HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL INTERN: from my mistakes to your sucess

It’s mid-July now and I’m about half way through my internship! I have worked so hard and learned so much so far and I can’t begin to explain how appreciative and lucky I feel for having this opportunity to work in a firm with such a talented and influential designer. As well as working with two other very talented interns who make even the most stressful days fun! As I continue ahead in my internship this summer I’m reflecting on my first day and how much I have learned since then. So I have compiled some tips and suggestions from myself and a few other interns on how to be a successful intern in the design world!

Here are some hard learned lessons from me:

Something I had to learn the hard way, get out of your “school mindset.” As a student we are so use to picking a concept and sticking with it throughout design development but in the “real world” you have to present the client with a ton of different options, supporting many different concepts and many different color schemes, until they find what works for them. I had a hard time with this in the beginning, but quickly learned that you have to have an open mind because you don’t know what the CLIENT will like even if it does support the concept YOU chose; yes there are real clients, not just your professor!

ALWAYS carry a sketch book with you, and I can’t emphasize this enough! I walked into the first day of my internship with only a sharp looking outfit and a ready-to-go attitude, only to find that my boss had a fairly lengthy list of things for me and my fellow intern to get started on. As she started telling me what all we had to do today she quickly interrupted herself by saying, “you might want to write this down.” I grabbed the first piece of paper I could find! The next day I invested in a small note book which I carry around everywhere, filled with sketches, notes, daily reminders because too often my boss will ask me about something I did two weeks ago and I always have the answer!

As many people who know me personally would tell you, I NEVER have my phone on me… Especially when someone needs to get ahold of me! This quickly changed when I started my internship this summer. My boss is constantly texting me and the other interns keeping us up to date about the daily schedules and when I don’t have my phone on me, well let’s just say there was a lot of instances of me looking clueless or showing up to work a little too early! Now I always keep my phone and my charger on me… Just in case!

You should always have an extra pair of shoes with you; this will really show your professionalism. Whether you work in a professional or a little more casual environment, the shoes you wear to work probably aren’t appropriate for all situations. I suggest all interns keep a pair of boots or tennis shoes in their car or at their desk, and if you work in a more casual environment you should also keep a dressier shoe with you. I attended a site visit not too long ago, not knowing what I was in for, and when I got there they actually wanted me to help move a large dresser. Unfortunately I was wearing open toe, open back shoes which are definitely not appropriate for moving furniture. Luckily there was someone else there who could help, but from there on I keep an extra pair of converse in my car!

Always dress the part! Fortunately I work in a more casual firm where a nice pair of dark jeans is appropriate but sloppiness is never an option. I’m definitely not the trendiest person, but this internship has really helped me step up my game because you never know what rep will stop in to update your library or when your boss will have you attend a meeting with him/her.  I would suggest not being afraid to over-dress for the first week until you know what the dress code is.

Definitely don’t stress out if you don’t know something, after all we are interns and there to learn! Don’t be afraid to ask questions, it takes less time to do it right the first time rather than the second… or third.

Be there to absorb all the information you can, look at your internship as a learning experience, not just something to put on your resume!

Here are a few tips from other interns:

“Make everything you do seem like the most important thing in your world. Even if it's just getting coffee for someone, be enthusiastic. These are the moments that will shape an employer’s opinion of you.”

                Jessica Frank

                Indiana University

                Interior Design, class of 2011

“Even if you don’t understand the reason your boss is having you do something, do it to the best of your ability because most likely you’ll learn from it!”

                Ali Patterson

                Ball State University

                Interior Design, class of 2013

“Write everything down, so you don’t miss anything and you always have a reference to go back to!”

                Morgan Dragoo

                Ball State University

                Interior Design, class of 2012

"Don't just sit around when you think you have 'nothing' to do. There's always something that can be done whether it's organizing the library or cleaning up the office!"

                Heather Gershen

                Indiana University

                Interior Design, class of 2012

Be Inspired!
Savanna

An Eclectic Life...

   Today my fiancé and I celebrated our 4^th year together! We spent the whole day together doing something we both enjoy… Antiquing! There is nothing better to do on a beautiful day then walk downtown Bloomington visiting antique stores, vintage boutiques, thrift stores, one after another. Furniture and accessories are key pieces to Interior Design so I obviously love to indulge in antiquing, I was lucky enough to find a partner that loves history, in fact he just graduated with a bachelors degree in history, so I think he might even enjoy it more. We had a blast and bought a couple furniture pieces that really tied our apartment together!

  Making a house, or a apartment, a home takes years of collecting and I have only begun gathering pieces that match my design style. I have a very eclectic aesthetic, I love the clean and simple lines of modern design yet still appreciate the more organic forms created in more traditional design, while incorporating my love for architecture and adding pops of brilliant color. I really don’t discriminate when it comes to furniture or accessories, I’m never looking for one specific thing, if something speaks to me (and is within my very limited college budget) I go for it and eventually it will find a place somewhere in my apartment! I want to share with you some of my favorite pieces from my apartment, things that really inspire me and illustrate my personal design aesthetic.


  This is a new piece, Corey just bought it for me today! I was immediately drawn towards this chair because of the brilliant turquoise paired with a subtle purple, not to mention the price tag!!! You can’t really tell but the chair has a “antique” finish which has hints of purple.

 

CHAIR: $9.00 from Antique Bazaar in Bloomington, IN

PILLOW: $12 from The Historic Bloomington Antique Mall

THROW BLANKET: $10 from Bed, Bath, and Beyond

  This retro credenza is also a new piece, purchased today in our “anniversary shopping spree.” I immediately fell in love with this piece because I know I will have it for a very long time, finding a place for it in every new house I move into. It’s constructed with solid wood and sturdy enough for even the biggest televisions! With a little TLC and a lot of pledge, it became an instant centerpiece in our living room. I think these two pieces look great up against our brick wall!

RETRO CREDENZA: $49 from The Historic Bloomington Antique Mall

  This is our seating area! Where we spend nights watching television and movies, playing games and entertaining friends, and of course spending countless hours on homework! The sofa and coffee table were given to us by Corey’s family. The two pictures hanging above the couch are charcoal drawings done by yours truly! The air is filled with the scent of a Coconut Verbena candle, I absolutely love this space I truly feel at home while away from my family at school.

CANDLE HOLDERS: $6 from Vintage Vogue by GW in Bloomington, IN

  These are some of my favorite accessories. I adore the imperfection of the pottery and the nicks in the finish on the candle holders.

POTTERY: $3 from Vintage Vogue by GW in Bloomington, IN

CANDLE HOLDERS: $6 (small), $10 (large) from Big Lots in Columbus, IN

  I am obviously obsessed with candles, I find any excuse to find a new scent or another votive. I have a large collection of candle holders and these are some of my favorites! I’ve collected these from various stores and boutiques.

TWO TURQOUISE VOTIVES, FRONT: $10/ea from Sea Wife in Pawleys Island , SC

TWO CLEAR VOTIVES, BACK: $10/ea  from Sea Wife in Pawleys Island , SC

TALL BLUE VOTIVE, BACK: $1 from Goodwill in Columbus, IN

SMALL BLUE VOTIVE, SIDE: $6 (set of three) from Big Lots in Columbus, IN

BLUE SERVING PLATTER: Purchased from Goodwill in Columbus, IN

Like I said before, I create my environment around me by finding furniture and accessories that match my taste at various antique stores, vintage boutiques, thrift stores, and the occassional department store! Here are a list of some of my favorite places to shop:

Antique Bazaar is one of my favorite antique malls located in Bloomington, IN. It is made up of booths, each one belonging to a different dealer, so each booth is like it's own little world with it's own aesthetic. You can find anything here for your home from dishes and accessories to furniture and architectural pieces. I have found many pieces of furniture at very reasonable prices!

          Antique Bazaar

          5101 N State Road 37 Business
          Bloomington, IN 47404

          (812) 336-5314

The Historic Bloomington Antique Mall is three stories packed full of booths with antiques from all different eras! My favorite booths are located in the basement, and are filled with 1950's-1070's retro furniture, I could have spent a fortune in just these two booths alone!

          The Historic Bloomington Antique Mall

          311 W. 7th St.

          Bloomington IN

          (812) 323-7676

          Website

Vintage Vogue by GW is my new favorite place to shop! A boutique brand of Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana, Vintage Vogue offers a unique blend of chic, modern fashions and one-of-a-kind classics. Vintage Vogue merchandise comes from selected Goodwill stores outside of the Bloomington area. These stores isolate a small portion of their upscale and vintage donations to send to Vintage Vogue. I also often shop at regular goodwill stores and always go out of my way when I'm on vacation or in another town to visit their goodwill because you never know what you will find next!!

          Vintage Vogue by GW

          422 E. Kirkwood Ave.

          Bloomington, IN 47408

          Website

Sea Wife is a home accessories and gift shop located in the Hammock Shops in the Costal town of Pawleys Island, SC. I has a eclectic, sophisticated collection of accessories and furniture, some hand made by the locals! Unfortunately they are closing soon, but you can keep up with their Facebook page!

          Sea Wife

          10880 Ocean Hwy. #17

          Pawleys Island, SC 29585



Be Inspired!
Savanna

The Year of Evolution... So Far

    2011 has changed me so much (for the better) and it’s only May! I’m not complaining because I feel like a whole new person compared to 2010!! I have evolved so much as a designer and as a person. Personally, I am happy to say that I got engaged towards the end of January and that has made me that happiest person in the world.
    As a designer I have also changed: I couldn’t wait for Winter break to arrive Fall semester, I was worn out and needed a break. During this much needed break though I started to question who I wanted to be as a designer and where I wanted to end up in my life. I struggled with this thought and it became harmful to my work. I was no longer designing for myself or for the potential client… I was designing for a good grade.
    It wasn’t until a trip to Chicago where I stayed with my inspiring cousin Chelsea Bolton that I realized who I wanted to be in my life… happy. I went back to school that next week with a whole new attitude. Of course I wanted to design functional successful spaces but I was no longer concerned with my grade… I was now designing for my own personal fulfillment and in the end my design became more successful than any in the past.
    This has opened my eyes up to a whole to world of design, the beautiful less stressful side. My world is no longer filled with sleepless nights to satisfy my teachers' every vision, it’s filled with wonderful nights with my friends (some late) designing spaces that satisfy my vision!
    If you take any advice from this blog I suggest this: Design something that you are proud of, that meets your clients every need with your impeccable taste, don’t design for a good grade or recognition.
 
Check out my website to see some of my most recent work!

Be Inspired!

Savanna

Hit the Lights!

As one of my favorite professors, Marie Shakespeare, says, “Lighting is the art of revealing," Nothing completes a design like a detailed and sophisticated lighting plan. Lighting has a great impact on a space and a design as a whole but is sometimes a second thought by both designers and homeowners. I admit it, until I took my lighting class I would throw some recessed fluorescent lights in a space. Now I realize how important lighting is, both functionally and aesthetically. I urge everyone to take a look at the links below for some incredible lighting designs and resources!!

                                                   

I am looking for the opportunity to use this! Bocci is located in Canada and has an eclectic collection of lighting. My favorite collection is 14, what an incredible feeling of the space this light creates. Visit: http://www.bocci.ca/#/bocci-collection/

Roll & Hill is a fairly new company, launched January of 2010, and is based out of New York City. I actually used some of their lighting in a Condo I designed. The original lighting created by their very talented team of designers is very unique and chic. What I love most about their designs is that every one of their luminaires can fit almost any aesthetic whether modern or classic. Visit: http://www.rollandhill.com/

This is the luminaire I used in the entry way in my Condo as well as matching wall sconces in the hallway:

 ­

If you really want to make a statement with your lighting check out Brand Van Egmond. This dream team consists of William Brand and Annet van Egmond, William an architect and Annet a sculptor, if you can’t tell from their work. They have some of the most sculptural pieces I have ever seen, sure to make a statement. Visit: http://www.brandvanegmond.com

Other resources:

http://www.ylighting.com/

http://www.tomdixon.net/

http://www.nichemodern.com/

http://www.junolightinggroup.com/brand_juno.asp

http://www.haloltg.com/

http://www.besalighting.com/

http://www.vtforge.com/

http://www.techlighting.com/default.asp?page=products

http://www.caprilighting.com/capri/

http://www.brandlighting.com/

http://www.dwr.com/category/lighting.do

Be Inspired!

Savanna

New "Design"

  Today as I sat through countless presentations I got to thinking about this blog, obviously between presentations. I want to provide more to whatever readers I do have. There is so much to design that I want to provide to you. Although I am studying Interior Design, all kinds of design affect me and inspire me. So I am refocusing my blog, I will still continue interviewing designers from all aspects of this field but I’m going to incorporate more information that I think will inspire and influence us. I will provide inspirational images, new products, and resources to you. I am constantly looking through magazines, reading articles, and searching the web for inspiration and would love to share them with you!

I hope you will enjoy my new posts! And let me know what you think, and what you want to see!

-Savanna Eaglen

Susan Brook, Independent Interior Designer

  As many students at my school are preparing for the little 500 and deciding which concert they are going to be attending I had the chance to sit down with a very inspiring designer and someone I personally aspire to be. I am very lucky to know Susan Brook personally, her daughter is a very close friend of mine, so when I started this blog I knew I wanted her to be the first designer for me to interview. Susan is a Interior Designer originally from West Yorkshire, England. I hope her experience and words of wisdom can help all those aspiring designers and students out there like I know they helped me.

Can you give me a brief history of your work experience and how you got to where you are now?
  I actually went to college for Social Work, which comes in very handy when dealing with clients. You’re in between two people who sometimes want different things and completely different tastes and it’s your responsibility to bring them together to create a uniform design.
  I started design in the late 70’s. I actually started in paint (Fiesta), which was really a great kind of base to have because you understand how paint is manufactured and all those different techniques and layers and trends within paint and wallpaper. That was just as the movement was happening where John Williams had a book, it was the first time it had ever came out, where wallpapers, fabrics, bedding all matched, it was kind of an explosion. Everyone could get a hold of matching things, and EVERYTHING matched, I mean your sofa would match your curtains. In your bedroom, your duvet would match you pillows which would match you bed skirt and drapes and wallpaper. It was huge! I don’t know how many gray and red bedrooms we did.
  I left Fiesta because I wanted a more challenging job. I applied for a job interview at Webster’s Interiors with Heather and Ian. I remember going to the showroom for the interview and Heather came downstairs and said, “It won’t be long, we’re just interviewing someone else.” And the showroom was in a state of upset, so I thought while I’m waiting on them I’ll just clean up. So I got all the paper books put them all back, all the fabric books, put everything back. So the next time she came downstairs the showroom was completely clear. And that was a little bit of a different showroom to where I work previously, there was more expansive fabric choices and wallpapers and different manufacturers. So they interviewed me, I wasn’t the age they said that they wanted for the position, even though I had the experience, so I kind of talked my way into the job. But I had to wait, it was something like come back in a hours time. So me and my dad went to the supermarket and came back and I asked if they made up their mind and they said that they weren’t too sure because I also couldn’t drive. So I said, “You need to make your mind up, have I got the job or not?” And they just said, “Yeah, you’ve got the job.” I worked in the showroom with Heather and Molly, who was part time, and that was mainly draperies and fabrics, there was no paint sold at that store so it was completely different from where I worked before. I had [my daughter] in 1990 and I took about 6 months off from work and they kept my job open for me, then I went back just during school hours.
  We then moved from Huddersfield to Charleston, South Carolina, Webster’s Interiors kept my job open for those three years we were there. And then I came back and went right back into work, then in 2000 is when we came over here (Columbus,IN). And it was like a culture shock, the environment moving over here. Going from where everyone knew me as a designer to little old Columbus. I went to the fabric showrooms here and found that within a 5 block radius, each store was selling the same fabric and held the same accounts. It was very different when I first came here, and a lot of interior “decorators,” (something all designers hate being called) which is completely different from interior designers. And it took me a long time for me to get established here. You know when I first started working it was, “will you come out and pick some paint colors,” and things like that. And then over 10 years it has evolved to where I am now designing kitchens, project managing, taking care of the not only the clients but plumber, contractor, electrician.

How do you think interior design differs from England to the US?
  Demographics really push you to where the design goes. Within England, you know it’s a small island, the majority of English people will travel so they’ll get a wider view of design. They gain the culture, they gain the knowledge. So they come back from Morocco and they want to put that influence in a room in their home. They’ll come back from Greece or Spain, they see that architecture. And that’s the thing about England, it’s full of architecture, and the homes have got that inside them. So the majority of older homes, which England is, the interiors of them the door trims, the window trim, the baseboard, all of those will be of architecture influence. Whereas here, what I find here is that, typically you can have a house and it will be the biggest house that that family can afford, and the cars will be the most expensive cars that that family can afford, not necessarily afford but want. And then I can go inside that house and there’s nothing, there’s blinds over the windows, it’s just how it looks on the outside. And that’s the biggest difference. Okay, in England you’ve got the history and you’ve got the old furniture how that could make or break a room. Whereas here people never think about getting a antique piece to put their big modern television on. Instead the go to the big furniture stores. They look and find the biggest, brightest furniture that speaks to them in a 5,00 sq. ft. showroom then bring it home and it shouts and screams at them. That’s what I find here, people don’t layer when they buy, they’ll go out and buy a new sofa, they’ll go out and buy a table, and they end up screaming and shouting at each other. One of my big sayings is, “Everything has to have a conversation with each other.” So you’ve got to have reference in one room to the next room, they need to talk to each other so you don’t get shocked going into each room.

If you could name one thing that had the greatest effect of you getting to where you are now what would that be?
  My cheek, I think. I think what it is, Heather always use to say I could sell coal to a coal miner. You’ve almost got to have the understanding that the clients coming to you not necessarily knowing how to do it, they might know what they want but they might just not know how to get that. The biggest thing you have to have as a designer is knowledge, not knowledge of your product but the knowledge of how everything connects to each other. So when I’m doing a lighting plan I not only got to think of the client, I’ve also got to think about the kitchen I’m designing , I’ve got to think what’s behind that drywall or ceiling, you’ve got to have that knowledge. You’ve also got to have the knowledge of what’s the best thing available for them and what’s the best thing available for the design. I would say a little bit of cheek along with knowledge gets you a long way.

What advice would you give aspiring designers?
  Travel. Travel. Travel. Push yourself, push yourself to go into a city, to live in a city, to get that city feel. Not just keeping commercial, but go into residential, go into industrial. I think you can get stuck sometimes in one part of design. And it’s such a huge thing, it’s massive, design. You know I don’t just keep to interiors I do exteriors too, so then people are asking me where should I put my pool and will you design my pool house. So it’s travel and get the knowledge, and drink in the culture and the architecture of different places, not just the U.S.

  Susan Brook brought up some great points for new designers. One of the most inspiring things she said during our interview was when she was talking about layering design. This is a very important concept for everyone, not just designers. There is a saying she said that she uses often that I believe is a perfect concept for design, “Everything has to have a conversation with each other.”
  Thank you so much Sue. You are a very talented inspiring designer and I learned so much from talking with you

  You can check out some of Susan's work, read test testimonials, and contact her through susanbrookinteriors.com

Here is an example of  her work. This is her beautiful Living Room, I think this space is a great example of her work and illustrates her design language. The room started with the 2 silk pillows, that gave her the color palette, then came the lamps. It then evolved around those choices, layering old with new to have an eclectic but strong design.

• Sculptural lamps and iron mirror- http://www.midlandathome.com/
• Art Deco Exotic Burl Credenza Breakfront Cabinet- http://www.metroretrofurniture.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?item=7513&cameFrom=51
• Eames chair and ottoman, pallisander wood- http://www.dwr.com/product/living/chairs-recliners/chairs/eames-lounge-ottoman-vicenza.do?sortby=ourPicks
• Cashmere throw over Eames chair- http://www.wshome.com/?bnrid=5250101&cm_ven=BrandSearch&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Brand&cm_ite=wshome&OVMTC=Exact&site=&creative=6136807352&OVKEY=wshome&url_id=36762447
• Framed prints from a 1950's calendar- thrift store find.
• Leather sofa from Relish in Bloomington, IN- http://www.relishbloomington.com/index.shtml
• Daedalus Lamp by Tord Boontye
• Pillows on sofa silk- Williams & Sonoma Home Orange Suzani pillow http://www.wisteria.com/
• Obi coffee table-Martha Stewart
• Stools behind sofa in French Linen and table next to Eames chair- http://www.restorationhardware.com/

To Aspiring Designers and Students:

My name is Savanna Eaglen and I am a Junior at Indiana University. As this school year comes to a close and I start to dream about the warm weather and pools that await me my sun kissed day dreams are overshadowed by the stress of finding internships this summer. It is 5 weeks until school breaks for summer and I, like many other aspiring designers in my class, am rushing around to find the perfect design firm to spend my summer learning from the best possible professional designers.

As I call, email, and stalk these firms I realized how helpful it would be to hear directly from the designers I aspire to be. I want to know how designers and architects got where they are now, what their design process is, what they look for in new aspiring designers, and any tips they can provide to me and the many other students in my position for getting into this creative, exciting field.

That is why I created this blog, to connect students with designers. I am going to interview designers from all aspects of our field in order to make us better designers and professionals.