Eefje de Corte

Why this persona fits the audience

Co-owns a four-person Amsterdam studio focused on hospitality and apartment interiors. Builds models in SketchUp and Revit, and the office's presentation workflow already runs through Enscape for fast client walkthroughs and still images.

• Age: 30
• Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Occupation: Interior designer / studio co-founder
• Income: €58k salary; studio profit share variable
• Education: M.A. Interior Architecture
• Company size: 4
• Years in role: 5

“The beauty of a design isn't just in its final form, but in the elegance of the process that brought it to life.”

Eefje de Corte's journey into interior architecture began not with a singular passion, but a growing fascination with how spaces shape human experience. Growing up in the Netherlands, she was always drawn to the interplay of light, form, and function. After completing her M.A. in Interior Architecture at the Design Academy Eindhoven, she honed her skills at a larger firm in Rotterdam for a few years, gaining exposure to diverse project types. However, the bureaucratic pace and hierarchical structure felt stifling. Seeking more autonomy and the ability to directly impact client outcomes, she partnered with Lars, a fellow alumnus with a complementary skillset, to establish their own studio in Amsterdam five years ago. Their focus quickly gravitated towards the dynamic hospitality sector and bespoke apartment interiors, where rapid visualization and client buy-in are paramount. Eefje is the driving force behind the studio's technical workflow, championing tools like SketchUp and Revit for their modeling capabilities and Enscape for its efficiency in generating high-quality walkthroughs and still images. She views these tools not just as software, but as essential partners in translating abstract concepts into tangible, persuasive presentations. Her decision to invest in Enscape early on was a strategic move to differentiate their small studio by offering a level of visual polish typically associated with larger, more resource-intensive firms. This has allowed them to secure projects that might otherwise have been out of reach. Eefje is acutely aware of the time and financial constraints inherent in running a small business. Her €58k salary is supplemented by a variable profit share, making her keenly interested in operational efficiency and project profitability. She constantly seeks ways to optimize workflows, reduce rendering times, and enhance client collaboration, believing that speed and quality are not mutually exclusive but rather synergistic elements of successful design delivery. Her personal life is a deliberate counterpoint to the intensity of her work, characterized by a love for cycling, exploring local markets, and nurturing a small but vibrant collection of indoor plants, reflecting her appreciation for organic forms and natural light.

Background & daily life

A day in their life

Eefje's typical weekday begins around 7:30 AM with coffee and a quick scan of industry news on her tablet. She cycles to the studio by 9 AM, where she first checks in with her team on project status. The morning is often spent in Revit, meticulously detailing a hotel lobby design, followed by a client call to discuss progress on a restaurant concept. After a quick lunch, she dedicates two hours to refining Enscape renders for a boutique apartment project, ensuring the lighting and material textures are perfect. The afternoon might involve a site visit or a brainstorming session with Lars about a new business proposal, wrapping up around 6:30 PM.

Lifestyle

Eefje lives in a bright, airy apartment in the Jordaan district, filled with curated vintage furniture and plants. Her routine involves early mornings with strong coffee before heading to the studio. Weekends are a mix of exploring flea markets for unique decor finds, catching up with friends over brunch, and occasionally visiting galleries. She's mindful of her budget, balancing her salary with the variable profit share, and prioritizes experiences and quality over excessive spending. She enjoys cycling through the city and finds inspiration in its architecture and canals.

Work life

As co-founder of a small but ambitious interior design studio, Eefje juggles client meetings, design development, and team management. The pressure is constant to deliver high-quality, visually stunning projects on tight deadlines, especially for hospitality clients who need rapid turnarounds. Her workday is a dynamic blend of hands-on 3D modeling in SketchUp and Revit, refining lighting schemes, and collaborating with her two junior designers and an intern. The studio's reliance on Enscape for client presentations means a significant portion of her time is dedicated to optimizing renders and ensuring the workflow is as smooth as possible.

Relationships

Eefje is close with her parents, who live in a small town in Friesland, and visits them monthly. Her core group of friends consists of fellow creatives, including architects and graphic designers, with whom she shares industry insights and social events. Her business partner, Lars, is her primary professional confidant, and their collaborative dynamic is crucial to the studio's success. She values their opinions and often seeks his input on major studio decisions.

How they decide

Eefje approaches decisions with a blend of analytical research and pragmatic consideration of time and resources. She thoroughly investigates options, weighing pros and cons, but ultimately prioritizes solutions that offer tangible benefits in terms of speed, quality, and client satisfaction. She's influenced by industry best practices and the experiences of trusted peers, but the final call is based on her assessment of efficiency and aesthetic outcome.

How they sound

Speaks with a clear, measured tone, often using precise design terminology. Her Dutch accent is subtle but present. She avoids overly casual slang but is friendly and approachable. When discussing technical aspects, she becomes more focused and direct. She tends to frame challenges in terms of solutions and efficiency, often saying things like, 'We need to find a way to streamline this,' or 'The key is to maintain visual fidelity without sacrificing speed.'