Challenging, Rewarding, Impactful and Exciting
With the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy internship ending, I was asked to create a blog post reflecting on the past 100 hours working with the team. Looking back in hindsight, I never imagined the amazing opportunities I would experience, the brilliant people I met or the valuable skills I would gain across the weeks. The only words that came to mind when summarizing those 100 hours were that they were the most challenging, rewarding, impactful, life-changing, and exciting times of my career in design so far.
Our Project
Throughout this internship, I was joined by someone who has come to be a great teammate and friend, Bianca Durcau-Vaida. Our project involved designing infotainment concepts for one of the new electric BMW models. As an interaction design and computer science major, the project went hand in hand with my prior skills, and I was allowed to further expand in a space I hadn’t yet explored: cars.
From conducting background research and creating original design concepts, to producing low to high-fidelity UI prototypes and mockups, the project was never short of a challenge to explore new frontiers and learn new skills. Weekly meetings with BMW Group developers in Germany - Alexandra and Filippe - helped guide us throughout the project, gaining feedback on our designs and concepts to produce and present work at an industry and professional level.
In the beginning, the project confronted my very own design thinking, processes and ideas. However, the team encouraged us to look outside the box and not limit our imagination and creativity. The advantage of working alongside highly skilled and talented designers was that they provided invaluable knowledge, perspective and feedback on our work. In working with them, one could feel the synergy of a team striving towards a single goal of excellence and pushing the limits. I am very grateful for working with the Academy team, as I was exposed to areas I hadn’t yet discovered myself.
Some Final Words
The best part of working with the QUT Design Academy was the people. I not only felt the value of working with a supportive, encouraging team but was also motivated to embrace the world of design and continuously aim higher and challenge myself. I can say that I am immensely proud of the work that Bianca and I put together, and how much we have grown as designers since the beginning. Additionally, I would like to commend Kenny Lin and Jack Castles for their impressive work. Finally, I would like to thank Jordan, Rafael, Epi, Tim, Mo, and James for making the experience unforgettable. For supporting us all the way, giving us invaluable feedback and advice, mentoring and encouraging me to push myself to my limit and beyond. This internship has helped me find my confidence and place as both a designer and an individual and I will forever be thankful.
Thanks for reading,
Natalie Smith
BMW Group + QUT Design Academy Intern, Semester 2 2022
