Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to apply for the program of Industrial Design, at the Academy for Art and
Design, in Ljubljana.

I had to opportunity to visit Ljubljana in the spring of 2017 and I was fascinated and enchanted by
this small town. As a person who loves travelling, meeting and experiencing new places and cultures,
I was magically enchanted by the peace, the greenness, the order and the lightness with which this
city fills the days.

During a magical night along Ljubljanica, I was discussing about the fascination of the Bauhaus design
and the modernity on the whole, Gaudi and his eye for details. I was discussing the brilliancy of
Plecnik, his seal on the city and his points of view, how was the urban development of Ljubljana, his
general contribution in the design and architecture of the city. While discussing my present work in
the field of the design, my previous experience in architecture and how we should always try to be
the best and worship the best, I accidentally found out about the existence of ALUO and the
program of Industrial Design.

Even though, at the time I was not planning on continuing my education, or changing my job or
country, that conversation would not leave my thoughts. The information alone that this Academy
exists, the possibility of master studies, the possibility to dig deeper into the methodology of the
Industrial Design and Design Process, somehow awoke the awareness for the quiet and yet so
present influence of the industrial design all around us.

Then I decided that starting the master studies was the right move on the path that I have been
walking on for four years and that it was time to widen my knowledge, in order to improve my
working process, a bigger involvement in designing products and furniture, increasing my research
and to improve myself in the area.

My first real encounter with product/industrial design was four years ago when, after I had finished
the undergraduate studies at the Faculty for Architecture in Skopje in 2014, (with my graduation
thesis in the subject Social Buildings – theme: New project for a Drama theater in Skopje, in an
existing location) and a short voluntary job as an architect in the Architecture Studio Tetraktis, I got
the opportunity to be employed as an architect/designer in a company for production of wrought
iron and metal constructions Kaliko Komerc, in Skopje. That was my very first direct encounter with
product design, process of manufacturing as well as their montage.

Thinking that it would be a temporary job before I find something more secure in the field of
architecture and design, because the fields of interest during my studies were social buildings
(theatres, stadiums, sports centers are part of the projects I have worked on) and urbanism as a field
in development in sustainable systems, self-sustainable communities such as the Sustainable City in
Dubai, and during my visit there I was very delighted by the number of systems which they have
used in one community……….…, I was not expecting at all that I would find myself in the process of
product designing.

In the first few months I saw the proximity between the methodological approach towards a big
building and completely the same level of complexity in designing a product that should satisfy the
functional and aesthetical criteria and to also be accepted on the market.
In the architectural world where the plastics around me were made into huge shapes – my full and
empty were: buildings (the full) and the streets, squares, boulevards, parks (the empty). My view
was slowly focusing on slightly different shapes and the products, which are in the space which I had
previously given myself the freedom to shape. Then I started to notice the importance of the shape
of each and every product (furniture, highlight, glass, pen…) its ability to ennoble and fulfill not just
the space but also the life of the final user.

I gradually discovered my fascination towards the designing of small things, the different processes
of their making, the constant possibility for innovation, the freedom and the necessary level of
knowledge of materials that can be applied, as well as the techniques of processing of the different
materials.

My job in the last four years included making unique designs for each client (awnings, eaves,
external fences and terraces, gates, doors, interior banisters, wrought iron furniture, Inox furniture),
making design solutions according to the chosen style and direction, choice of materials, preparing
the production documentation, supervision of the process of production. For product we made a
prototype – and we often made small changes in the design, then we chose the color and the finish.

Going through the program in detail my excitement grew even more. I believe that my
undergraduate studies in architecture, the active knowledge of AutoCad, ArchiCad, 3D Max,
Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, completed with the working experience in design of products
made of iron and inox, are an excellent foundation for continuing in the field of industrial design.

My whole life I have been surrounded with beautiful objects that made me happy, and fascinated
me with their shape, function and innovation. My eye has always noticed new designs, new
innovative solutions, sustainable energy and new digital technologies, without seeing how it
fascinates and thrills me and that my future is creating and designing that type of products.

The photography as well as the graphic design are my second passion which I think further
completes my search for the pure shapes and the beautiful.

With my strong academic background and experience, I am confident that I am qualified and able to
perform well in this program. I also believe that I can make significant contribution to this program.

Thank you very much for considering my application.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Ivana Josimovska