Industrial Design Internship success story

Todd is a great example of how successful a design internship can be; for both the business and the individual. It allows undergraduate students invaluable first hand experience of working in the design industry on live design projects alongside experienced creatives. For the business, after a short period of investing time in the intern to allow them to develop their skills and adapt to the environment. The intern will often become an invaluable member of the design team, positively contributing to live projects and the business as a whole.

We were surprised to hear when Brad Harper of Design Truth raised the issue of Industrial design interns not being paid a fair wage by some agencies. At Phase Two Design as advocates of design internships, we of course would always pay a fair wage to ensure this opportunity is open to anybody with the skill and ambition to join the creative industry. You can sign up to Design Truths' Internship Pledge, as we have, to support this initiative.

What Todd brings to the team

Todd brings a toolbox full of talent, a genuine passion for design and a great mindset; all the ingredients needed to be a top-level industrial designer. Todd's broad set of design and engineering abilities is a perfect fit for the varied design projects Phase Two undertakes. As we have worked with Todd in the past, he arrived ready to go - immediately contributing to active projects. He also brings a fresh injection of ideas and new skills to the studio. Having Todd onboard has increased our capacity to commit to more new and exciting projects.

More about Todd

Todd tell us a bit about you!

What and where did you study and how was the university experience?

Having spent all my life in Birmingham, you would have thought I would have wanted to escape the midlands. Yet I only ventured as far as the University of Nottingham for my engineering master’s degree in product design and manufacture. Studying alongside a variety of engineering students, the course combined a traditional engineering background with specialisms in design, manufacture, materials, and ergonomics. As part of the course, I also completed a year-long internship in the industry before returning to finish my degree.

I thoroughly enjoyed my university experience, particularly the design led projects. Studio sessions, last minute submissions, seeing everyone else’s creative solutions to design briefs; stressful, but highly rewarding. I enjoyed working in tangent with the various engineering disciplines, opening my eyes to the wider scope of the industry. My final year was struck by the Covid-19 pandemic, but thanks to my internship I had honed a lot of my skills and was raring to get on with my final year project from my own room.

I have got no bad words to say about Nottingham. It will forever be one of my favourite cities and I hold a lot of fond memories from my time there.

Tell us more about your internship

I remember firing out over 50 applications to studios across the UK and Europe, knowing that I was up against many students from other universities that had already established links with the industry more so than my university. So, when I received my offer from Mat and Lewis, I was ecstatic to have been given the opportunity. As the only intern I was expected to work as a full junior member of the design team, tasked with contributing to client projects and internal initiatives. I had to react rapidly to new, exciting, and challenging client briefs and aided in creating and maintaining strong client relationships.

My main role was creating digitally sketched concepts and rendered product visuals for client presentations. I also generated BOM documents and their associated technical drawings ready for production. Organising weekly 5-a-side was a highlight too! My internship was the year in which my skills developed the most and without It I would not be where I am today. It certainly expanded my network by introducing me to professionals across different companies, disciplines, and countries.

Did you always want to be an Industrial designer?

Before I applied to university, I didn’t know that an industrial designer was the name for a job role! I purely made my degree decision based on what I was enjoying throughout school and sixth form, design and technology. I enjoyed the process of reacting to a brief, problem solving, and tackling hands-on challenges to create an end solution.

It was only in my first few months of university where I really got a feel for what the industry was and what skills were necessary. From there, I learnt a range of technical and interpersonal skills that have enabled me to pursue a career as a designer. It is a great feeling knowing that I have such a wide skill base to apply myself to any challenge that is thrown my way. My internship reinforced this feeling and introduced me to a professional studio environment which I have become very fond of. You’ll find me up to something in the studio every day of the week.

Who or what inspired you to get into design and how do you find inspiration when designing?

With my mum being an art teacher and my dad an architect, there was certainly a high chance I would get involved in something creative. It has turned out that I’m doing something that is a blend of the two professions. The logical approach and real-world application of an architect and the meticulous nature and attention to detail of an artist.

When designing, current trends and image board sites are a good starting point, but I feel it can lead to homogenous looking products. Therefore, I always like to look elsewhere and draw from experiences. I like it when inspiration comes from a little detail that I suddenly remember from something I saw briefly or from watching the latest episode of Stranger Things. It will end up being something completely random that triggers an off the cuff idea, supported quickly by a doodle. These are always exciting to explore in the moment.

I also feel it’s important to always be taking in visual references wherever you are. I’m always looking up at buildings when out, people watching or making mental notes when watching a YouTube video about a piece of technology only millionaires could afford. I also feel listening to my peers is a great source of inspiration and I enjoy the collaborative approach in creative sessions.

Outside of design what are your other passions

I am a big fan of gigs, festivals and discovering new music. I am a keen runner and have just completed the 2023 London Marathon which was my first ever marathon! I also enjoy playing 5-a-side football and watching the Villa. Since making the move to live in south London, I spend a lot of my time exploring what the city has to offer.

What have been your highlights of working at Phase two so far?

Project wise, it has been designing and manufacturing a 4D experience which we are unable to share right now! It was the perfect example of a design and manufacture project completed entirely in house. When completed, it was nice to put down the tools, step back and really appreciate what we had created, especially when the LEDs were powered up. Everyone loves some good LEDs!

At Phase Two, one day you’ll be manufacturing a 4D experience and the next you’ll be sketching up concepts for a sustainable toy brief. Lots of fun whilst testing both engineering-based skills and creative output. It is great feeling the general buzz of creativity as soon as you step through the studio doors.