Reflecting on my Summer with View: What I’ve Loved, Learned, and Will be Leaning on as I Continue my Education

As I sit at my desk on the last day of my summer, I’m reflecting on the time I’ve spent with View, and the many ways it has helped me grow. The end of this summer marks the two year anniversary of my internship with View, however this summer I took on a full-time role, allowing me to immerse myself in the business, team, and experience more than I have before.

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In just a few days I’m hopping on a plane to start my third year of design school in Rome (absolutely wild and SO exciting), but I’m lucky enough to have a summer of real-world experience to lean on and apply to this next year of learning. Keep reading to hear what I’m taking away from this amazing summer!

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1. One of my favorite parts of working this summer was just being able to interact with the team as much as I did. As a hyper-independent person, I can admit that collaboration has never been my strong suit, however the amazing team at View makes it so easy. Whether it was in person meetings or brainstorming over the phone, creative projects were always accompanied by some form of collaboration and feedback. Working with other designers, and even hearing from people out of the discipline can open your mind to so many new possibilities. Sometimes, leaning on another person’s thoughts and ideas makes for the best final product. Working with the talented and fun women of View this summer made it very clear just how important collaboration is, and how fun it can be.

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2. Another valuable lesson that I really clung onto this summer is the importance of trying something multiple times. Especially on design based projects, the hard truth is that your first idea is pretty much never your best. Even though it's easy to get caught up in one idea that you think is “the one”, it is essential to go through the motions at least three more times. Chances are, you’ll create something even better than you imagined in the first place. As someone who very much does feel trapped by the circular process sometimes, this is one lesson I really want to work on in Rome and beyond.

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3. All this being said, I can’t skip over the actual skills I learned this summer. Being able to work as much as I did and touch so many client projects meant learning so many new skills and corners of technology. I’m more comfortable with the Adobe suite than ever before, got to learn some more about web building on the back end, and got to see and learn about new programs that will no doubt continue to grow. Even though I’m pursuing an education in interior design, the graphic design and marketing skills I’ve picked up and refined over the course of the summer are already changing the way I think and create, as well as making me a stronger, more well-rounded designer.

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As I’m getting ready to head back to school and enter the chaos of another semester and living across the world, I’m so grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to spend another summer with View. Getting to experience the world of business and design hands-on with such a supportive group has not only been fun, but also so informative. What I’ve learned from my work and the team are lessons I will most definitely take with me throughout the rest of my time at school, and future design career.