Hi everyone! My name is Megan Paul, and I am a fourth-year Interior Design student here at the University of Arkansas! I spent the last 10 weeks interning in Seattle, Washington at a highly recognized integrated design firm, DLR Group. This experience was one of the biggest highlights of my college experience and I feel so grateful to have had this amazing opportunity. 

I was connected to this firm through an Alumni of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, who currently works at DLR Group out of the Dallas office! She was able to connect me to the locations I was interested which opened up the door to me interviewing and eventually securing the internship at the Seattle location! DLR Group strives to elevate the human experience through design, which is something that aligns with my personal goals and really drew me to them.

I worked closely with other interior designers, architects, and engineers on various workplace projects. I worked on three projects rather significantly, and each was in a different stage of the process of design, which really allowed me to get an understanding of the whole process simultaneously. I designed test fits for a workspace in Seattle based on occupancy needs, designed amenity spaces on each floor of a 5-floor office space located in Austin, Texas, and worked towards furniture and material selection for a marketing agency located in Portland, Oregon. I felt that I was really trusted as a designer by my associates and was able to present my work to our client, which really gave me the confidence to trust myself as a designer and professional in the field.

Throughout my internship at DLR Group, I also had the opportunity to preformed field verifications, visit the construction site, and visit completed projects for the final photography of the space. This allowed me to not only gain professional experience but also experiencing the Seattle area as well! In the last week of my internship, I even got to go paddleboarding in the Sound with some of our interiors team! I am so grateful I had the opportunity to have an internship that allowed me to create lasting experiences, both inside and outside of the office. During my time in Seattle, I was able to spend many weekends and nights exploring the region, hiking, and visiting family nearby. While this wasn’t necessarily part of my professional experience, it was only possible through this internship, and it is something I will always be grateful for.

This internship opened me up to so many connections, especially in the Pacific Northwest, which I am so grateful for, and I hope to stay connected with in the future. I was able to connect with designers from different locations at DLR Group, professionals at different firms through IIDA events, and a wide network of furniture and brand representatives. I also was able to connect with other interns in my office from different schools, which created not only professional connections but personal friendships as well! This helped me feel at ease in an area that I didn’t know and opened so many doors for me across the nation!

While my time in Seattle has come to an end, I am excited for the next chapter of my life in Rome! I will be studying abroad through the University of Arkansas this fall, and I am so excited to experience the Italian culture. Following senior year, I am striving to be open to any opportunities that come my way to start my career and hope to find somewhere that excites me and I can feel at home.