Showcase 2025 Student Spotlight: Rozerin Binboga
Student Spotlight featuring BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design student Rozerin Binboga and her project 'Obsidian'.
By Jon Duckworth | Published on 23 May 2025
Categories: Student Showcase; School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment;
The Project
Obsidian is a speculative architectural project set in 2085, where analogue craft becomes a form of resistance against a digitally controlled world. The design conceals a hidden print facility run by a rebel group, Solera. Ink, made from site-sourced coal, is treated as sacred, flowing through carefully crafted spaces to power letterpress machines. Combining traditional printing methods, custom-built mechanical tools, and layered spatial design, Obsidian explores themes of secrecy, control, and rebellion through making. It reimagines architecture as a vehicle for protest where every detail, joint, and panel tells a story of resistance.
Obsidian explores themes of "secrecy, control, and rebellion through making".
The inspiration behind the project
Rozerin says that her project Obsidian was inspired by a need to reconnect with the physical in a world that feels increasingly digital and disconnected. "Discovering the letterpress sparked something," she says. "Its honesty, weight, and rhythm reminded me of the power of making by hand. I wanted to explore how analogue craft could become a form of resistance. This project is my response: a hidden world where ink is sacred, printing is protest, and architecture becomes a tool for truth. It’s about slowing down, looking closer, and finding meaning in the act of making."
Obsidian envisages a hidden world where ink is sacred and printing is protest.
The project experience
Rozerin considers her project experience to have been incredibly rewarding.
"From the beginning, I expressed a desire to push my model-making skills further, and with the guidance and support of my tutor, I was able to explore this in depth. I was encouraged to create models that don’t just look good, but tell a story, where every material, colour, and composition choice had purpose. It’s been an exciting journey of growth and discovery."
Rozerin Binboga - BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design
Being part of NTU
Rozerin says: "My time at NTU has been positive and inspiring. I’ve developed not just my design skills, but also a stronger sense of who I am as a designer. The course encouraged me to think creatively, explore new ideas, and push my work further. Being surrounded by a creative community helped me stay motivated and inspired. Overall, NTU has helped me build both my skills and my confidence, and I feel excited for what’s next."
A highpoint came when she was nominated for a course award. "It felt really rewarding to have my work recognised by tutors, especially after putting so much time and effort into it. It gave me a real boost of confidence and reminded me that I was on the right track with my design practice. It was one of those moments that made all the hard work feel worth it."
Closing remarks
For future students of Product Design at NTU, Rozerin has the following message: "Stay curious and open-minded throughout the course. Design is all about experimenting and finding your own voice, so don’t be afraid to try new ideas and learn from mistakes. Make the most of the resources and support available at NTU. The course is a great opportunity to grow both creatively and personally, so most importantly, enjoy the process!"