Practice Makes Professional

Internships are where many design students can get their first reality check. The studio assignments are swapped for live projects, discussions in the classroom for industry convos and creative experiments for professional methods. For many, it is the first leap into the unknown within the field and that can feel a bit scary and cue some nervous butterflies in the stomach. So, let’s have the butterflies take a break from flying about and take a look at the experiences of four HAMK design students’ transformative internship opportunities.

Roosa Huttunen spent her internship getting to know the lay of the land in a ceramic studio in Studio Munkaa Design and learned the ropes of ceramic production and studio life. Klaudia Plančárová dived into the world of couture and joined the Berlin atelier of designer Dawid Tomaszewski, where she got the opportunity to work on couture garments for a music video and Fashion Week. Zuzanna Gieratowska dipped a toe in the global waters of footwear development at HUGO BOSS and contributed to sneaker collections and product development. And finally, Arsėnija Judžentaitė worked along the side of designer Agnė Kučerenkaitė in the Netherlands and delved into material research and sustainability. 

Their experiences show that internships are much more than just gaining experience – they’re about getting to know what kind of designer you want to become and where you want to go next. 

I Choose You, Internship!

How do you know which internship place is the best fit for you? A good, thorough research is, of course, in order but to be more specific, what are YOU looking for in an internship? What are your interests? What do you wish to learn and get to know?

Roosa had a clear vision form the start. “They we’re the first people that showed me that making a career in ceramics with big impact in Finland was actually possible. Their diverse ways of working and the way they’ve created their business was a bubble I really wanted to join.” On the other hand, couture was the allure for Klaudia. “It’s something we hadn’t learned in school, so I thought it seemed fun.”

HUGO BOSS offered Zuzanna her dream opportunity. "I've always been interested in the technical side of product development, and my internship at HUGO BOSS gave me hands-on experience while showing me how a global brand operates."

Arsėnija was inspired by a designer she had admired since her first year of studies. "I first discovered Agne's work while researching innovative materials. Her thoughtful approach to design and materials inspired me, and I wanted to observe how an entrepreneurial designer works in practice.”

“They we’re the first people that showed me that making a career in ceramics with big impact in Finland was actually possible."

Learning the Tricks of the Trade

The chances of you learning something new during the internship is approximately a 100 %. As much as you need to get a good understanding of the technical skills, the professional world has much more to offer.

Roosa learned technicals such as spray glazing and making ceramics food safe, but she also learned how to problem solve and to trust her own eye. “I gained confidence in the fact that I know what I’m doing.” And as Klaudia was working with pattern making and sewing, she also was introduced to embroidery and fabric manipulation. “I never really experimented with those techniques before. We were encouraged to work independently, and I think I learned a lot by myself, but also with the help of other interns.”

Working for a brand like HUGO BOSS, Zuzanna had the opportunity to understand how to bring the product from the prototype phase to the final product in an actual store. “I have also gained many insights on footwear materials and what the key points are to navigate seasonal collection development.” Meanwhile, Arsėnija worked on research, 3D modeling and material experimentation but learned a lot about other skills as well. “I came to understand that being a designer is not just a job you go and do — it is more of a lifestyle. You begin to see and analyse many things from a design perspective in your everyday life, and you must be able to adapt to changing circumstances and situations as you go.”

"The chances of you learning something new during the internship is approximately a 100 %."

One for the Books

When you partake in an internship, you will gain opportunities and memories that have the ability to stick with you for a lifetime.

While in her internship, Roosa hand painted her own playful versions of Munkaa Design’s “Parrot” cocktail glasses, and they sold out almost immediately. She even got the opportunity to stock her own ceramic piece she made during the internship next to Munkaa’s products in a design shop. Klaudia designed a dramatic pink cape using around 200 meters of tulle for a Fashion Week project and experienced the fast pace making of custom couture commissions.

For Zuzanna, visiting leather tanneries and participating in key development meetings offered a behind-the-scenes look at the footwear industry. Arsėnija explored design studios across the Netherlands and visited the European Ceramic Center, where she was offered a guided tour of the residency spaces. “I saw a kiln that was about three meters tall, and it looked incredible!”

Some experiences simply can't be replicated in a classroom.

"Some experiences simply can't be replicated in a classroom."

From Student to Student

Internships aren’t as scary as they may first seem, they are just new. As these four stories show, some of the most valuable lessons happen outside of school grounds. You will meet inspiring new people and solve real life problems in real time. For Roosa, Klaudia, Zuzanna and Arsėnija, internships were the ones that helped confidence grow, perspectives to widen, and future careers beginning to take shape. To end this off, here is a cultivated list of advice by the four students that can truly help you in your next internship journey!

Show them who you are. In addition to technical skills, the employers are looking for passion and personality.

Focus on making your portfolio good, not perfect. The portfolio can be the first thing to get your foot in the door but tweaking it to perfection can have you miss out on opportunities.

Remember to take notes during the internship, because you will not be able to remember everything without some pen and paper. And ask a lot of questions!

As cliché as it sounds, follow your intuition and dreams. Do what you truly want, not just what you feel you have to do.

Trust yourself, be brave when reaching out to people, and don’t be afraid to jump into events. So, step out of your comfort zone!