As a Senior Interior Design student at Villa Maria College, I was encouraged to complete an internship in an area of design that I am most interested in. After completing various studio classes, I found that I most enjoyed commercial design. My last studio class focused on Evidence Based Design, designing for the Chemotherapy Infusion spaces at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. I really liked the research aspect of the project, learning about codes and guidelines, challenging myself to follow these strict rules while incorporating good design. When it came time to start searching for my senior internship I looked for companies who focused on projects that would challenge me in this area of design.
When I first heard of Buffalo Office Interiors, they caught my attention, as they provide design services to a broad range of commercial industries, including healthcare, education and hospitality. It was exactly what I was looking for, so I applied and was soon offered an internship position with their team!
Throughout my entire experience the designers have kept me very busy, allowing me to be a part of many of their projects. I have gotten to see how they follow the design process and the different ways that they work with each client. I have even gotten to attend many of their meetings with clients. As a student, it’s not often that I have the chance to work with clients; so being able to interact with them has taught me a lot. I’ve been able to see what goes on behind the scenes, whether I was in the office or in the field.
I have also learned a lot about vendors and I’ve become more familiar with manufacturers of floor and wall coverings, upholstery and furniture, along with their applications. I met many of the manufacturer representatives who provide the designers with the newest products and keep the resource library updated on current specifications and pricing. I also got to see how office systems work and are configured, how to take inventory and how to put them into an AutoCAD drawing.
My internship at Buffalo Office Interiors has been such a great experience. Everyone has been so welcoming and has shared so much of their knowledge with me. Every moment was a learning experience, even at the lunch table! I am so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of the Buffalo Office Interior’s team and can’t thank them enough for all that they’ve done for me.