04 Dec 2025
The fabulous career of Kristen Palfreeman (Class of 2021) is flourishing — and at Wednesday's Lunch and Learn, she returned to inspire our current students, eager to explore their own future pathway to interior design.
After completing a Bachelor of Interior Design at Billy Blue College of Design (Torrens University), Kristen stepped into the dynamic world of shaping spaces, collaborating with clients, choosing materials, exploring concepts, creating digital models, and bringing ideas to life — from sketch to final fit-out.
Now at HDR Interior Design, Kristen works with a team passionate about traditional homes, rural properties and character-filled spaces that tell a story.
Our audience heard Kristen’s journey from high school classroom to industry studio and got a real insight into what it’s like to work in a profession where creativity, problem-solving and innovation come together in exciting and meaningful ways.
She spoke about her degree, her internship with HDR, an unforgettable London Design Tour, and her roles and responsibilities as a full-time Interior Designer. In just a few short years, Kristen has achieved so much — and students could clearly see a pathway they too could follow.
Kristen also highlighted the importance of building transferable skills like communication and confidence — starting with her very first casual job at Athlete’s Foot and through each step she's taken since. She reflected on how her time at Caroline Chisholm College, especially studying Design & Technology and Visual Arts in her HSC, laid the foundations for the designer she is today, with a focus on human emotions and people-focused spaces.
Perhaps her most powerful message of all: say yes to opportunities — you never know where they’ll take you.
What an inspiring session - thank you Kristen for your wonderful presentation, proving how creativity and courage can shape spaces — and futures!
Our background image features a recent kitchen renovation design project that Kristen has had a big hand in at Kings Langley.
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