A Designer Who Thinks Strategically
I’m Madrim Kusumadewi, an emerging interior designer and the founder of Madrim Kusumadewi Design. I believe thoughtfully designed spaces can bring love and joy into everyday life—through the warmth of natural light, the comfort of familiar materials, and the simple pleasure of feeling at home.
My sustainability-forward approach begins with care: for the people who inhabit a space, the resources that shape it, and the life it will hold over time. I’m interested in interiors that feel personal, function thoughtfully, and grow with the people who use them.
My story
Before pursuing interior design, I spent nearly two decades shaping brands and leading creative work across international markets. That experience taught me to listen closely, understand different perspectives, and connect a clear idea with meaningful details.
Today, I bring that same curiosity and strategic thinking to my studies in UCLA Extension’s Architecture and Interior Design program. Through space planning, architectural drawing, and material exploration, I am developing a practice that connects creative expression with the practical needs of everyday living.

Design Philosophy
Every space tells a story. Mine are grounded in truth.
My design process begins with understanding how people live, what they value, and what gives them a sense of belonging. I call this approach Ground Truth.
Drawing on my background in brand strategy and creative leadership, I approach residential and commercial interiors with a clear concept, an understanding of the people who will use them, and a purpose that guides every detail. Thoughtful planning and considered material choices bring that purpose to life, creating spaces that care for people and the planet while bringing love and joy into everyday life.
Ground Truth: my method
Narrative first. Every project begins with an idea worth living in. That concept guides each decision that follows, from the floor plan to the final finish, so the space feels whole rather than assembled.
Heritage, made to perform. I draw from history, craft and the places we remember, then build them to meet today's standards for health, durability and accessibility. Romance and rigor share equal weight.
Materials that tell the truth. I research what I specify: where it comes from, who makes it, and how it lives over time. Sustainability isn't a label I add at the end. It's a standard I design to from the start.
Curated, never predictable. I'm drawn to the unexpected pairing and the quiet surprise, edited with restraint so that every element has a reason to be there.
Spaces that nurture. I believe a well-designed room should take care of the people in it. I design for how a space makes you feel, so that you are safe, understood and free to thrive, at the end of an ordinary day and through life's bigger moments.
The result
Interiors with a point of view: considered, enduring, and unmistakably yours.
Business & Operations
Project Management
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Cross-functional Team leadership
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End-to-end from strategy, concept, development and delivery
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Budget planning & tracking
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Vendor & agency management
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Software: Workfront, Asana, Jira, MS Project & Programa
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Multi-stakeholder alignment
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Creative workflow design
Client Centered Communications
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Client discovery & briefing
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Executive presentations
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Cross-cultural communication
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B2B & B2C strategy
Marketing
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Integrated Marketing & Communications
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Market & consumer research
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Customer journey mapping
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Brand Strategy & Identity
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Content Strategy & Development
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SEO & Ai Marketing Optimization
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Social Media
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Creative Strategy & Operations
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Event Marketing & Management (IRL & Virtual)
Design & Technology
Interior Design
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Space planning & layout
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Residential staging
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Materials & finishes
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Lighting design
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Sustainability-forward design
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Architectural drawing
Software
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AutoCAD
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SketchUp
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Revit
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Chaos Enscape
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Procreate
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Canva
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Matto Board
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Programa
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Adobe Workfront
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Asana
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MS Project
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Ai-powered concept dev
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Chat GPT
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Gemini - Nano Banana
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Claude
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Mid-Journey
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Etc.
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Adobe Creative Suite
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Photoshop & Illustrator
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InDesign
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Firefly
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Education
Interior Design Candidate
UCLA X Architecture & Interior Design
Los Angeles, CA
U.S.A.
Coursework: space planning, residential & commercial interior design, architectural drawing & drafting, materials & finishes, lighting, sustainable design principles, color theory & application.
M.B.A
LSU - New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
U.S.A.
Business strategy, operations, marketing and leadership — directly supporting the rigorous project management and client relationship skills essential to design practice.
BS. International Relations
Parahyangan University
Bandung, Indonesia
Cross-cultural communication, negotiation and policy analysis — the bedrock of a global business and design practice that centers empathy and diverse client perspectives.