From university to professional life

A couple of weeks ago, fabrik had the privilege of presenting to the final year Urban Design, Planning and Development students at Oxford Brookes University as part of their Professional Practice module, led by Isabel Irigoyen Zozaya. This module is designed to help students navigate the often-challenging transition from university to professional life.

Representing fabrik for the second consecutive year, Nic Falconer from our masterplanning team, who is an Oxford Brookes graduate himself, shared insights into his journey since he graduated in 2022. Nic reflected on his career journey to date – from interning in Bristol and London to spending a summer teaching tennis and travelling in the US, his decision not to undertake a masters and ultimately joining fabrik as an Urban Design Assistant in 2023. These diverse experiences ultimately shaped his path to becoming an integral member of fabrik’s masterplanning team.

During his talk, Nic highlighted the multi-disciplinary nature of Urban Design, touching on elements such as graphic design, photography and project management. He also shared how fabrik has supported his technical development since joining as an undergraduate. Structured training in AutoCAD, Lumion and the Adobe Suite has given him the creative freedom to experiment with his work, continuously refining his approach to both visual language and the written word. Through his insights, Nic provided a valuable real-world perspective on skills development in the world of work.

Nic concluded by showcasing some of the projects he has found most rewarding, including those that allowed him to flex his creativity in conceptual design, while also honing technical skills in layout planning and 3D visualisation. Enlivened questions and discussion was encouraged throughout, with students posing questions about working abroad, mastering new software and crafting a strong portfolio in order to stand out.

We’re always delighted to support the next generation of urban designers, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with Oxford Brookes University in the years to come.

Main image by StartupStockPhotos from Pixabay