A Warm Welcome - Excited for the Experience!

First week in Germany !

It’s been a week since I graduated with my Design degree from QUT and arrived in Germany. Both the preparation before I left and my first week here have been full and rewarding, thanks to the support of my supervisor, friends, family and fellow interns. Now that things have settled, I’ve taken a moment to reflect on the week.

I’ve met fellow interns and team members, and finally seeing my supervisor and colleagues in person after only talking online before was such a special moment. Moving to a new country is always a mix of nerves and excitement, but their warm welcome put me at ease, helped me settle in quickly, and made me even more excited for the six months ahead. I feel grateful to be able to work as part of the team and learn alongside them.

Growing up in Japan and spending the past three years in Australia broadened my perspective in many ways. These experiences have strengthened my passion for designing meaningful, user-centred experiences for a global audience. Moving to Germany felt like the right next step to continue growing as both a designer and a person.

Over the next six months, I look forward to applying the Interaction Design skills I developed during my studies while learning new methods as a UI/UX designer at BMW. I aim to learn from each stage of the process, improve how I approach challenges, collaborate effectively with my team to turn ideas into solutions, and strengthen my adaptability in a global environment. Outside of work, I hope to improve my German and spend weekends exploring Europe, experiencing new cultures, and gathering inspiration along the way!

Sora Kamigaki
BMW Group Design Intern, 2025