Jesse from Kenya shares why he chose to study his bachelors and masters degrees at Brighton

Jesse Mugambi, a Sustainable Design MA graduate from Kenya, reflects on his experience studying at the University of Brighton and shares an update on his #SaveTheNight project with Jägermeister.

Jesse graduated in February 2025 and recently returned to the University of Brighton to talk to us about his time on the Sustainable Design MA. After completing his BA(Hons) in Architecture at Brighton, he returned to pursue his masters degree with a clear purpose: to integrate his interests in architecture, music, and sustainability into a project aimed at creating meaningful real-world change.

While studying for his masters degree, Jesse was one of two recipients of the Jägermeister #SaveTheNight competition. This global project funds innovative nightlight concepts, and through many years of hard work and dedication, Jesse’s Studio Can-V was chosen as a winning proposal. After winning the €50,000 prize grant, he received mentorship, design support, and the freedom to explore interdisciplinary solutions.

You can read more of Jesse’s success with Jägermeister and Studio Can-V.

On his visit back to campus, Jesses reflects on his time at the University studying for his masters and how his course played a pivotal role in both supporting and developing his journey.

He discusses how his work on Studio Can-V enabled him to integrate sustainability and community, a concept that resonated with his studies in the Sustainable Design MA.

Jesse says: “The university helped me hone this idea of community-driven design.”

You can watch the full video below.

 

Jesse also mentions his love for the city and how it was an influential factor in his decision to study in the UK, praising the welcoming nature that Brighton has to offer.

“For me, if I would recommend something about the University of Brighton, it would be the city itself. The people around here are just so nice.

“That’s why I came for my first year, and that’s why I came back for my MA.”

He also spoke about his love for the Sustainable Design MA course and how this impacted his critical thinking skills.

Jesse says: “I really recommend the MA in Sustainable Design. The tutors [and] the things that people learn within that space completely shifted how I thought about things in such an incredible way – I couldn’t recommend this course more.”

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