During the summer of 2018, Landscape Architecture student Haley Powell interned at Page Duke Landscape Architects. Below, she answers some questions about her experience.
How has your education at OU prepared you for this internship?
My time at OU has helped me build foundational skills that I have further developed through my position in a firm. It has also helped me to master time management, which has really come into play in the workplace.
What surprised you most about your internship?
The sheer number of projects that each individual plays a role in took me by surprise. In studio, you generally focus on one at a time; in the real world, it can be up to six or seven. I never expected that I would work on the number of projects that I have in so short a time.
Have you noticed any differences in how design is addressed in your internship versus at OU?
Real projects take much longer in the real world, and that usually means more iterations of the design and more meetings with the client. The principal designers also play a major role in almost every design that leaves the firm, making almost every project a collaborative effort to some degree.
How does this internship relate to your career goals?
Beyond just forming contacts and connections, this internship is giving me a chance to explore high-end residential landscape architecture. Through this experience, I will be able to further pinpoint what kind of firm I would like to pursue: what field, what kind of office culture, what size firm, etc. I also learn valuable skills from people who have more experience than I do, making me that much stronger of a designer and candidate when it comes to applying for jobs.
After working at an office, what are some ways you think you might approach studio differently when you return?
I think that I will spend more time on the details of my projects. Working in an environment where people are working on multi-million dollar projects makes one very aware of how high the standard is in the real world. Having a great concept or overall design isn’t enough; the fine points and complexities must be above-and-beyond as well.
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