Sofia Hilme : Global Undergraduate Awards 2026
Sofia Hilme : Global Undergraduate Awards 2026
Congratulations to recent Graduate of TU975 BA (Hons) Interior Design, Sofia Hilmi, who has been awarded Best Undergraduate Thesis, in the category Art History & Theory, at the prestigious Global Undergraduate Awards 2026 held in Dublin last month.
Sofia's winning thesis entitled 'Moroccan Influence in Global Furniture Design: Cultural Exchange or Exoticism Disguised as Appreciation?' critically examines the fine line between cultural exchange and cultural appropriation in contemporary design practices. Using Moroccan weaving and furniture design as central case studies, it explores how colonial and postcolonial forces have shaped Moroccan aesthetics and their global reception.
Sofia will now represent TU Dublin at the GUA Global Undergraduate Summit taking place at the RDS from 8th -11th November 2026, along with international winners from 48 other countries.