As a 4th year Bachelor in Design student at IE, I have been exposed to many different types of design disciplines. As I have gotten to know my classmates over the last 3+ years, I feel like I have a very clear direction of what design field(s) I want to work in. And certainly (at least as of 2025), it is definitely not in strategic design. In simplest terms I want to become an industrial designer. In more complex terms, I want to be the reverse STARchitect. Many famous architects, known as STARchitects have eventually designed their own furniture. These include, but not are limited, Frank Lloyd Wright and his Wiggle Chair and Zaha Hadid’s Mesa Table. So, I want to be an industrial designer who ends up designing pavilions for spaces and events such as an World Expo or at the Serpentine Pavilion.

As a design student, I believe it is important to expand my knowledge across different design and non-design disciplines. But at some point, I believe that individuals should focus on what they believe will benefit them the most in the certain journey they are writing for themselves. At points over the past year, I have questioned if IE’s Bachelor in Design was the right choice since I’ve known for a while the direction I want to go in. And how in the way I want my life and career to continue, many of IE’s courses will not be directly beneficial for that journey. With all due respect to this class, I do not believe a strategic design studio course will be the most beneficial course I will have or have taken previously for my future.

Despite knowing what I want from my future, I am still locked into the Bachelor in Design degree. I have less than a year left until I graduate. I’ve done courses or projects that were not fully in my wheelhouse before and I will do it again. That’s life. You won’t always do things you want to do. I believe that I have a relatively strong sense of perseverance and will power. I am able to get through things and get things done without stress or much external issues.

SDGs

Do I believe SDGs were designed with a purpose? Yes

Do I believe SDGs were effective on their current plan? No

Are goals always completed/successful? No

Do actions always go to plan? No

Despite not many actions/goals being completed as the SDG timeline is near completion, I decided to choose two SDG’s according to my values as a designer and as a person. I value accessibility, transparency, and sustainability. Due to my values, I chose SDG #10: Reduced Inequalities and SDG #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

I chose #10 because we in live in an era where the rich are getting richer while the poorer are getting poorer. And in the case of Madrid, and in Spain general, annual salaries are significantly lower compared to other major cities and countries across the EU. Even in Madrid, the wealth disparity is very apparent with housing in the city centre costing more than the suburbs, especially in areas such as Salamanca.

I chose #11 because Madrid is a desirable city to be in Spain and in the EU in general. As a result of Spain’s salaries being lower compared to other EU countries, as a result prices are lower. Therefore lower prices, compared to prices in major cities Germany, Italy, & the UK make Madrid a desirable city for expats due to their foreign currencies going further. Additionally, due to Spain’s colonialist past, Spain is an attractive destination to move for citizens of previously colonized Spanish countries due to both language and easier access to a Spanish passport & citizenship. Additionally, universities such as IE bring is many individuals from foreign countries to the city, therefore bringing foreigners into the city for typically a few years. And finally, due to Madrid being the capital of Spain, there are more opportunities in Madrid, as well as other major cities across Spain, therefore bringing in talent from smaller towns across the country. Due to all these factors, there has been unsustainable growth in the city which has put severe strain on the housing market.