From diploma to design revolutionary: How Zoe Lowres started Programa

Discover how co-founder and alumna Zoe Lowres’ mission to streamline design processes and empower the A&D industry started at Billy Blue.

Having previously studied a bachelor's degree in Business (Marketing & Management), Zoe Lowres decided to pursue her love for design and enrolled in a Diploma in Interior Design and Decoration at Billy Blue College of Design.

Upon graduating, Zoe worked as a hotel and residential interior designer at one of Melbourne's top architecture firms before continuing her career at Studio Alexandra. While at Studio Alexandra, she co-founded the design project management platform Programa, taking the global interior design industry by storm.

The idea for Programa was sparked through a conversation with Zoe’s partner, Traviss Orr. In 2019, Zoe was working on a large project that required her to manually update product and project specifications across multiple excel worksheets. Traviss asked where all these specs were logged within the organisation and she responded with, “No, this is it”. After searching and realising there wasn’t a solution, they set out to be the solution and created Programa.

Zoe Lowres alumna at Billy Blue College of Design

Our mission is to empower students to discover their passions and equip them with the tools, knowledge and opportunities they need to succeed and love what they do. We spoke with Zoe to learn why she chose to pursue interior design and how Billy Blue played a pivotal role in launching her creative career.

Why did you pursue interior design?

I came to interior design a bit later in life. After getting a degree in business, marketing and management and working in the field for a little while, I realised that marketing, while creative, just didn't light me on fire. I’ve always been a creative thinker and wanted to find an outlet that would truly spark my interest. That’s when I discovered interior design. I enrolled in the Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration at Billy Blue, and from the very first class, I was absolutely hooked.

What drew you to study at Billy Blue?

Billy Blue was a no-brainer for me. The fact that all the lecturers were active in the industry made all the difference. They weren’t just teaching theory; they were sharing real-world experience. I’m a super pragmatic person and hands-on learner, this approach was exactly what I needed.

What it was like studying at Billy Blue?

My time at Billy Blue was transformative. I started with a creative curiosity and left feeling confident in my skills and career path. What I loved most was the clear dedication of the lecturers. They took a personal interest in our progress, going beyond what was required of them to help me grow my skills and abilities.

Three lecturers: Jacqui Casey, Sophie Lucas and Jason Pasqual were particularly influential to me. They supported my wild ideas and helped turn them into viable, real-world solutions. The connections I made and the confidence they instilled in me have been invaluable throughout my career.

What is Programa?

Programa, designed by A&D professionals for the industry, is an end-to-end project management platform for interior designers and architects. Trusted by over 5000 design studios in 80 countries, it facilitates the entire project lifecycle, from concept to completion, with comprehensive technology. Offering efficient workflow management, real-time collaboration, and complete tools for specification and scheduling, Programa transforms traditional practices. This innovation streamlines administrative tasks, enabling A&D professionals to concentrate on their core skill: designing from start to finish.

Can you give us an example of how Programa prevents small errors from having larger negative impacts on an overall project?

Imagine this: you're deep into a project, and a small typo in a product SKU code could derail everything. With Programa, our product scheduling tool lets designers import product information directly from suppliers' websites, cutting out manual data entry and the errors that come with it. This way, you save time and have confidence every detail is spot on. It’s all about making the design process smoother and more efficient, so designers can focus on what they do best.

If Programa was a person, how would you describe it?

If Programa were a person, they would be the sidekick every designer needs. Reliable, knowledgeable and always there to simplify the chaos. Think of someone who can turn a complex situation into something beautifully straightforward. Essentially, the kind of person who makes everything just a little bit easier and a lot more enjoyable.

How Zoe launched Programa

With a clear vision in mind, Zoe and Traviss found a partner in Claudio Oyarce. As the co-founder of Denfair, Australia's largest trade show for architects and designers, Claudio had an extensive existing network of suppliers he could connect with designers, making their collaboration a good fit. After six months of bootstrapping the beta version of the platform, Programa was launched in 2020.

Investors were receptive to Programa, with many of them having experienced challenges of tracking their own projects when working with interior designers. From pitching, the Programa team acquired funding to build their team to 40 (and counting!) and establish a global footprint.

Zoe’s top tips for pursuing a career in interior design

Discover how Zoe maximised her time at Billy Blue by proactively tapping into our academics' expertise. Learn how she made the most of her experiences to become job-ready and stand out as a strong candidate in the competitive field of interior design.

What advice can you offer interior design students wanting to enter the industry?

Put yourself out there early and often. While studying, I emailed studio directors whose work I loved, asking for their advice on tailoring my studies to make me an attractive candidate after graduation. That proactive approach landed me a job while I was still in school, allowing me to learn on the job. The workload was intense, but it turbocharged my learning and development. Start anywhere you can, even if it’s not a design role – just getting your foot in the door is a major win!

What skills are vital to succeed in interior design?

Two words: organisation and resilience. While creativity is the heart of design, the day-to-day demands require exceptional organisation and the ability to weather any storm. Projects change, clients' needs evolve and unexpected issues pop up. Staying organised and resilient helps you navigate these challenges relatively unscathed and deliver beautiful results.