Jennifer Chukwujekwe is the founder, Jenniez School of African Interior Design (JSAID). She is an educator, coach, and author. She is the President Interior Designers Association of Nigeria and is passionate about interior design in the country. Chukwujekwe believes irrespective of where people reside, interior design has an effect on them and promised that during her tenure, there would be inclusiveness in the industry, adding that she would take the industry to a higher level.
She spoke with The Nigerian Xpress.
In what ways has interior designs affected the lives of people?Thanks to COVID-19, we can see what happened to people during the lockdown when everybody was at home. People realised that they had to learn different ways of working from home. Some people realised that their houses were not as conducive as they thought it was and people understood that the more they had a beautiful space or functional space, they were more productive. This affects you as a person; your wellness, well being.
Also imagine, if you have an office that is properly designed in the way it should be designed, the productivity of your staff will definitely increase. The staff may not want to go home on time, which definitely will increase how they work.
Interior design, whether residential or commercial, has an effect on people; how they live, play, work and it is something that shouldn’t be taken for granted because it affects you emotionally, psychologically and even your well being. Interior design for me is life.
What is the impact of interior design on the nation?
As a country or nation, you cannot rule out interior design. Interior designers will help the country increase her earning power; create employment for people, open people’s eyes to how they should live and it will help in the furniture industry.
As an interior designer, which of the fabrics, local or foreign do you like to work with?Personally, I use both. The local ones are not as good as the foreign ones. However, if given the opportunity or avenue to produce, factories with high-quality textiles that can produce for our work, why not. If we have the right funding, government support , and the right manufacturers’ ground, why can’t we have the same quality as the foreign ones? We can have local fabrics that can meet international standards if given the opportunity.
What is your take on the current state of interior design in the country and space transformation industry?Interior design is a growing industry and we are trying. We don’t have universities that teach interior design in the country, which makes it impossible to produce nor have as many people as we should have in the industry. We will definitely get better and with mistakes, we will learn and improve, as we go along. I am very positive about the future of the industry in Nigeria.
As the current president of IDAN, what are your expectations for the interior design sector in Nigeria?There should be more government awareness in the sector. I want people to understand the importance of interior design in the country. I want them to understand that interior design is a very important profession in every aspect of our lives. Interior design is a profession that people cannot do without. When we understand the importance of interior designs in our lives, we will achieve a lot. I want to see a Nigeria where people cannot do anything without interior designers being consulted.
What steps are in place to checkmate the activities of quacks in the industry?Coming into the industry doesn’t take much; there are no universities that teach interior design in the country. However, there will be standards, based on experience or formal education that people will have and they cannot venture into the industry like that. They must have a formal education or a form of training based on experience. We are going to work on education standards and ensure that our people are well trained to be able to do jobs at a professional level that will meet international standards.
What was the motive behind Jenniez School of African Interior Design (JSAID)?The school was set up to bridge the gap in interior design training in Nigeria and Africa. There are no universities in the country that teach interior design and for me, it was born out of the need to see people trained. I was passionate about interior design and when I wanted to venture into it, I didn’t find anywhere I could get trained. So, I had to travel abroad for training. If I travelled abroad to study it, how many people can afford to travel to go and study it? It made sense to me to start my own and also contribute my own quota to the industry and see how Nigerians can be trained in interior design. Also, to create more awareness and produce world-class certified interior designers, who can also run successful interior design businesses.
What will you want to be remembered for during your tenure as president of IDAN?At the end of my tenure, I want to leave a better IDAN that will be inclusive. I want to be remembered for someone who came and empowered our people while members in the association will not be left out, either as a member, professional, or even as a client. I want to be remembered as someone who left a legacy in the industry, which has come to stay and be a voice for the people.
What lessons have you learnt about life?Life is in phases, whatever I do, I have to be consistent. I don’t rush things and what is mine will be mine. I have seen that through life and work hard, when it gets to that time, nothing will stop me from shining. I always put God into whatever I do in life.
How did you venture into interior design?
Initially, I didn’t know that I had a passion for interior design. When I got married, at the end of every year, I would change the outlook of my house, either by painting or something else. It took a couple of friends to visit me and they kept asking me, your house is nice, who made it for you? That was when I realised that I had a passion for interior design. People kept asking me if the interior design was what I did and I would tell them that was not. Later I researched and found out that interior design is a profession.
Before I veered into the interior business, I was into the travel industry. I am an information technology expert and into various businesses. I also went into blogging on interior design and noticed that people were asking questions about how they could decorate their houses, and it became clear that there was a gap to be filled. I got trained in interior design and started my own interior design company and as I progressed I set up the school. I realised and decided how I could train people to create impact and empower people. When I started my interior design school, I realised that people were coming to learn the skill, but they didn’t have the business skills, and that was how I became a coach to train people on interior design and teach them the business side as well.
How do you balance your home as a mother, wife and career woman?
When my kids were young, I wasn’t into interior design and I was doing other jobs. When I went into interior design, they were old enough to understand that mommy is busy now and I had a very good supportive system, from the family, husband and children, friends. Basically, it was the support that I had around me that made me thrive and do exceptionally well and with the help of God, which made things easier for me.
What was the inspiration behind your book?
The title of my book is ‘Interior Designers Planner’. During my course of training, I realised that most interior designers, because they started out of the passion for interior design, they started without a business name; they still operate with their personal account. So, the book was like a build-up into what they need to start an interior design business. The book helps people discover themselves and translate that passion into a career and be able to plan for themselves.
What is your advice to women in the profession?
The industry is mostly dominated by women. I want them to take it as a business and career. Some women would start interior design out of passion and I found out that most women do run it as a business. It is more like compassion or just trying to make ends meet. They don’t put in their all and I want them to understand that it is actually a business and career that can make them become financially free. They need to run it, as a business and not as a hobby. If you do not have the business skills to take you to the next level, then you will not be able to make much profit from the business.