Day 61: The end to the Intern

Catherine


Kenzie has already ended work and my interning days are almost over. I can honestly say that I am so glad I got to work at Studio Bella this summer. What an amazingly talented group of designers. I learned many things that, I'll admit, I will probably never use again. For instance, Antron is a yarn, not a carpet manufacturer. However, there were many things that this job taught me that I can use forever.

1. Behind any good design, as well as many other professions, there must be oodles of planning that is never seen. Huge mistakes happen the most when the outcome hasn't been carefully examined. Studio Bella makes plans of every angle and every aspect of their space.
2. Writing things down and rechecking what you learned may make you look stupid in the moment but it will pay off in the long run. I learned this one the hard way. Miscommunication can happen so easily so the best way to avoid it is just to repeat almost everything someone says to you back to them, or at least in summary. Keeping a small notebook on hand is also always good.
3. Treat everyone you come in contact with in the business world as important. I suppose this is just a good rule in general, but it's also important to remember that every position is important to make a business run smoothly. I was one of the ones on the receiving end of this one.
4. Space matters. The way an interior looks can really change the atmosphere and change the way people interact. Details go a long way where interiors are concerned because we actually interact in the space. Organizing can also go a long way in reducing chaos.
5. When you take on a project as your own, work goes 10 times faster and more enjoyable. It is soooooo important to love what you're doing and feel passionate or at least opinionated about how it should be done. I found that when I started getting creative with how to solve a problem, I wanted to say and work on it even past when I usually get off.
6. I agree with what Kenzie wrote, that coworkers can really affect how you feel about yourself, and task at hand. Be comfortable. If you can't get along with them, then you're in for a rough time. That being said, I think you know your place. The boss should take control, while the intern should listen.

There's obviously more things but these are the main things that I learned that I can think of at the moment. Maybe I will be an Interior Designer, but I probably won't. However, I feel like some lessons are universal and aren't bound by the location or occupation in which you learned it.