Following a childhood passion

Growing up, Open Polytechnic graduate, Ashley Taaka always knew she wanted to do something in architectural design. “I used to make these little cardboard houses as a child, and I was obsessed with interiors and the only path to be able to do this was to undertake tertiary education to gain the necessary qualifications,” says Ashley.

After taking graphic design in high school in Year 12, Ashley began her tertiary study journey with a bachelor’s degree of architectural studies at Victoria University in Wellington, graduating in 2019.  

Ashley says after finishing her degree, she was unsure what to do, “When I was in my last year of university, I felt like I was going through a quarter life crisis not knowing what to do next. My best friend at the time suggested that since I had previously worked in retail and hospitality, and now had an architecture degree, that real estate could be a good way to put them together.”

Choosing a career path

It was then that Ashley embarked on an unconventional study journey that would equip her with new skills and would soon lead to her studying Interior Décor. 

Taking her friend’s advice, she first enrolled in the Open Polytechnic New Zealand Certificate in Real Estate (Salesperson) (Level 4) three months after completing her degree and while living with her parents in Thames.  
 
Ashley says she enjoyed the real estate course as she had not previously had experience with reading law or any or legal acts, “it was a step out of my comfort zone, but it was definitely good to learn.” 
 
After completing the real estate course in early 2021 and looking into some real estate firms Ashley decided not to pursue a career in real estate and moved with her partner to Auckland.

A change of direction 

It was in her current role at a construction company as part of the design team managing the more technical side of things, that Ashley decided to enrol in the New Zealand Certificate in Interior Décor (Level 4) with Open Polytechnic in 2024. 

“This was to refamiliarise myself with the design orientated side of things. I wanted to refresh my memory on some of the practices and principles of design,” says Ashley. 

“I’m working on a big project now, this involves working with architects, consultants, and clients and I also chair a lot of meetings with project managers and consultants. I’m looking to move overseas soon with my partner and studying the interior décor course has given me another skillset for when I do leave the country and am looking for my next role. It will mean I have a fresh memory of design if I want to go down that path.” 
 
“I enjoyed the interior décor course because, with my architecture degree, I felt like I didn’t retain all the information, the design principles and the elements. We learned the more technical side of things at university, so it was nice to learn something different in the interior décor course as it was more real world oriented. I call it the prettier side, as you get to choose colours and fabrics.  

“This part of the course was fun, I really enjoyed learning the whole design process, including learning more about contractors and clients, the different design phases, and how everything works together.”  

Applying skills to practical experience  

The skills learnt in both certificates have had an impact on Ashley’s life both personally and professionally.

Ashley says she has been able to apply what she has learnt in both programmes to her current role.

“What I learnt in my real estate studies was the customer service side of things, and to follow through with good communication with clients.  Similarly, my interior decor studies also helped emphasise the importance of this, too. Learning about good communication has been helpful, when a client asks for something and you say you're going to do it, you follow through, and you do it.” 
 
“Since doing the interior décor programme, I notice more design things in general too, when I’m out looking at a building or structure.”

Flexible learning 

Ashley says she chose to study with Open Polytechnic because of the flexibility. “I was working full time during my studies, so it was quite helpful to be able to work that around 40 hours work a week. Living with my parents in a rural town, it meant that I didn't have to travel to go anywhere. It was quite helpful to be able to just study from my bed or the kitchen table. 
 
“I found the Open Polytechnic learner portal MyOP to be quite user friendly too, which was really helpful,” she says.  

“With the flexibility of online study, I was able to do things in my personal life and work study around it as well.”  

Ashley says there were some challenges to studying online, “Probably one of my biggest challenges was motivation.” 
 
She says when it came to completing final assignments, her motivation sometimes waned, “It would be when I got to my last assignment, I’d be less motivated, especially when I had been working all day.” 

To help get back on track Ashley says she put a little pressure on herself, “I work well under a bit of pressure, so this pushed me to get it done. I also found the feedback that Open Polytechnic tutors provided on my assignments was very helpful and was enough for me work off and continue.”

Support while studying  

“When I was completing the real estate course my parents supported me in general by asking me how it was going and by keeping involved. This helped to also keep me motivated. When I was completing the interior décor course I was living in Auckland with my partner, and one of the ways he supported me was by being flexible with our weekends. If I had an assignment due, he would be flexible with our plans to make sure I had all the time I needed to get my study done, so this also really helped to keep me on track.”

“I was also lucky we had a spare room, so I had an office I could study in, and he would just leave me to it.”

Advice for other learners 

Ashley says for anyone considering online learning with the Open Polytechnic, to “just do it.” 

“I think continued learning is super important, it keeps you relevant in your industry, which can help lead to promotions and career progression.” 

“For me, study led to figuring out what I wanted in life career-wise, and in my personal life as well. I went to university thinking I was going to be an architect and then halfway through I realised I didn't want to be an architect, but I wanted to do something similar. 
 
“Looking back, I also knew so many other people who turned up to university and started studying only to decide after the first week they didn’t want to be doing what they had chosen, and they wouldn't have known this if they hadn’t tried.” 

Ashley says she’s a big advocate for personal development, “I think any personal development, helps with future happiness. To study in general is worthwhile, even if it starts with just one paper, it gets your brain going.”  
 
Ashley’s advice to other learners who have just started their study journey is to “take advantage of all the resources provided, contact your tutors, and read any extra readings.” 

“It may sound cliché, but if you want good grades, you need to put in the effort. You can't do the bare minimum and expect to get good grades.” 

“It’s the same in our personal lives too, just doing a little bit of research or putting a little extra thought or effort into something will get you a lot further,” says Ashley. 

Looking towards the future 

Ashley says she is really enjoying working in design management, and in the future would be open to joining an architecture firm or design firm. 
 
“I would also like to do a practical workshop on furniture, upholstery or curtain making. Over the last year I have become more interested on a personal level, and as a life goal, to one day design a place; a house from the foundation up, and to be in control of the design elements and everything in it.” 

“The certificate in interior décor has given me more understanding of how I want my space to be and how to achieve it, it’s made me more intentional about what’s in my space.”