Alice Biagi is a 27-year-old girl from Trieste, Italy. Before starting her ESC project, she studied Architecture for three years. After getting her Bachelor’s degree, she has worked for a few studios in the same field of her studies.
Why did you start this project?
I was doing my Master’s studies, called “Relational Design” and I needed to get some practical experience, so I’ve found this opportunity. I really liked the organisation, especially the topics they are dealing with.
Did you have some fears and hopes at the beginning?
My biggest fear was to not being able to integrate well because of the language, and not being at the same level as them, especially because I came from Architecture and this was a “new world”, a new field.
My main hope was being able to “leave” the field of Architecture, to find another “path”, a different one that I would like to do. Maybe even more than the one I’ve studied.
How is it going so far?
Really well, because it’s a really various work environment. There are a lot of different projects and the possibility to follow them all, to be able to learn a lot from them.
Did you manage to achieve any goals?
Yes. My personal one was to be less shy and more confident in myself. Other goals were, for example, increasing my Graphic skills, this helped me increase my self-esteem and the chance to be a part of a European tender that I was interested in.
What are your tasks at PiNA?
I do Graphic Design and I’ve done a few tasks for different international projects, for example, one was connected to the topic of urban regeneration.
Did you do a project that you’ve really liked?
Yes, the project I’ve liked the most was the one about the writing and preparation of the European project, that they’ve presented last week. I liked it because I’ve learned how the process works and I think I’ve managed to help them.
Did you develop any new skills?
I think you should ask the people I’m working with. *laughs* Mostly graphic competences that I thought I didn’t have before. In the end, what I’m doing is not that bad and I didn’t think that I was able to do it in the beginning.
Did you have the chance to visit some places in Slovenia?
Yes, but since I’m from Trieste that was something I was already doing anyway.
Yeah, you’re lucky. Which ones did you visit?
I went to Ljubljana, Izola, Koper, a few little towns too. I often go around Slovenia.
What is your best memory?
Before I met PiNA, I passed through Koper a few times by car, but I’ve never stopped. From the high road it looked like an industrial and port city. When I’ve first met them, I’ve entered the city center for the first time and I’ve discovered a historical center, a small city, but really beautiful. So this really hit me, because I didn’t think it was like this.
Yeah, it’s a nice place. What about the worst one?
The parking, because there’s none. It’s impossible to find a spot, so surely I will bring this “negative” memory with me. *laughs*
What surprised you the most about Slovenia?
The work environment, the fact that they are really determined and essential in doing things, while in Italy we talk a lot but we don’t do that much. Here it’s the opposite.
Have you started any new hobbies or discovered any new passions?
Talking about hobbies, I go to Ankaran for playing beach volley, which is pretty close to here. My new passion, well mostly as a new interest I have Graphic Design because I really like doing it.
Did you have the chance to learn something new?
Before, I only had experiences in architectural studios, where the “figures” are always the same, while here there is a multidisciplinary because they all have different competences and that’s how you learn to communicate and find a “common ground”.
I didn’t learn a lot of Slovenian, though, I only know the numbers, a few basic stuff and things to eat.
What would you like to bring home with you once it’s finished?
Well, all the things I’ve learned, I would like to maintain them and be able to open something similar to PiNA in Trieste. I would like to keep in touch with them because I really like how they work and they’re really nice people.
Talking with Alice was delightful because it made me understand her point of view and we kind of shared the same fears at the beginning of our experiences.
