Internship

This summer, I had the privilege of being Dwellings' first intern in years, which presented the opportunity to learn a multitude of industry-related tasks. I gained experience from working alongside three separate interior designers each with their own unique insights, advanced my skills in Chief Architect through the creation of several room and kitchen layouts, and exercised my skills in Microsoft Excel while creating hardware, area rugs, wallpaper, mirror, tile, and paint schedules for clients. I visited several multi-million dollar job sites and observed how Dwellings' owner and chief interior designer engaged with customers to steer projects with creative acumen. I devised a system to showcase the studio's inventory, acted as Dwellings' graphic designer and social media coordinator, and, on several occasions, single-handedly operated the studio servicing clients, designers, and customers. I also learned about generating alternate streams of business revenue via the lovely ladies who managed the retail portion of the studio.

Overall, I can say the summer of 2025 has provided me with some amazing experiences as well as relationships. I am forever grateful for the ladies who made Dwellings a second home to me, and I look forward to stopping in and saying hello when I head back to Michigan, the Lord willing. As I head into my final year at Olivet Nazarene University, I anticipate applying what I learned in the summer to my schoolwork as well as my future career, wherever that may be. 

During my internship, I conducted several site visits to observe the collaborative interactions between interior designers, general contractors, steel specialists, homeowners, and more. The following pictures highlight some of these valuable experiences. 

Laura, the owner of Dwellings, works closely with the Auction Committee of the local elementary school. They asked her to create a logo to be displayed on banners, postage, and other miscellaneous places for their upcoming auction. They wanted something simple that displayed this year's theme, "Night of Wonder." I was able to design something that encompassed each of these aspects in a professional manner.