I was born in Yerevan in 1981. As soon as I learnt to read, I took an enormous interest in my older brother’s science books. Moreover, science fiction books unwrapped my imagination: my own future was portrayed to me in a heavy white uniform of an astronaut. On the other hand, I was also fascinated with Newton, Aivazovsky, and Charlotte Bronte. What was future holding in store for me? Was I going to become a physicist, an artist, or a writer perhaps? Meanwhile, my grades where escalating at school...

Chemistry was a fascinating subject to me, a synthesis of meticulous science and the art of colourful materials and textures. At State Engineering University of Armenia, while doing my Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering, I covered around 50 academic subjects, which moulded my analytical thinking. It’s worth mentioning that the lecturers of the Faculty played a significant role in that process as well with their boundless enthusiasm, curiosity, and dedication to science. At the University I participated in lots of inspiring workshops, constantly quenching my thirst for profound knowledge.

Equipped with my BEng degree from SEUA and self-confidence of a twenty year old, I left for Moscow in 2003. In a few years I happened to be combining my full time work in an advertising company with my second Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design in British Higher School of Art and Design in Moscow. In 2006 I participated in the annual design competition at BHSAD and won an incredible free trip to London. Soon it became clear that I had to take full advantage of that unique opportunity.

In the same year I commenced my Bachelor’s degree in Product Design at Hertfordshire University of Great Britain. There I found myself spending many nights at Learning and Research Centre of UH, since there was so much to explore and study. I also attended presentation workshops as an elected student representative of my class and worked on refining my essay writing skills, drawing techniques, and research methods. In the second year of my studies, after the countless short term jobs, my relentless search was marked with a successful internship in Design Production Company, where I was later offered a position of a 3D designer.

Since my graduation from UH, I have been working and taking part in various creative activities, including the life drawing workshops at Hertford Regional College and even more astounding oil painting classes at Melbourne Community College. Moreover, as a member of the Time Bank volunteer centre, I get to assist elderly people with using computers. It is a priceless opportunity indeed, as I learn so much in the process, and additionally it gives me an anchor to reflect upon the rapidly growing use of technology everywhere. My mentoring work does not finish here, as I am occasionally invited by a senior lecturer at UH, Julian Lindley, to assist the final year students with their degree projects.

Yet, the most remarkable of my latest projects was with Awaiting Eyes Foundation, where I volunteered as an architect and a 3D designer, working on one of the accommodation blocks at Iqbal Begum Orphanage site in Pakistan. I created the three-dimensional model of the building complex, generated interior and exterior visuals, taking into consideration materials, local sourcing, budgets and other sustainable and social implications. This helped me reveal a new creative potential towards architectural studies, an awareness of the importance of analytical, critical architectural thinking and discourse in theoretical, technological and historical context. Consequently, I made up my mind to pursue a continuation of my self-development, and this led me to the Masters degree in Architecture at University College London. With boundless energy and enthusiasm I am ready to embrace this exhilarating phase of my life as a UCL Scholar, and it is only the beginning.

This blog is dedicated to all work/research/experiments etc produced during my studies.
http://ucl-lilit.blogspot.com