Waters Meet
Welcome to Waters Meet, your go-to place for unwinding at home! Join me, Pearl, as we flow through light-hearted stories, playful conversations, and the unique moments that come with living across cultures. As a Third Culture Kid (TCK) myself, I explore life’s little quirks from a global perspective—whether you’re chilling after a long day or looking for something fun and relatable to listen to, Waters Meet is all about keeping things easygoing and bringing a smile to your face. Tune in, relax, and let’s laugh about the small things that make life, and the world, flow!
Waters Meet
#24 When Creative Freedom Meets Red Tape: A Designer's Reality Check — Italy Series ft. Shiho (Part 2/3)
In this episode — Part 2 of Italy series — I sit down with my friend Shiho, who’s currently doing her master’s in architecture in Italy.
We talk about how design is taught in Europe, the differences we’ve noticed compared to Japan, and the creative freedom (or lack of it) we’ve each experienced in school and in practice.
From studio life to government jobs, from model-making by hand to designing for a world shaped by natural disasters, this conversation gets personal — and a little bit frustrated. We reflect on what it really means to stay creative when the real world expects practicality, cost-efficiency, and control.
If you’ve ever felt torn between your artistic vision and the reality of working in design — this one’s for you.
Music by @lofimusic_bts - Mood in Dm via @hellothematic