A Very Special Opportunity: Becoming a Design Professional
Interning at BMW Group and Idealworks (a BMW Group subsidiary) in Munich alongside industry professionals was a very special opportunity for me. Over the 9 months I was there I have grown not only as an individual, but as an industry professional. I was challenged every day to grow and develop new personal and industry skills.
The work environment at BMW required our team to be agile and respond quickly to change. As designs developed there were multiple milestones where changes were identified and implemented. We were required to work together to push through the challenges we faced as a team. As a result, we learnt the importance of meeting deadlines and working towards them in close communication with our multi-disciplinary team. The team consisted of 3D designers, UX/UI development, software engineers and a wide range of specialist. All of which aided in the launch of Idealworks.
Working at BMW Group exposed me to various projects, from UX/UI design through to the development of an evolving 3D production pipeline. The environment allowed me to develop new knowledge in 3D modelling and visualisation programs alongside system workflows for implementation. My focus for the internship was to develop a high level of understanding around the visualisation of highly detailed and optimised 3D models. In addition to the 3D simulation development, I was also heavily involved in the development of the IW.Hub Web and Mobile applications. Working from research of existing competitors, user experience mapping and initial wireframing through to the refinement of user interface details to be applied by the web development team. The experience allowed me to enhance my understand and apply UX/UI skills to a real-world application. I am incredibly grateful that I have been able to be a part of this team and learn from inspiring and encouraging industry professionals.
Due to the diversity of the team, there was the opportunity to not only learn new skills but also learn about new cultures and meet an incredible group of people. The environment gave me the opportunity to further develop my communication skills and heavily focus on means of effective communication. Being forced to work from home during the initial Covid-19 lockdown enabled the team to identify various new programs for communication and self-management, and ensure that were all able to work towards an end goal simultaneously. Overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic was handled flawlessly by the team and allowed us to continue working on projects during this challenging period. Since concluding my role in BMW Group, I have since seen the use of many of the communication assets that I had established through WFH in my new role.
Living and working in Munich was remarkable. It allowed me to explore the German culture and traditions as well as the opportunity to explore various countries around Europe. The opportunity was filled with incredible experiences and people from all around the world. As a result of being based in Germany I have grown a strong appreciation for beer and a good pretzel! The experience taught me that we all have the ability to achieve anything we put our minds too if we just give it a try.
Since returning to Australia I have become an industry professional at a highly recognised design consultancy in Melbourne, Victoria. My time thus far has allowed me to reflect on the variety of skills I developed during the internship. Most notable a strong emphasis on communication. I am utilising both the knowledge and skills I gained through the internship and have been able to apply these to new challenges with an enhanced level of confidence.
Best wishes,
Rebecca Wickham
BMW Group Design Intern 2020