15 lessons We Learned as Interns in a UX Company

Applying for an internship can get you the experience that goes beyond a classroom setting. It introduces you to real-life situations that includes working with professionals in the company.

In our case, we were five in a group of student interns, taking up Advertising Management in De La Salle University, who all had the opportunity to work in Make, a user experience company based in Manila. Walking through our experience in Make, listed below are the lessons we learned throughout the duration of the internship.

1. Art can be complementary with computer science.
   Make combines both design and technology in producing their line of work. Whether you are majoring in design, business, or information technology, there is a wide range of different fields of expertise in the workplace. Graphic designers, for example, can actually collaborate and work hand in hand with developers in creating a well-crafted website.
2. Welcome and embrace feedback.
   Upon presenting your ideas, expect to get a direct feedback from experts in the chosen field. Since an internship experience is not limited to a classroom setting, people will criticize you as honest as possible. Also, prepare to take down notes because they want you to remember specific details and significant know-hows.
3. Put value towards your work.
   Professionals will know on the spot if you placed much effort in your work or not. By focusing even on the smallest details of design, it creates an impression that you value each and every part of what you do. For example, we were once tasked to come up with a Keynote presentation for a media plan. Upon showing it for approval, we were immediately assigned to modify and create a coherent layout and style. This gave us the idea that design and readability is as important as the content.
4. Collaboration is highly beneficial.
   You can’t just limit yourself to your own skills. By getting help from others and even learning from their own skills, you get to maximize what you can accomplish. Maximize learning not only from your own point of view but also others.
5. Innovation is a long-term process.
   As the saying goes, “Great things take time.” Anyone who wants to improve can’t be an instant number one. You have to constantly put in the patience and hard work. Processes requiring continuous monitoring should be taken into account. During the internship, we were introduced to new and innovative technologies, such as Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality, AI, among others — all of which take a certain amount of time and investment to develop new experiences for.
6. Be prepared to do something outside of your major.
   As students taking up Advertising Management, one cannot simply rely on step-by-step procedures learned in class. Planning ideas would not work unless driven from deep research and ideas. For example, some of us were tasked to create a press release content for the first time. To accomplish this, we had to study, analyze and evaluate several standard procedures that are up-to-date.
7. Make sure you ask the right questions.
   Referring to the quote “The ability to ask the right question is more than half the battle of finding the answer,” we can say it’s important not to throw just any question but to determine first if it’s the right one. It is also important to take into consideration that the experts in the company are preoccupied most of the time. One must be observant and attentive.
8. Learn more about customers through empathy.
   Having the capability of understanding and sharing the feelings of another makes learning easier. To have empathy is to be sensitive to what the customers need and how much it is needed. When the customers feel authenticity from you, they are likely to return your genuine intentions.
9. Enrich your mind towards the field of technology.
   For the duration of our internship, we had to immerse ourselves in anything related to technology. Ranging from tech news online to famous entrepreneurs in the field, it was indeed necessary for us to grasp the objectives in the industry. As mentioned previously, companies such as Make is a mix of both art and computer science. We can’t simply create output by solely focusing on the concepts of art alone.
10. Take a closer look into web & application development.
    By being on the same floor with the creatives and tech experts, we found out that one of the key services of a user experience company is creating websites and apps with User Experience in mind. We encountered first-hand the whole development process. With this, we won’t be able to look at websites and apps the same way again, as each and every member of the team — from the UX designers, to user research specialists, to frontend and backend coders — was key in creating human-centered experiences for the devices that we use daily.
11. Construct a point of view based on customer needs.
    To identify the specific needs of customers, it is necessary to look through their own perspective. One example is when the website of Ace Saatchi & Saatchi had to be substantially reworked. Developers from Make were tasked to identify the needed alterations and come up with a newly improved site.
12. Develop a culture of openness.
    Within the company, the developers are often be the ones who contribute a creative output — meaning they are free to express and drive the culture of the company. The same goes for us interns when it comes to coming up with ideas for social media or strategy plans.
13. Maximize solutions through brainstorming.
    Getting the help of our peers and co-interns can eventually lead to identifying solutions. Various ways of brainstorming such as focus group discussions and interviews guided us towards what we needed to know. Make it a habit to be open to new ideas.
14. Build a representation of desired outcomes and how to achieve them.
    Setting a vision is the first major step. Along with representations such as media plans and visual guides, achieving goals become more organized and straightforward. Properly lay out your ideas and be consistent towards your vision.
15. Changes can be unpredictable.
    When it comes to a customer’s choices or decisions, they may be temporary and are subject to change from time to time. One must have the ability to adapt swiftly in the fast emerging industry of technology. In this age of virtual reality, machine learning and artificial intelligence, it is indeed an obligation to be continuously aware of what is likely to happen next and how we can make solutions take action.
16. Bonus lesson: Have fun!
    Throughout the whole experience, we realized that as much as we have to focus on the important work at hand, it was also essential to enjoy and appreciate the process of making. It was easy for us to jump in right away and be comfortable, because we were in a very welcoming, easy-going, and open learning environment. We definitely recommend this whole experience for anyone who’s interested in design, creativity, and technology.

Make’s 1st Batch of Interns: Micah, Francesca (CSB), Bernadette, Sab, Carlos and Nova

For internships, get in touch with Make by emailing we@make.technology

Make is a technology company helping brands drive innovation and creativity through powerful digital platforms and emerging technologies. Our team of world-class developers, designers and thinkers creates products that push business goals of various companies. Whether we are collaborating with the next start-up in the early stages of brand development, or helping established organizations shape their future, our goal is to provide the resources no matter how big or small to help our clients Make.