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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.

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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.

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My story

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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.

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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.

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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
  • Cross-functional Team leadership

  • End-to-end from strategy, concept, development and delivery

  • Budget planning & tracking

  • Vendor & agency management

  • Software: Workfront, Asana, Jira, MS Project & Programa

  • Multi-stakeholder alignment

  • Creative workflow design

Client Centered Communications
  • Client discovery & briefing

  • Executive presentations

  • Cross-cultural communication

  • B2B & B2C strategy

Marketing
  • Integrated Marketing & Communications

  • Market & consumer research

  • Customer journey mapping

  • Brand Strategy & Identity

  • Content Strategy & Development

  • SEO & Ai Marketing Optimization

  • Social Media  ​

  • Creative Strategy & Operations

  • Event Marketing & Management (IRL & Virtual)

Design & Technology

Interior Design
  • Space planning & layout

  • Residential staging

  • Materials & finishes

  • Lighting design

  • Sustainability-forward  design

  • Architectural drawing

Software
  • AutoCAD

  • SketchUp

  • Revit

  • Chaos Enscape

  • Procreate

  • Canva

  • Matto Board

  • Programa

  • Adobe Workfront

  • Asana

  • MS Project

  • Ai-powered concept dev

    • Chat GPT​

    • Gemini - Nano Banana

    • Claude

    • Mid-Journey

    • Etc.

  • Adobe Creative Suite

    • Photoshop & Illustrator

    • InDesign

    • Firefly

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.

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