Week 2: Digging In

Week 2

And I continue to dig in with ESa and learn the ins and outs of this interior design firm. This week I’ve only continued to learn more about the company and become more comfortable around the people.  It’s been really interesting talking to the different designers because a lot of our conversations start with how they have all been interns. Which is really great for us because they know what our job is like and can easily explain and relate to what we are doing in the office.  I also think that’s really cool that this company kind of makes everyone go through each position to better help them understand the people they are working with. (Not everyone starts as an intern in the interiors but a good majority have.)

This week was more of the same thing, ordering samples, Photo shopping more things, putting together more finish boards, and filing samples. As we’ve gone on this week we become better at our tasks and faster at them, which is comforting because last week it seemed a little overwhelming and this week I know I am capable of doing it. I think I especially enjoyed this week because Lauren told me of a project that our supervisor Leslie was working on a project that is non-profit and that is something I find really interesting and would love to be apart of. So that was really great to hear about and talk to Leslie about because it something that I’ve wanted to know more about.

This week I talked with Leslie about communication and how a team works together and Design Phases within each project. In these phases a lot of team work is required of all the different people working together which consists of: interior designers, architects, contractors, value engineers, the clients, the owner's rep, and the CE Architect. The PM (project manager) is incharge of coordinating meetings and communication. Communication between team members can happen in multiple ways such as: e-mails, sending changed files, phone, posting models, and meetings. The PM also makes a schedule at the beginning of the project to give a timeline when projects must be completed and deadlines you have to meet. These target dates are usually set in stone, sometimes they will get extension but you better not count on it. Some projects can last a total of 6 months for design process and construction 12 months while other projects can last as along as 5 years. 

Below is my understanding of what each design phase looks like.

Schematic Design this is where the designers lay out in plan what they want their design to look like and then work through it making lots of changes. This is where all your programming happens, the initial layout, contracts and generic written information.

Next is Design Development which is where they address the design more in depth. They have user group meetings and asses the needs of their clients, along with getting them to make approvals and initial finishes are chosen. They also get a set budget written out.

Then there is Contract Documents this is where all the detailing, fine tuning, and finishes are assigned. The value engineers, contractor, designers, owners rep all get together and set budget, this is also considered the pricing phase. The main purpose is to make sure the contractor can understand the plans and build it out. 

Finally, there is the Contract Administration phase this is the final phase of the game. Submittals are done, physical samples are approved, cardboard mock ups and site visit to make sure everything is clear between designers and contractors are running smoothly. 

It’s funny because this internship has been quite different than anything else I’ve been apart of. It’s been that way because from day one they told us they want to help us if we want to be apart of any certain job, learn how to use Revit better, or just understand a position we think we may be interested in doing. I have just felt very cared for in that that I’m not just being used to get certain things but they really care about what I learn and take away from this opportunity. 

I’ve also enjoyed going to informals (which is when reps come and show us their products) and luncheons (where reps come and bring us lunch and talk about their products). I guess I’ve never really fully understood the relationship between designer and rep, so it’s been great to grasp what they are all about. I’ve come to learn that the reps are working alongside the designers to make the space they are designing function as well as possible and be a lasting design. Therefore, the reps need the feed back from the designers on how to make their products better. Which I think is so wonderful because last year when I worked in residential it was really different and the reps didn’t really ask what they could do to help the designer out. (Given residential and commercial are in a different playing field.) It also makes sense that people say, use your reps as a tool on your projects. Some of the presentations are less exciting than the others but it’s fantastic to get to hold these different products in your hands and become more knowledgeable about them.

I’ve also enjoyed these meetings because the designers ask really great questions that I would never thought of and have a lot of wisdom to bring to the table. It is really great to watch collaboration in action.

So last week I introduced to you one of the interns I am working with and this week I’ll introduce you to the other her name is Anna.

 

Anna is from the University of Cincinnati. She is going to be in her 4^th year of design school (like me) next year, the only difference is they go for 5 years in their program. Anna also has gotten to co-op in San Francisco with another firm. I think it’s safe to say that Lauren and I are very grateful for Anna. She has a lot of knowledge of what an active firm is like and has really worked on a lot of different things. (She also was there the week before us, so she kind of knows the ropes better than we do.) Anna’s favorite part of a project is the rendering and we commonly refer to her as “genius Anna”. 

Week 1: The Journey Begins

Week 1

(My first week was one week ago.)

My first week at Earl Swensson Associates was really exciting for me. I was just excited to see how a commercial interior design firm  functions behind the scenes and what goes into the design process. I was welcomed in with open arms and immediately given tasks to handle, which was encouraging to see our role as interns to put to good use and to feel like part of the team. I’m interning beside two other girls from Auburn and Cincinnati, together the three of us make up the interiors intern department and run things as smoothly and quickly as possible.

The first week we spent on ordering fabrics, making finish boards, creating contract boards and editing floor plans in Photoshop. For a lot of these different projects we spent this week learning the 'how to's' of putting it all together and what the proper way it should be visualized. We also have got to meet countless reps who have been showing off their carpet, wall covering, fabrics, ceiling tiles, and other materials. I’ve really loved getting to be involved in so many numerous projects already and just seeing the different designers around us and the way they work. Not to mention the work environment here is very inviting, everyone is so kind and willing to listen to you and talk to you about your questions. I feel like it’s a very close-knit group of people working beside each other, which has been a treat.

I talk with Leslie about the organizational structure of the company as well. We had to ask Janet (a designer who has been around longer than Leslie) about what kind of company Earl Swensson Associates is. She said we are  in fact a corporation, from there Leslie went on to explain how the structure of the company looks. (Below there is a graph to explain what I am writing) Basically, it starts with David (who is now in charge of the company) then the principals then the architects and the interior designers. For the interior designers we have horizontal structure and are more concerned with people collaborating together instead of having a senior designer, designer, and junior designer. It is a very family focused environment to encourage team work and that we are all working towards the same goal. With the architects it is a little more vertical structure but they still believe in the working as teams, I guess the only difference is when you are an architect starting out at the company they call you an EP which is referring to them as "intern architects" but really they have graduated and working full-time with the company. Some peoples titles change but some architects that have been around for years are still considered an EP. So there structural system is very different. I love that the interiors department is a horizontal structure and is more concerned with getting the projects accomplished and what the end result is and not where it's going to move them on the vertical scale.

I figured I’d start off by introducing you two the people I spend most of my time with and then we’ll go from there. So from the first week I’ll introduce to my friend and fellow intern, Lauren.

Lauren and I arrived on the same day to start work together and found out we had a mutual friend. Lauren is a soon-to-be graduate from Auburn (this internship is her last part and she graduates in August.) It’s been really fun getting to talk to the other interns about what their programs at school is like and what their favorite part of the design process is like. Lauren enjoys the construction document phase and getting to do the research, as do I. Lauren also interned with a residential firm last semester so we get to compare notes. I’m really thankful for the girls I work with they are both wonderful, very talented, and willing to work together to get the job done. (Not to mention they have impeccable style.)

Welcome Students to the IDS 420 Journal Page for Summer 2013!

For the next nine weeks of your summer internship position, this is the page where you will post your weekly activity summary, the weekly topic, and introducing a person you've met during the week that you would like to introduce. Please read over carefully the journal assignment that has been given.

orange azaleaA couple of pointers about formatting and adding images:

When formating select "categories" at the bottom of the the post editing window. You will select the appropriate week for which you are entering: weeks 1 - 9. This will allow me to pull up one week at a time and see each post.

Before completing each post, read over carefully for grammar, spelling/typos, and sentence structure. Do your best to write clearly and succinctly. Others will have access to the posts, and writing professionally is part of the assignment. Avoid using slang. There is a spell checker located in top menu of editing mode.

Before posting your entry, format each entry by going to "text alignment" and clicking on the last selection, which is full justify. Let me know if you have questions about this.

When adding images, make sure you size each image as a thumbnail first. Check the box that creates the thumbnail without changing the original image size! Select "inline" either left, or right to incorporate the image within the text. Do not make images too large, and add captions to each image for clarity. Images need to be about 400 px as a thumbnail.

Before publishing, you will need to make sure the box "published" is checked, and "enable comments" is checked. As you view your post and check for anything that needs to be edited, make a note of excessive spaces in between each paragraph. Go back to "modify" post and take out as many of the extra lines as possible.

You can add links, slide shows  and videos as well as images. Refer to the icons at the top left of edit mode for what you can "add" to your post.

Again, welcome and please let me know if you have questions regarding posting your weekly journal assignment entries -- they are always due by the end of the day Sunday. I will spend Mondays reading your posts.

Best,

Mary Beth