Design Consultant Review

Responsibilities and daily tasks include: working on design deliverables with other designers, communicating and taking feedback from users/clients, iterating designs and handing over to development. Projects can include public to private sector client projects in industries ranging from retail and manufacturing to healthcare and social services. Other than project work, you also contribute to various communities at IBM and side projects to network and improve your skills.

I've learnt a lot about how to work in efficient teams and fast paced projects, and about design skills such as wireframing/prototyping as well as develop existing skills in communication and presentation etc... I also learnt about how to work with clients and non-designers.

Depending on project scale and staffing, I was given varying amounts of responsibility. Earlier in the year, I was given small responsibilities to start with and gradually worked up to being responsible for several key aspects of the project, including design deliverables and client workshops.

I was given sufficient support and guidance from both my task manager, to foundation manager, my buddy and fellow interns, as well as senior designers on my projects. It was very easy to ask about any questions or queries I had and receive constructive feedback.

The company culture at my part of the company (iX) was very inclusive and welcoming. The community feeling was strong and I felt part of the group even as an intern. The atmosphere is quite relaxed and you don't feel the hierarchy as much, with senior people treating you with respect. However, I can't speak for the culture at IBM as a whole outside iX.

I thoroughly enjoyed my internship. I learnt and grew a lot as an individual, beyond just learning hard skills, and met many interesting people. The work-life balance was decent and it really has been a significant turning point in my career, getting me interested in consulting and UX design with exciting new experiences. It was the right balance of challenging and fun that I was looking for during my placement year.

Yes

Know what you are applying for and don't be generic in your application. Try your best in the interviews but don't be too stiff. If applying for design, your portfolio is the most important part so work on that the most! Include any experience that is relevant, cut anything that is not.