Discipline: Environment and Interior Design

Student: CHAN Yuet Long (Yelena)

Internship Company: LittleUrbanMountain Design Limited, Hong Kong

https://www.littleurbanmountain.hk/

“The transition from studying to working in society has revealed that the mindset and testing methods applied in real-world projects can also be reminiscent of the creative environment of a design studio.”

– Yelena CHAN

Yelena completed an internship at LittleUrbanMountain. Her goal was to gain hands-on experience and make a meaningful impact in the community.

Learning Goals and Outcomes

At LittleUrbanMountain, Yelena was assigned to work on the YWCA project and the Qian Hai water pump station design for a pitching competition. Throughout her internship, she learned effective communication skills, developed an understanding of the design process, improved her organizational skills, and increased her attention to detail. She also gained experience in completing a design project, from the initial design stage to the concept design, detail design, construction documentation, and tendering stages.

Internship Outputs and Amazing Experiences

During her internship, Yelena utilized design thinking to identify hidden problems in the YWCA centre and brainstorm solutions to spatial problems. She also conducted site measurements and participated in workshops with youths and workers at the YWCA centre. This experience provided her with valuable insights into the practical application of design principles and processes.

Yelena learned that one key difference between school and work is that at work, one must explain aspects of design to individuals without design knowledge, such as young people. In addition, she emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive attitude towards decisions made regarding a chosen design, even if you disagree with these decisions.

Yelena’s workplace supervisor praised her attention to detail, helpfulness, and commitment to work. The supervisor commented, “We look forward to having her join us in the future to work in a bigger project team on more complex projects.”

Advice to Future Students

“I encourage future students to keep an open mind and be attentive to differing viewpoints. In design, it is essential to have several points of view. Don’t be afraid to take chances, explore, and learn from the errors you make. A spirit of exploration and perseverance is the key to achievement.”

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