Meet the Team

Helle Byrn

Interior Architect and CEO, Chairman and Founder

Helle´s passion has her entire life been a passion for Design and for creating beautiful spaces. Biggest project has been the foundation in 1995 of Marbella Design Academy.

Frank Ortega

Architect and Course Director

Course Director, Link Tutor with our UK Partner University and Tutor on the Interior Architecture Validated Programme

Gualberto Cerrón

Interior Architect and Principal

Principal of the Marbella Design Academy. Contribute to the daily running of the Academy.

Rachel Parker

Secretary and Student Support

Rachel has a BA (Hons) in History and Sociology, Advanced Diploma in Logistics, Postgraduate Leadership and Man-Management Course and Equal Opportunities and Diversity Advisor. Rachel is a very important person at the Academy providing secretarial and administrative support to the Academy and staff members, as well as being the point of contact on Student Support, answering all enquiries and providing excellent advice and support to student administrative and pastoral issues.

Benedicte Byrn

Graphic Designer in our Marketing Department.

Benedicte has a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design. She is together with Fabrice in charge of our Marketing Department and responsible for all the marketing layout of the Academy. Benedictes job as a Graphic Designer in our Marketing Department has endless creative issues to be solved. Benedicte is in charge of the creative expression of all our marketing material and she is a master in working with PhotoShop.

Fabrice Durand

In charge of our Marketing Department.

BTS (Superior Technician Degree) of Advertising and Marketing. Fabrice has the very important job of being in charge of our Marketing Department together with Benedicte. It is a big job with many different aspects to be solved and carried out within our Marketing Department.

Jean Pierre M. Costa

Head of our 12 weeks Design Foundation Course at Marbella Design Academy.

Jean Pierre has a Bachelor of Art degree in Graphic Design. He has been a professional designer and teacher for more than 20 years within the fields of graphic, industrial, interior and web design. With his huge knowledge within many aspects of Design, Jean Pierre is the perfect Head for our Design Foundation Course.

Natalia Rivera

Head of our 3 year Bachelor of Arts validated programme in Fashion Design & Manufacture at Marbella Design Academy.

Natalia Rivera has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Design. Natalia is a passionate fashion designer. Natalia is highly driven and very creative. We are pleased to have Natalia onboard as Head of our Fashion Design & Manufacture Department.

Alberto Leonardo

Head of our 3-year Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Graphic Design & Media at Marbella Design Academy.

Alberto has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master degree in Graphic Design. Alberto has been with us for many years with big success. We are so happy to have such a skilled Head of our Graphic Design & Media Department. Alberto is highly educated with: Master of Fine Arts in Computer Art, San Pablo CEU, Spain. Bachelor in Jewellery Design EASD Valencia, Spain. Fine Arts degree, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Spain

Elisabet Cuesta Hauge

Tutor at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programmes in Fashion Design & Manufacture and Graphic Design & Media.

Master in Fashion Design, Master of Fine Arts in Computer Art, Pedagogical Adaptation Certificate and a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. Elisabet, Eli is a multitalented and very well educated designer whom we are so fortunate to have employed as Tutor in our Fashion Design & Manufacture Department at Marbella Design Academy

Paula Rieksta

Tutor at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Fashion Design & Manufacture.

Paula has a BA degree in Fashion Marketing and is a tutor at the Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Fashion Design & Manufacture. Paula is teaching our fashion design students in how to marked them-self and their design locally and world wide as future professional Fashion Designers.

Nuria Ruiz

Fashion Technician in Fashion Making at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Fashion Design & Manufacture

Nuria is Fashion Technician in Fashion Making. Diploma as Technician in pattern making, cutting and tailoring from the Dona Design School of Barcelona. She has more than 10 years of experience in artisanal dressmaking focusing on clothing for shows, dance, custom clothing and with experience in other areas of costume construction.

Elvira Rodríguez Ruiz

Tutor at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Interior Architecture & Design.

Elvira has a Master degree in Architecture and is Tutor on our the 3-year BA (Hons) Validated Interior Architecture & Design programme. We are so lucky to have got Elvira on board our excellent Team.

Gianluca Emmi

Tutor at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Interior Architecture and Design. Head of our new to be offered from September 2021, Master validated programme in Arts and Design (pending).

Gianluca Emmi has a PHD and MA in Architecture. Tutor in the Interior Architecture & Design Department and Head of our new to be offered from September 2021, Master validated programme in Arts of Design. Our students are benefitting so much from Gianluca´s creative and professional talents.

Adriana Salinas

Tutor at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Interior Architecture & Design

Adriana is tutor in 3ds Max and Vray for our Interior Architecture Students on the 3-year BA (Hons) Validated Interior Architecture programme.

Andrea Giorgi

Tutor at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programmes in Interior Architecture & Design and in Graphic Design & Media.

Andrea is a tutor for our Interior Architect Students as well as for our Graphic Design Students. Andrea guide his students with focus on design as a combination of function and aesthetics with a user friendly experience.

Timea Bradley

Tutor at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Graphic Design & Media

Timea is a multidisciplinary designer with 19 years of experience in the private, public and charity sectors. Expertise in many aspects of design: print / digital publishing, illustration, visualisation, signage, branding. She has managed all aspects of the design process, from initial conceptualisation to delivering visually exciting solutions on time and budget, exceeding the client brief.

Iðunn Ásgeirsdóttir

Tutor Assistant at our Bachelor of Arts Validated programme in Graphic Design & Media

Iðunn is a passionate and ambitious designer who always tries to push herself and others to become the best designer possible. Iðunn is an experienced designer with clients around the world, who specialises in branding, packaging, web designs and video editing.

Lucy Banu

Cook

Our sweet Angel in the student restaurant - GAUDI. We are all spoild with nice lunches and wonderful cakes:-)

Isa Ríos

Caretaker

Our fantastic kitchen assistant and caretaker. Isa also makes the best cup of coffee and she always has a smile on her face 🙂

Pepe, Jose Rojas Luna

Gardener and Caretaker at our Academy

Pepe, Jose Rojas Luna is our Gardener and Caretaker keeping an eye on things to be maintained and improved both inside and outside the Academy. We are very fortunate to have Pepe on board. He is fulfilling his job with great passion and dedication.