Interning at Interior Elements provided me the opportunity to learn and grow in my knowledge about the furniture side of the design industry. Having gone through the commercial design class at Auburn and working with IE on our junior year project, I had a slight grasp on what the dealership world was like, but it wasn’t until my internship that I gained full understanding. What I found the most interesting was how reliant A&D firms are on furniture dealerships for knowledge on product specification. One thing I have loved about the contract furniture industry is how it allows you to have an extended design community as you get to work with other designers at A&D firms on projects. During my internship I got to sit in on meetings, organize the material library, and help designers out with projects and presentations. The IE internship allowed me to gain understanding of the project process and gain many friendships that allowed me to have a great transition from being an intern to a full-time employee.