Today we’d like to introduce you to Eram Uddin.
Hi Eram, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My path to Illume Consulting and Design didn’t happen all at once — it really came out of a period of quiet questioning.
Before Illume, I spent nearly two decades working in education and editorial consulting after studying History and Education and Curriculum Development. I cared deeply about the work, and I still do, but over time I began to feel worn down and increasingly unmotivated. The work no longer felt personally meaningful in the way it once had, and I could sense that I needed something different — something that allowed for more creativity, presence, and connection in my day-to-day life.
At the same time, meaning and service have always guided my choices. From participating in the AmeriCorps Literacy Training Program in college, to teaching English in under-resourced schools in India, to researching ways to close the achievement gap among minority students in Detroit and Ann Arbor during graduate school, my work has always been rooted in service. That continued through years of nonprofit involvement, serving on boards focused on education, mental health, and community outreach. Finding purpose in the work I do has never felt optional — it’s always been essential.
That turning point came unexpectedly when I broke my foot. Being forced to slow down created space for reflection, and at the same time, my family had just begun a home renovation. Since I was home, I became deeply involved in the design process — creating designs, making decisions, coordinating details, sourcing, and overseeing the construction phases. What started out of necessity quickly became something I genuinely loved. I felt energized, present, and creatively fulfilled in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time. What surprised me most was how grounding and life-giving it felt. I realized how much I loved being immersed in the creative process and how connected I felt to shaping a space with intention.
That season gave me clarity. I began to see that my love for art, history, and meaningful environments wasn’t separate from the skills I’d built in education and service — it was an extension of them. I didn’t want to abandon my background; I wanted to carry it forward in a new way. I pursued a certification course in interior design and created Illume Consulting and Design as a way to bring together my analytical strengths with creative and spiritual sensibilities.
Today, Illume reflects that journey. It’s about designing with care and purpose — creating spaces and projects that feel thoughtful, grounded, and aligned with how people truly want to live and work.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. There was a steep learning curve, especially on the technical and business side of interior design, and I knew I couldn’t rush that part. Before launching Illume publicly, I spent a lot of time learning, practicing, and building confidence in my skills—and honestly, I’m still leveling that plane. I felt a strong responsibility to truly know what I was doing before helping others shape their homes and spaces.
After completing a six-month certification course, I went through a period of pretty intense imposter syndrome. For several months, I questioned whether I had made the right decision and whether I was really “ready.” It was challenging to move from structured learning into trusting myself as a designer, even though I knew why I was doing this. My motivation has always been clear: I want to help transform people’s lives by creating spaces that feel purposeful, intentional, and deeply supportive of how they live.
A major turning point came when I attended a design retreat in Istanbul last July. That experience shifted everything for me. Being surrounded by designers from all over the world—each on their own path, with their own doubts and strengths—was incredibly grounding and empowering. The retreat offered the kind of theoretical depth I had been craving, and it helped me reconnect with why design matters beyond trends or aesthetics.
I left that experience feeling confident, inspired, and clear about how I wanted to apply what I had learned into my own practice at Illume. And for me, Illume is more than a business. It’s something I’m constantly pausing and reflecting on—making sure that what I offer as an interior designer remains aligned with my deepest values around intentional, meaningful, and impactful work.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Illume Consulting and Design, LLC?
Illume Consulting and Design is built on the understanding that the spaces we inhabit quietly shape how we live, feel, and move through the world. The work is guided by intention—aligning beauty with purpose to create environments that feel calm, grounded, and meaningful, rather than driven by trends or excess.
My approach to design is informed by an educational and editorial background. I work the way I once approached curriculum design: by listening closely, asking thoughtful questions, and building with care and clarity. I specialize in residential and communal spaces, beginning each project by understanding how people live, gather, and what their space is meant to support. Atmosphere—light, materials, flow, and proportion—is central to the work, shaping how a space feels as much as how it functions.
What sets Illume apart is a depth of care and responsibility toward both people and spaces. Each project is approached thoughtfully and deliberately, with respect for the trust placed in the process and a commitment to working with integrity. The studio has grown slowly and intentionally, prioritizing alignment, learning, and service over rapid expansion.
At its core, Illume is more than an interior design studio. It is a practice centered on presence, care, and purpose—whether shaping a home, guiding a creative process, or helping someone experience their space in a more meaningful way. The goal remains the same: to create environments that feel supportive, intentional, and quietly transformative.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I would say intentionality and integrity. I try to move thoughtfully and stay true to my values, both in how I design and how I work with people. Taking the time to get clarity upfront allows the work to move forward smoothly, and staying grounded in honesty and care helps me build trust and do work that feels genuinely meaningful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.illumedesignmi.com
- Instagram: illume_designmi
