Expanding my Horizons

Through QUT’s Work Integrated Learning program, I have been fortunate enough to do an internship at the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy! I was especially lucky to apply during the period where the Academy was offering an opportunity to work on a real-world project for BMW Group. I worked on the design and development of a UI/UX focused project in a team of two.

At the start of the internship, I didn’t really feel confident as it was my first experience with UI/UX design. Luckily with the guidance of Academy Lead Dr Rafael Gomez, Design Associate Jordan Domjahn, and my teammate Leena Al Sallakh, I settled into the project quickly and developed essential skills such as graphic, interface and user experience design using the prototyping software. Furthermore, I also got the chance to refine my soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and time management. 

What I enjoyed most from the internship was being able to experience a local and international work environment, as I had to complete tasks in house at the Academy and then present the work to BMW Group colleagues in Germany. This way of working is very similar to how international Industrial Design firms would operate with clients, so being able to experience that process as a student was very insightful and would definitely prove helpful in the future when I enter the workforce.

For students who are considering doing an internship with the Academy… what are you waiting for?! This is an amazing opportunity to develop new skills and to become more comfortable with working independently, in addition to making great connections with professionals in the local and international industry!

Thanks for reading,

Hsuan Lee
BMW Group + QUT Design Academy Intern, Semester 1 2021