The designer within
Jill Simpson is a graduate with Distinction, of the Academy and while this achievement is indeed worthy of great praise, for Jill, such high standards are non-negotiable.
Beginning with an education in law, Jill quickly realised this was not the path for her. She had been harbouring an inner creative from as far back as she could remember and knew deep down, law was not going to satisfy that urge. And so, she began seeking something more fulfilling. The next career step would be advertising where Jill did what Jill does - and thrived.
“I was drawn instead to the dynamic combination of creativity and commercial thinking found in advertising and began my career at Saatchi & Saatchi London. During my time there, I worked on major accounts including Visa, Schweppes, NSPCC and then later moved to Lowe Lintas where I worked on Tesco, HSBC and Diet Coke.”
And while this a dynamic and exciting route to follow, it is also a high-impact, full-throttle industry that leaves no room for much else.
“I loved the fast-paced, strategic and creative nature of the industry, but I found it increasingly difficult to balance agency life with raising children.”
It was around that time that Jill’s family relocated to Chamonix in the beautiful French Alps. Not a woman to sit still, Jill began turning her attention to property renovations and interiors.
“I renovated our two-bed chalet in Chamonix, changing the layout to an upside-down house so the living area and fantastic views could be maximised on the first floor and the bedrooms on the floor below, this ignited my passion for interiors!”
And just like that, an interior designer was born.
The world as your canvas
Jill's travels would continue, bringing her closer to home and closer to family. But the most precious gift she brought home with her was her newfound passion for interiors. Jill also spent several years renovating three different family homes, one project at a time. It seems the design bug had bitten and she was now transformed
“Those projects sparked a genuine passion for interiors and made me realise just how fulfilling I found transforming spaces. It gave me that unmistakable “butterflies in your stomach” feeling — the kind that tells you you’ve found something you truly love.”
As a person who only truly understands how to do things well, Jill felt it was time to further her skills and deepen her knowledge of interior design.
“I wanted to understand the interiors industry properly before fully committing to it professionally, which is why I enrolled on the PGDip course. What appealed to me most was that interior design combines the two elements I had always loved in advertising: creativity and business strategy.”
Embarking on a PGDip with a family, a career and a home to run can feel like a huge commitment. But the academy offers great flexibility and a number of paths that can be adapted to a variety of needs. Jill may be a person who doesn’t do things by halves, but it’s important to remember there are limits to everyone’s time, energy and basic bandwidth. Jill needed a course that would live up to her own high standards as well as flexible enough to bend to her needs.
“The BAID course felt like the ideal way to explore whether interior design was truly the right career path for me while also developing practical, industry-relevant skills along the way.
I particularly liked the hybrid structure of live classes combined with online learning, which worked well around my existing commitments. The course also felt good value for the level of teaching, support and flexibility it offered.”
When expectation meets ambition
The online access of the courses offers a great deal of freedom to manage your own time and schedule, but nothing that is worth doing comes easy and while Jill is clearly passionate about interiors, she has also made sacrifices to enhance her studies and has had to push herself hard to progress.
“The most challenging aspect was balancing the written assignments with everyday life and maintaining the discipline to keep progressing independently at home. As a mature student juggling multiple responsibilities, time management and self-motivation became essential skills in themselves.”
As often happens when students first enrol, they begin with an expectation of where the course will take them and while it’s important to maintain a vision, it is also very common for students to find they have taken an unexpected route. For Jill, the Academy was in fact a reassuring experience that gave her the encouragement she needed to embark on a new career.
“My original objective was to gain a deeper understanding of the interiors industry and discover whether it was genuinely the right career for me.
The course absolutely confirmed that it is, I was proud to graduate with a Distinction, and it gave me the confidence to transition from passion to profession and ultimately launch my own interior design business.”
And like everything Jill does, she is already excelling and has been shortlisted for the BIID Interior Design Awards 2026.
“I had recently commissioned a professional photoshoot of Dumbreck for my new website, which was a significant investment for a start-up business. I remember thinking I should make the most of the photos! Shortly after completing the shoot in February, I saw an advert for the BIID Awards and decided to submit the project and photos.
I entered because I felt proud of what I had created and just thought, “Why not give it a go?” Being shortlisted has been an incredibly encouraging and validating moment so early in my career.”
The greatest takeaway Jill has brought with her from her studies is the reassurance that it is never too late to pursue what you love. She is a shining example of success through determination and a person who listened to her creative voice and followed her heart.
“Creativity has always been an important part of my life, but studying interior design made me realise just how essential it is to my wellbeing and identity.”
Professional success
Jill's interior design company Jill Simpson Interiors is already up and running and going from strength to strength,
“Launching Jill Simpson Interiors has been both exciting and incredibly rewarding, but also a huge learning curve.
Running your own design business means becoming a true multi-tasker — you’re not only designing spaces, but also managing clients, overseeing projects, controlling budgets, marketing yourself and constantly networking. At times it can definitely feel overwhelming.
The greatest challenge was probably taking the leap in the first place and trusting myself enough to go for it. But once I committed fully, opportunities started to come through, and that gave me real confidence that I was on the right path.”
Fulfilment exists in different ways for different people, but one universal truth seems to be that if you have an inner creative urge, sooner or later that artist needs to be released. It is in this freedom that an inspiring, dynamic and truly gratifying life can be enjoyed.
Are you ready to explore your own Creative Future?
Whether you’re looking to change careers, develop your creative skills, or turn a passion for design into something more, the Interior Design Courses are designed to help you build practical, industry-ready skills from home with personalised tutor feedback and flexible online learning.
Explore now and discover where your creativity could take you.
