Transforming My Confidence, Skills, and Approach to Design

The BMW Internship was one of the most valuable experiences I’ve had as a designer as a uni student so far. I had the chance to work alongside hardworking people from different disciplines, which gave me insight into how others think, design, and approach problem solving. It also exposed me to tools and workflows outside of industrial design, which broadened how I understand the design process as a whole.

I deliberately chose a project that pushed me out of my comfort zone instead of playing it safe. I wanted to treat the internship like a real industry experience, which meant challenging myself with a product I normally wouldn’t have selected. It forced me to grow across every stage of the process, from research and ideation through to prototyping and presentation.

One of the biggest personal achievements for me was presenting. Public speaking and presenting used to make me nervous, so being able to confidently present my work is something I’m genuinely proud of. The internship environment was professional but also supportive, which made it much easier to build confidence and improve in this area.

I’m proud of the final design outcome and the progress I made throughout the project, especially in sketching, communication, and overall design thinking. I enjoyed the full process of developing a product from the ground up, including research, concept development, iteration, prototyping, and final presentation. I also picked up valuable technical knowledge, including ultrasonic welding and a stronger understanding of user centred design and why it is so important in decision making.

One of the biggest takeaways for me was learning from my peers. Even just observing how everyone approached their own design process taught me a lot. Being a designer is really about constantly learning and applying new skills, and a large part of that comes from picking up small techniques, shortcuts, and ways of thinking from the people around you. Seeing different approaches to sketching, CAD, rendering, and presenting gave me perspectives I will definitely carry forward into future projects.

I also realised how important independent thinking is. Even when everyone is given the same brief, the outcomes can be completely different, and that comes down to personal interpretation and decision making. It reinforced the importance of backing up design choices with clear reasoning rather than simply following feedback.

Overall, the experience helped me grow both professionally and personally. It gave me more confidence, a clearer understanding of industry expectations, and motivation to keep improving my rendering and presentation skills. I would highly recommend the unit, it is a challenging but rewarding experience that genuinely pushes you to become a better designer.

Riley Van Niekerk
BMW Group Design Intern, 2026