In conversation with Beth Plant, Interior Design Intern at DAKOTA

1. How did your internship with DAKOTA come about?

The internship was offered to the university and we were able to apply. From there, we submitted a visual board about ourselves.

2. Can you tell us a little bit about your background and what made you pursue a career in interior design?

I have always been interested in art and design from a young age. I studied art and design at both GCSE and A Level. I knew I wanted to have a career where I am able to be creative whilst being able to apply my love for design in a practical setting, which lead me to pursue a career in interior design.

3. What does a typical day entail as an interior design intern?

Each day as an interior design intern is different. Projects move fast and I tend to jump onto different projects each week.

One day I will be working on CAD drawings, the next I can be working on exterior visuals or helping to create mood boards.

4. What three words would you use to describe life at DAKOTA?

Friendly, supportive and creative.

5. What has been your favourite project to work on at DAKOTA and why?

My favourite project to date has been working on detailed CAD drawings for wall elevations.

It allowed me to see how ideas can be developed into CAD drawings and to see how the wall details will physically work when installed on site.

6. How has your internship with DAKOTA influenced your career plans?

The internship has made me even more eager to start working within the industry.

Seeing how an interior design practice works first hand and how different projects develop has made me want to get started professionally straight away.

7. What advice would you give someone that is studying interior design and thinking about doing an internship?

Try and find an internship or gain experience wherever you can. It allows you to see how interior designers work and helps you decide if it is the right career path for you. You learn so much whilst working, which supports your university studies and will be extremely helpful after graduating.