Malta’s first ever school of interior design is soon to open and things are looking good for those who have a penchant for the profession. Stephanie Fsadni speaks to Jean-Marc Bianchi, the brains behind the project.

Jean-Marc Bianchi is the brains behind the soon-to-open Malta Design School.

A passion for interior design has led a local professional to set up a design school. “I enjoy seeing people taking interest in interior design and love sharing my ideas and enthusiasm for it,” says Jean-Marc Bianchi, who has some 35 years of experience in the field.

The Malta Design School in Ta’ Xbiex will offer a number of courses in summer, covering a wide spectrum of subjects related to design. These include scale model-making, visual communication, photography, garden landscaping, fashion and shop window design.

Also in the pipeline is a course in interior design tailor-made for schoolchildren.

“Kids have a lot of spare time in summer, which they can put to good use. It’s an excellent time to expose them to the world of design,” says Jean-Marc.

A team of professionals will deliver the lectures, which aim to be an interactive experience.

A team of professionals will deliver the lectures, which aim to be an interactive experience

“We encourage the active participation of students. Hence our motto: a brain and the will to use it.”

Jean-Marc’s is a well-known name in the creative industry. Hailing from a family of architects, he could have easily followed in the footsteps of his late father Gaston and his late brother Paul, but he found a different calling.

“I always felt an attraction to interior design; be it the design of homes, furniture, or kitchens...,” says Jean-Marc.

Up until the 1970s, however, Malta offered little to no opportunities in interior design, as there was still not much knowledge about it and it was not yet recognised as a profession.

In 1976, Jean-Marc learnt about a course that was being offered in Rome, Italy, and despite his mother’s insistence to choose a different career path, he decided to pursue his dream of becoming a qualified interior designer. And thanks to a scholarship by the Italian Cultural Institute, off he went to Italy, where he attended a three-year course.

On his return to the island, he immediately started working in “the exciting world” of interior design and has not stopped since.

Jean-Marc obtained international experience through various engagements in Munich, Germany, as well as Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and has established himself on the local market.

In fact, he prides himself on being responsible for some major local projects, namely the Malta Communications Authority offices, set in two huge vaults at the Valletta Waterfront, which he describes as “his most challenging task yet”; the Westin Dragonara Resort, where he carried out major refurbishments; the Energy Complex in Valletta; Cara’s coffee shop in Sliema; the Frank Salt offices; and the more recent Ten Green Bottles shop in Żebbuġ.

Jean-Marc says he prefers such commercial work, rather than residential design.

“I’m not a marriage counsellor,” he quips, saying he cracks this joke whenever a couple asks for consultation. “A house is a very personal thing!”

Yet, despite this comment, he has also worked on homes for local and foreign clients.

Some 20 years ago, Jean-Marc also embarked on teaching his profession and gave several evening courses, which were well attended. Now, he has decided to go one step further and set up his own school.

“Most of an interior designer’s time is spent dealing with numerous tradesmen – carpenters, plumbers, and so forth... And I felt the urge for a further challenge,” admits Jean-Marc.

“So, I thought that going back to teaching and having my own school was a good idea.”