Seungjun Baik - BA (Hons) International Interior Design (Top-Up)
From Vandalism to Art
As an interior designer with a multicultural background and a deep interest in urban and community-led design, my work focuses on how spatial narratives can challenge perceptions and initiate social dialogue. I am particularly drawn to spaces that hold tension—between art and vandalism, history and regeneration, isolation and community.
For my final major project, I explored the urban neighbourhood of Hulme, Manchester, once stigmatised as a neglected and unsafe area. Rather than erasing the raw visual language of the site—its graffiti and vandalised surfaces—I sought to reinterpret them through the lens of creative education and cultural activation. The project reimagines a disused local landmark, the Junction Hotel, as a hybrid community centre: a place for learning, expression, exhibition, and gathering.
The design combines raw materiality and digital integration, housing a graffiti learning space, exhibition areas, rest zones, and a public skatepark—bridging youth culture and creative practice. My aim is to empower young artists and transform narratives around vandalism by reframing it as a tool for community connection, education, and identity.
Having studied in both South Korea and the UK, with additional experience in Milan, I bring a diverse perspective to design and a strong appreciation for spatial storytelling. I am passionate about designing retail and public spaces that balance brand identity, local relevance, and user experience.
Looking forward, I aim to contribute to design studios or interior architecture firms based in Manchester and London, where I can continue to explore spatial storytelling and socially engaged design. With my multicultural background and strong interest in local identity, I hope to be part of a team that values thoughtful, site-specific, and community-driven design. I believe that well-designed spaces—no matter how small—can build pride, reshape perceptions, and positively transform everyday urban life.
