A day in the life of an Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment student
12 February 2025 - Melpomeni Rapti, Homes Propositions and Products Manager at Lloyds Banking Group, and a student on the Postgraduate Certificate in Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment (IDBE), shares her experience of studying the programme and details what a day looks like during the second of her two residential workshops in Cambridge, UK.
My day begins with…
I start with a quiet moment of reflection and a strong cup of coffee from local cafe Hot Numbers, after a short walk from Selwyn College where I stayed. If I’m staying near the workshop venue, I enjoy a short walk, taking in the surroundings and mentally preparing for the learning ahead. It’s not unusual to bump into fellow participants, and these early conversations set a positive tone for the day. We often exchange reflections on previous sessions or share our hopes for what we’ll learn next.
The workshop starts with…
The focus of this workshop is working environments. Workshops kick off with an energy that’s both engaging and inspiring. After an overview of the day’s agenda, we dive straight into sessions led by Dr. Sarah Shahrin on forecasting future community needs through cultural insights, where we explored solutions to combine the benefits of tourism without compromising the heritage of historic buildings: an area that directly aligns with my work on sustainable housing conservation. The afternoon discussion is led by Dr. Paul Chambers who walks us through the government policy landscape of sustainability in the UK. The discussions are always rich with insights and challenge me to think differently about how to apply sustainability principles in my role.
Between sessions we…
Breaks between sessions are a valuable time to connect with other participants. Whether it’s over coffee or during a quick walk around the venue, these moments of networking often lead to meaningful exchanges of ideas. I’ve had conversations that sparked new ways to approach projects, from leveraging data more effectively to building partnerships that drive sustainability. The diversity of perspectives among participants makes every interaction enriching.
After lunch we…
Afternoon sessions often involve a shift in format, moving from presentations to more interactive activities like group work or workshops, focusing on our practical project where we get to develop innovative ideas to help support the sustainability strategy for selected buildings in the Cambridge University Estate. We’re looking to maintain the building’s heritage while applying a sustainable focus. These sessions are designed to deepen our understanding of the topics and encourage us to think practically about applying what we’ve learned. One particularly memorable exercise involved designing a customer proposition to promote energy-efficient homes. Collaborating with peers from different sectors gave me a fresh perspective on how to balance innovation with real-world challenges.
After sessions finish…
Evenings are a chance to decompress and reflect on the day’s learning. Sometimes, I join fellow participants for dinner, continuing the rich discussions in a more relaxed setting. On other evenings, I prefer some quiet time to consolidate the insights gained and brainstorm how they can inform my sustainability initiatives at Lloyds. These reflective moments are crucial for translating workshop content into actionable ideas, such as seeing how I can transfer my learnings on preserving the heritage of buildings while applying an innovative lens in my work at Lloyds Banking Group.
After a day of learning…
Each day leaves me invigorated and deeply reflective. The workshops challenge me to step beyond conventional thinking and envision bold, innovative approaches to sustainability within my role. I come away with a renewed sense of purpose and a profound understanding of the power of collaboration. The shared commitment among participants and facilitators to addressing global challenges like climate change reminds me that collective action is not only possible but essential.
I am inspired to…
I am inspired to develop innovative propositions that empower our customers to make sustainability an integral part of their homes and lifestyles. Drawing on insights from the workshops, I am exploring how creativity and cross-sector partnerships can drive transformative change. For example, collaborations with trailblazers like Octopus Energy enable us to deliver practical, impactful solutions for energy efficiency, while leveraging data helps us tailor propositions to meet diverse customer needs. These experiences have reinforced my passion for turning ambitious ideas into tangible results, and I am motivated to share my learnings through industry forums and collaborative projects. Each session leaves me more determined to contribute to a sustainable future, one meaningful innovation at a time.