatre needs to own up to certain qualifications when it comes to sound. You can bring out the best when it comes to sound. You can bring out the best soundwaves by shaping an area into a specific form that soundwaves by shaping an area into a specific form that optimizes its sound quality, which is also achieved by optimizes its sound quality, which is also achieved by using unique sound absorbing materials in furniture, on using unique sound absorbing materials in furniture, on the floor, on walls or in ceilings. This is where I come in. I the floor, on walls or in ceilings. This is where I come in. I try to mix science and colour to make the most beautiful try to mix science and colour to make the most beautiful pieces that match the spaces surrounding it. pieces that match the spaces surrounding it. Sadly, I have momentarily lost all faith in my capabilities Sadly, I have momentarily lost all faith in my capabilities and cannot seem to find my inner child. The colours in and cannot seem to find my inner child. The colours in my head are now smushed into one big blob. Not the my head are now smushed into one big blob. Not the colourful one I created when I was six, but a grayish pallet colourful one I created when I was six, but a grayish pallet in which all the different colours fade away into one. in which all the different colours fade away into one.

In my last meeting I showed the crew my ideas, going In my last meeting I showed the crew my ideas, going from the colour scheme I thought of to what kind of from the colour scheme I thought of to what kind of carpet I thought was best for the floors to which sound carpet I thought was best for the floors to which sound absorbing art pieces should hang from the ceiling. Each absorbing art pieces should hang from the ceiling. Each item had its own elegance to it and they were all fit to the item had its own elegance to it and they were all fit to the best sound absorption qualities and colour combination. best sound absorption qualities and colour combination. They, together with the in- and outside of the building They, together with the in- and outside of the building would become one beautiful piece of art. would become one beautiful piece of art.

Then came the arrow that went directly through my Then came the arrow that went directly through my chest. They loved every single idea, but it was all too chest. They loved every single idea, but it was all too expensive. I was told I needed to change a few of my expensive. I was told I needed to change a few of my ideas and they gave a couple examples of what they had ideas and they gave a couple examples of what they had in mind. I looked at it and said: “No, you can’t, by changing in mind. I looked at it and said: “No, you can’t, by changing these things all the different pieces won’t fit together these things all the different pieces won’t fit together anymore.” The combination of what they had in mind and anymore.” The combination of what they had in mind and the pieces I thought of did not go well together at all, not the pieces I thought of did not go well together at all, not the shapes nor the colours accentuated each other the the shapes nor the colours accentuated each other the right way. The problem was that our deadline was right right way. The problem was that our deadline was right around the corner and that a decision soon had to be around the corner and that a decision soon had to be made. “Give me one week! I will try to find something made. “Give me one week! I will try to find something else. Otherwise it won’t be one perfect piece, but an else. Otherwise it won’t be one perfect piece, but an ununified bunch of colours and shapes placed together.” ununified bunch of colours and shapes placed together.”

I told them that, but here I am, sitting all alone at my desk I told them that, but here I am, sitting all alone at my desk out of ideas. The fact remains that the most interesting out of ideas. The fact remains that the most interesting and beautiful pieces always have the highest price tags and beautiful pieces always have the highest price tags on them. I have searched and searched for something on them. I have searched and searched for something in the same colour scheme, but can’t find anything in the same colour scheme, but can’t find anything remotely similar. I stand up and go for a walk. I really have remotely similar. I stand up and go for a walk. I really have to clear my mind. to clear my mind.

I live in London right next to the M&M store, one of the best places in the city. The store is filled with colours, bright and tasteful ones. Taking my walk, my eyes soon meet up with the huge M&M logo. As I get pulled into the store I am hit by an explosion of colours. I look around, a little bit of drool slowly leaving my face, and take it all in. The colours are arranged in a smart way, attracting the eye of the customer.

Something hits me. I see that the green M&M ’s are stationed next to the red and the orange next to the blue. This is interesting, when arranging a colour scheme I always look for colours that are similar to one another, but here they do quite the opposite. They are bold, and it works.

My mind cleared and a new idea came up. Art isn’t made by being careful, it is most interesting when having a bold stroke. A week had passed and my crew was patiently waiting in the meeting room. When walking into the room I could see that their faces were filled with doubt. But, I knew I had the perfect idea and after my speech they would feel the same.

“Boldness” I told them. //