Lighting Design Intern
Max came to us unexpectedly, with a strong recommendation from Lighting Design Professor Anne Militello at Cal Arts. Suddenly, we had our first Fall intern, and our first in-office intern, in many years! It was a pleasure having Max’s positivity, enthusiasm, and desire to learn in the office every day. Here, Max answers our regular intern interview questions:
Q. How was this experience different from your previous work experience?
Despite studying architectural lighting design for a few years, this was my first time working for an architectural lighting firm. My previous experience was primarily in theatre, which meant most of my design collaboration was with people outside my discipline. Being on a team comprised entirely of lighting designers was amazing because I got to experience how each designer on the team approaches a project, how they interact with clients, and how they think about the story of a given space. One of VTI’s strengths is the willingness of every team member to support one another, especially when deadlines are approaching. It shows the level of support that everyone here has for each other when working on large projects or when deadlines overlap. It was wonderful walking into the office each day and be greeted by a smile from David and Lisa. They are incredibly passionate and are dedicated to the success of their employees.
Q. What was your favorite part about Visual Terrain, Inc?
The people. From day one, everyone on the team was incredibly friendly and welcoming. I felt empowered to ask questions and advocate for what I wanted to experience during my time here. I was encouraged to share my opinion and perspective on the projects I was assigned and get to know the designers I worked alongside. It felt as though the team trusted my experience and appreciated the work I did to help them further their designs. Senior team members always made themselves available to answer questions about projects and processes that were new to me. I would also say that the opportunity to learn so much new software that I couldn’t access as a student was incredibly valuable. The extensive time that VTI allocated to thorough training was unlike any job I have had previously.
Q. What did you hope to learn most from your time at VTI?
I was hoping to meet great people, learn new software, and collaborate to create beautiful spaces with light. I was able to do all of that and more at VTI! This internship is incredibly hands-on, and that’s exactly the experience I was looking for. The team does an amazing job at fostering your personal and professional growth.
Q. Did your time with Visual Terrain affect your career or academic plans in any way?
From the time I started, I always planned on using my final year of graduate school to blend my coursework with professional experience, and I’m so happy that VTI is how I made that happen! I look forward to finishing school next semester, joining the workforce, and applying the invaluable experience from my time with VTI at any job that comes next.
Q. How much was the work you did/experience you had at Visual Terrain different from what you expected before you started?
I was expecting to come in and do a lot of typical intern work, like organizing, taking meeting notes, and cleaning up drafting, but right as I came on board, Lisa had me hit the ground running. I was thrown into a different project each week, working closely alongside the other designers. I felt trusted to make decisions and was usually assigned tasks that involved collaboration between myself and the lead designer. Ultimately, the team trusted me to figure out my own design voice while being there to guide me during each step of the process.
Q. Any other comments?
I want to thank Lisa, David, and the entire VTI team for this amazing opportunity. It has been wonderful getting to know everyone on the team. Every day at VTI I learned something new and shared laughs with amazing designers and genuinely great people.