Week 9: The Ending

I can't believe it has been 9 weeks at ESa. Time sure does fly by really quickly and what a wonderful experience it has been!  

This week at work I've spent the majority of my time working with Kearra Barkley. Kearra is does some Health care but she does a lot of Education work as well. I love doing things for Kearra because she explains things thoroughly, she likes to gives me tips (which are VERY helpful) and when I ask her questions she answers them even if they are really dumb. So I've been pulling different types of tile for a project in Winchester, VA for a university called Shenandoah. It started out that I was just pulling looks but then we have started pricing things out and I've had to go back and find tile for cheaper. Kearra has taught me lots of tricks like try to buy as much from the same company as possible because then it will be cheaper and their sizes will match up. I've also spent my week pulling boards together, ordering tons of samples, and sending back lots of carpet. We are kind of in between jobs right now, I feel like everyone has deadlines within the next few weeks but right now everyone is just busy working away. I also got to spend some time this week with Leslie going over our evaluations of what it's been like at ESa. I've thoroughly enjoyed going over those with her and seeing things from her perspective and not my own. I feel like I've learned so much and they've been able to steer my in the right direction of what else I need to grow in.

What happens when you have a lot of projects and not enough space.

The design philosophy at ESa is "Anyone who has a passion for design should also have a passion for humanity." Mr. Earl Swensson himself has founded ESa around this philosophy and this is what he asks of the designers at his firm. Which I believe to be very true at ESa, before I came Abbey told me that ESa is a very special place and very different from a lot of other firms. Everyone that is there is a team, which they have done their best to make it this way. It's one thing to say that, it's another thing to actual do it. I have watched over the course of this summer as the designers have been passionate about the work they do and seen the underling message of what can we give to the people. I've seen it in the luncheons with have with different companies where we are taking about ergonomics and how can we better improve the lifestyle of nurses, make better chairs for them to sit in and design that will benefit them so they can give back to the community around them. I've been in informals where designers ask lots of questions of how things can meet code or colors we can add for the clients benefit or ways they can accomplish something impactful for the designers. These people I'm surrounded by do not only care about humanity but they care about the people they meet with and the community they work with. I think it is one of the reasons they are so good at what they do. They listen to the needs of others and try to meet them. And when they see issues and see ways they can address things they do. And people know that. The reps that come as them there opinions and how they can better their products to meet these needs. I've seen this design philosophy been lived out at ESa, which I think is a really cool thing.

AlanaThere are so many more designers I could introduce to you, I've barely skimmed the surface of all of them but I'll introduce to you one of the first people I've worked with at ESa and one of the smartest, Alana. Alana went to University of Tennessee-Martin she graduated in 2001 and started working at ESa in August of 2001. Alana is very very good at what she does. She works on Health care Design projects and I feel like she knows everyone at ESa and knows them very well. She also has really good questions she asks, and is wiling to tell people what she thinks about their product and what they need to do to benefit the needs of their clients. Not only is Alana smart but she does things really fast and she is wiling to help you learn. She is the first person who let me work on Revit and she explains things so clearly that I only have to be told once. All the interns have worked on different projects for Alana and she is usually the first person we go ask if they need help. She can always help us find something to do and has another project to give us. We like Alana not just because she gives us something to do but because we have all benefited from her knowledge. 

The Vanderbilt Plaza next to Loews where I work.

Well, I usually tell ya'll a funny story but I guess I'll finish off with a closing word instead. At ESa, I have learned a lot about: Photoshopping perspectives, label making, dry mounting, Revit, making finish boards, ordering fabrics, sending professional e-mails, and communicating. The amount of knowledge I have gained has been such a gift and I'm excited to move forward with that information and to get to use it on new projects that I have at UT. I have only praise to give ESa as they continue to do great things in the community of Nashville, Health care Design around the world and push forward to be a voice for humanity. Thanks for letting me be apart of it all! And also to my intern friends, Lauren and Anna I could not have made it through this internship without them, they have taught me so much and we have laughed so hard.