Showing is More Effective Than Explaining
It has been about two months since I arrived in Germany, and I started my internship a month and a half ago. As it was my first step into a new environment after graduation, I felt both excited and curious. Every day has been filled with new and interesting experiences.
Before my internship officially began, I had the chance to meet my manager and teammates at a team dinner. This really helped ease any nervousness I had about my first day and allowed me to start work in a more relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
My team consists mainly of interns and working students, which creates a casual and comfortable work environment. When challenges arise, we collaborate and support each other to find solutions. This environment has allowed me to grow both individually and as part of a team.
One of the most satisfying aspects of this internship is that I am working on tasks I genuinely wanted to do. With a background in interaction design, I am currently involved in various design related projects at BMW, including logo creation, posters, and web design.
Before applying, I carefully reviewed the job description to make sure the role aligned with my interests. Thankfully, I have been assigned exactly the kind of work I hoped for. I always try to prioritize tasks based on upcoming meetings and make sure to have drafts or concepts ready whenever possible.
One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is how to collaborate with people from different backgrounds and fields. Even when we are working toward the same goal, everyone approaches the process differently. As a designer, I have learned to listen, understand diverse perspectives, and find solutions that bring those ideas together. When design opinions differ, I usually prepare both versions, my own idea and the suggestion from others, to show the options side by side. I have had several experiences where the direction I proposed was selected, which reinforced the idea that showing is more effective than explaining. Since then, I have made it a habit to visually present my ideas to communicate more clearly and effectively.
Jezz Hong
BMW Group Design Intern, 2025
