Interior designer and design documenter with 25 years’ experience across commercial interiors—workplace, warehouse, retail, hospitality and high-end residential. I specialise in accurate, construction-ready documentation in Autodesk Revit, from project setup and model management through tender, construction and As-Built packs. I work confidently within BIM workflows and collaboration (Autodesk Construction Cloud), with a meticulous eye for detail and buildability. I’ve also transitioned practices to Revit and trained and mentored designers throughout my career.

Joalette van Niekerk

Interior designer and design documenter with 25 years’ experience across commercial interiors—workplace, warehouse, retail, hospitality and high-end residential. I specialise in accurate, construction-ready documentation in Autodesk Revit, from project setup and model management through tender, construction and As-Built packs. I work confidently within BIM workflows and collaboration (Autodesk Construction Cloud), with a meticulous eye for detail and buildability. I’ve also transitioned practices to Revit and trained and mentored designers throughout my career.

Available to hire

Interior designer and design documenter with 25 years’ experience across commercial interiors—workplace, warehouse, retail, hospitality and high-end residential. I specialise in accurate, construction-ready documentation in Autodesk Revit, from project setup and model management through tender, construction and As-Built packs.

I work confidently within BIM workflows and collaboration (Autodesk Construction Cloud), with a meticulous eye for detail and buildability. I’ve also transitioned practices to Revit and trained and mentored designers throughout my career.

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Work Experience

Design and Documentation (Centric Architects) at Centric Architects
May 1, 2022 - Present
Design and documentation for workplace and warehouse projects, including concept presentations, tender and construction documentation.
Design and Documentation (workplace & warehouse projects) at Centric Architects
May 1, 2022 - Present
Provided design and documentation for workplace and warehouse projects, including concept presentations and tender and construction documentation.
Design and Documentation (Workplace & Warehouse) at Centric Architects
May 1, 2022 - Present
Design and documentation for workplace and warehouse projects; prepared concept presentations and delivered tender and construction documentation.
Design and Documentation (Girvan Group) at Girvan Group
December 1, 2020 - Present
Design and documentation for workplace and warehouse projects, including concept presentations, tender and construction documentation.
Design and Documentation (workplace & warehouse projects) at Girvan Group
December 1, 2020 - Present
Provided design and documentation across workplace and warehouse projects, including concept presentations and tender and construction documentation.
Design and Documentation (Workplace & Warehouse) at Girvan Group
December 1, 2020 - Present
Design and documentation for workplace and warehouse projects; prepared concept presentations and delivered tender and construction documentation.
Tender and Construction Documentation at Sheldon Commercial Interiors
October 1, 2020 - Present
Tender and construction documentation for workplace projects.
Tender and Construction Documentation (Workplace Projects) at Sheldon Commercial Interiors
October 1, 2020 - Present
Delivered tender and construction documentation for workplace projects.
Design and Documentation (interior projects) at Unita
August 1, 2020 - December 1, 2024
Produced design and contract documentation for a range of interior projects, including tender and construction documentation.
Design and Documentation at Unita
August 1, 2020 - January 1, 2024
Design and documentation for a range of interior projects, including tender and construction documentation.
Freelance Design Documenter & Interior Designer at Multiple commercial interiors practices (Girvan Group, Centric Architects, Sheldon Commercial Interiors, Unita)
January 1, 2020 - Present
Concurrent contract documentation across multiple commercial interiors studios, delivered independently to each studio’s standards. Responsibilities include concept presentations as well as tender and construction documentation for workplace and warehouse projects, across multiple clients.
Freelance Design Documenter & Interior Designer at Multiple freelance/contracting clients (concurrent contracts)
January 1, 2020 - Present
Delivered independent, concurrent design and contract documentation to multiple commercial interior practices’ standards, including concept presentations and tender/construction documentation for workplace and warehouse projects.
Freelance Design Documenter & Interior Designer
January 1, 2020 - Present
Concurrent contract documentation across multiple commercial interior design practices, delivered independently to each studio’s standards. Supported concept presentations, tender and construction documentation for workplace and warehouse projects, including design and documentation for multiple clients/studios.
Senior Interior Designer at Sheldon Commercial Interiors
July 1, 2019 - March 1, 2020
Transitioned the practice from VectorWorks to Autodesk Revit, using Revit’s 3D modelling capability to reduce design and documentation time by 30%. Trained seven designers in Revit (training material, weekly workshops, and supervised practical projects). Mentored designers in site surveys, space planning and drawing standards; supported sales and project management with budget costings; completed tender and construction documentation.
Freelance Interior Designer at Girvan Waugh
March 1, 2019 - June 1, 2019
Designed the Dexus Place Perth co-working space and The Third Space co-working offices. Developed office spec-suite marketing plans for Dexus Sydney.
Design Manager at Girvan Waugh
March 1, 2018 - February 1, 2019
Managed four designers across office spec suites (100–300m²) and co-working spaces (100–800m²). Reduced tender response time by 40% through clear assignment of team responsibilities. Upskilled the design team in Revit through regular training. Introduced regular team-building events to improve team satisfaction.
Interior Designer at Nettletontribe Architects
January 1, 2017 - February 1, 2018
Created 3D concept designs and presentations for aged-care and multi-residential projects. Developed construction documentation for Auburn RSL Club and the Electrolux Sydney showroom and office.
Director & Shareholder at Ideate Interior Design
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2016
Co-founded an interior design firm focused on high-end residential, workplace and retail. Delivered 15+ end-to-end projects from design to construction, including full documentation. Recruited and managed four designers; led business development, project management, contractor liaison and P&L.
General Manager & Interior Designer at Manas Design & Detail
January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2011
Progressed from junior designer to general manager over 11 years. Delivered end-to-end hospitality and retail projects including 3D concept design, development and documentation. Managed eight staff with key customer liaison, and project/contractor management.

Education

Project Management at University of the Free State
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2009
AutoCAD 3D at Cape Technikon
January 1, 2001 - January 1, 2001
AutoCAD Basic at Boston House College
January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2000
Interior Design Diploma at Rita Linde School of Interior Design & Decor
January 1, 1998 - January 1, 1998
Project Management (course) at University of the Free State
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2009
Autodesk Revit (course/training) at CADplan
January 1, 2004 - January 1, 2004
AutoCAD 3D (course/training) at Cape Technikon
January 1, 2001 - January 1, 2001
AutoCAD Basic (course/training) at Boston House College
January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2000
Interior Design Diploma at Rita Linde School of Interior Design & Decor
January 1, 1998 - January 1, 1998
Interior Design Diploma at Rita Linde School of Interior Design & Decor
January 1, 1998 - August 11, 2026
AutoCAD Basic at Boston House College
January 1, 2000 - August 11, 2026
AutoCAD 3D at Cape Technikon
January 1, 2001 - August 11, 2026
Project Management at University of the Free State
January 1, 2009 - August 11, 2026

Qualifications

Autodesk Revit — CADplan
January 1, 2004 - January 1, 2004
Autodesk Revit — CADplan
January 1, 2004 - August 11, 2026
Autodesk Revit — CADplan
January 1, 2004 - August 11, 2026
AutoCAD 3D
January 1, 2001 - August 11, 2026
AutoCAD Basic
January 1, 2000 - August 11, 2026
Project Management
January 1, 2009 - August 11, 2026

Industry Experience

Real Estate & Construction, Professional Services, Retail, Education, Travel & Hospitality