Rachel Lee
1. What did you enjoy? What worked well?
I enjoyed shadowing meetings, whether administrative, with clients, or gardening—it was all new and interesting. I also really enjoyed talking with principals, strategies, marketing, and especially getting to hear about and see what they do. Getting feedback and talking through ideas with mentors also worked really well, picking their brains (especially with the critical eye of Chanwoo). I also really appreciated how Gift introduced us to some of the people she worked with, and of course, the Wednesday sketchings with Rosa. Even though I am pretty unskilled in that, I had some great learning moments.
I learned how to use different software applications, how to apply knowledge of one into another. I also learned about the design process and the planning, analysis, general thought process that goes into it. I was also unaware of all the cooperation and interactions between different disciplines and roles, so it was very interesting to see that in action.
2. What could we have done better? How can we improve for next year’s interns?
In terms of the project, a greater push towards progress, critical thinking, and products at the beginning of the program would be nice. We spent a lot of great time brainstorming, but I think it could have even been beneficial to get some more critique or insight around the midway point. I also wished there had been more time to shadow work being done on actual projects, or if possible getting involved, even if in small ways. I also think that perhaps it would be beneficial to scale down the project, or just ask for one problem and focus on that. That way the interns can get through more in less time, and have more time to shadow, observe, and/or the chance to explore more things such as 3D printing, model building, or VR.
I did like the idea of going through the planning process of redesigning our school, and I learned a ton from it. However, I wish I could have been more productive with our time here, to help out more, as everybody is busy.
3. How has this summer internship experience influenced your thinking about your future studies?
I’m not yet sure exactly how much it has influenced my future studies, but it definitely has given me a lot to consider and think about for the next few years. I have considered design before, and this program was great for more exposure and experience. One thing that this internship did change my mind on was that office jobs do not have to be boring!