Graduate Holly Rogers model-making in the Architecture Studios during her time as a student.
We caught up with Holly to reflect on how the course enabled her to succeed in her career.
Hi Holly, could you describe a little about your role at Evoque?
We're a chartered practice based in Staffordshire but working across residential and commercial projects all over the UK. We lead schemes from early concept through to completion on site. My role involves overseeing projects, working closely with clients and consultants and delivering thoughtful, practical and compliant design solutions.
What role did the course play in helping you start your career and secure your current job?
The course played a direct role in launching my career. During my studies, a local architectural practice visited the university and was looking to employ a student. I secured that role and worked there alongside my degree, gaining invaluable real-world experience. That opportunity gave me a strong head start, and over time it led to the chance to help establish my own practice. Without the connections and exposure through the course, that pathway simply wouldn’t have happened.
How did the course impact your confidence professionally?
As a mature student, returning to education was a big step. The course helped build my confidence enormously, not just in my design ability, but in myself. Presenting work, engaging in critiques and collaborating with others strengthened my ability to communicate ideas clearly and professionally. That confidence now underpins how I lead projects and manage client relationships today.
How relevant was the course content to real-world work?
The course was very relevant to practice. It balanced creativity with technical understanding and professional awareness, which reflects the reality of working in architecture. It prepared me not just to design ideas, but to understand how those ideas are delivered in the real world.
I regularly draw on the technical and construction knowledge gained during the course, as well as the structured approach to developing projects from concept to detailed design. Just as importantly, I use the communication and collaborative skills developed in studio, architecture is always a team effort.
How has this course changed your future opportunities?
The degree created opportunities I hadn’t imagined at the start. It connected me to the local architectural community and gave me a new respect for Staffordshire — its heritage, its challenges and its potential. It’s an area full of character and opportunity, and being part of its architectural future is something I’m proud of. The course didn’t just change my career path, it changed my perspective.
The course gives you more than technical and design skills, it introduces you to a network of professionals, creatives and like-minded people who can shape your future. Some of the most valuable aspects were the relationships built with tutors, local practices and fellow students. Those connections can open real doors.
From securing my first role during university to now directing my own practice, the journey has been steady, challenging and incredibly rewarding.