Reaching New Boundaries

As part of my final semester of study at QUT I was selected out of a strong field of applicants for the internship offered at the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy and, at the end of this experience I can reflect on the semester that has been.

The process of applying for and being accepted into the academy exposed me to industry-like practices, such as updating my resume and portfolio, writing a tailored cover letter and undertaking an interview (albeit over Zoom). I learnt a lot over the course of these experiences and will take my newfound knowledge forward with me when applying for jobs in the future.

Over the course of the semester I was exposed to new environments and workflows. At the beginning of the semester new programs like Blender seemed impossibly complex and difficult to master, however after being introduced to the basics and experimenting with it’s possibilities, creating a solid knowledge-base of the program now seems much more achievable. Having access to QUT’s 3D printers was also a valuable tool in creating rapid prototypes of the product I designed in response to the brief we were given. It was also fascinating to see the work that’s put in behind the scenes to ensure major media events run smoothly and have the desired impact on the general public.

Working a few days a week within the Academy studio allowed me to gain further experience within a professional workplace environment. The Academy Design Associates fostered a laidback yet focused work culture, which was a pleasure to come into on my rostered days. They were always happy to help, teaching skills they had developed over their design careers.

I believe the biggest takeaway from this internship is the value in pushing myself out of my comfort zone and actively expanding my skillset as a designer (both soft and hard skills). Another lasting outcome of this internship is the industry contacts I’ve made, both in Australia and overseas, which may help me follow my goals along my career as a designer. 

To all Industrial Design students (along with other design discipline students), I couldn’t recommend applying for this internship enough. The experiences and connections created through interning at the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy will serve you well as you progress along your path as a designer, and the potential experiences awaiting as a BMW internship overseas are too valuable to pass up. 

Thanks for reading!

Oliver Young
BMW Group + QUT Design Academy Intern, Semester 2 2021