JADE O’Bryan has always loved drawing. From an early age she admits she was a passionately creative person.

So it is hardly surprising that the 23-year-old, of Holland-on-Sea, has chosen a creative career.

“I can honestly say I’ve got my dream job as a designer at Ripples Colchester,” says Jade.

She joined the bathroom showroom, in High Street, Colchester, after completing her four-year art foundation course and degree course in Graphic Design with Colchester School of Art.

“I just love the way art affects every person’s life. It inspires people,” she explains.

While studying for her degree,  Jade took part in a project to help develop interior design drawing and branding for the Greyfriars building on East Hill, which is due to become a boutique hotel. Jade says: “I have always been interested in interior design and watch all those programmes on television like Grand Designs, Restoration Man and George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces.”

Jade heard about the position at Ripples through a friend and was invited for an interview where she took along her portfolio.

“If anyone is interested in applying for a creative job it’s important they have a portfolio. It shows what you are capable of and how you have developed. During my interview they asked me to come up with a design and set me a brief with certain criteria I had to meet. A week later I went back for a second interview and had to explain my design and how I had followed their brief.”

The designer was successful and says she now has the job of her dreams. She helps customers design their dream bathrooms as well as working with the sales team.

She already knows what her dream bathroom would look like.

“It would definitely be industrial in style and focus on natural materials such as wood, stone and copper piping. Very raw, but that’s what I like.

“I like to be different with the wow factor.”

Jade explains she particularly enjoys the fact Ripples offer customers hand drawings rather than computer generated ones.

“It’s going back to basics with drawing, using a set square and ruler. That’s what makes us unique.”
 
As well as her creative skills Jade also uses her people skills to help sell the bathrooms and help customers make the right decision.

She says: “You have to be approachable and have good customer service, important in most jobs, particularly client-facing ones.”