Jesse Smith

Major: Interior Design; Minors: Construction Graphics, Design & Innovation 

Interior Design Intern, Gensler Design / Architecture Firm 

1.) How did you learn about this internship opportunity? 

I have actually known about this internship opportunity with Gensler for quite some time now. Having followed Gensler's success over the past several years I knew that when it came to applying for an internship Gensler would be my top priority. I'm so lucky to have been given this opportunity and my time here has been absolutely amazing. 

2.) How has your internship helped build your skills and clarify your career goals?  How do you apply your Liberal Arts skills to your internship?  

Being around such hardworking and talented people has been something I have looked forward to. It was uplifting to be around such a large amount of like minded people that made everlasting impressions on me. The hands-on work and engagement with large projects helped me to navigate what work flow and problem solving will look like for me in the near future. 

Being a Liberal Arts student at Purdue means learning how to push the boundaries of creativity and fuel your passion for whatever career you are preparing for. Learning the importance of going beyond and above has shaped me into a person who is always willing to do whatever it takes to become the person I want to be. 

3.) What is a piece of advice you would give someone looking for an internship? 

I would encourage those to tap into who they are early on in their studies to understand where their passion for the industry came from. From there they will be able to navigate why design is uniquely important to them and start to build a story behind all of their work. Being involved in clubs, leadership roles, and even signing up for design competitions where you can receive a handful of recognition for your work is also very important to showcase your passion.

4.) What specific responsibilities have you undertaken during your internship?

During my time at Gensler, I have been very fortunate to be a part of many large scale projects. I have been fully integrated in design teams working closely with colleagues on live client projects, participating in design charrettes, weekly learning sessions as well as lectures, tours, site-visits, client meetings, and events. 

5.) In what ways has the College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University supported your internship journey? How has your participating in our job-ready program specifically aided your professional development? 

The College of Liberal Arts at Purdue has provided me with a well-rounded foundation that complements my internship experience, allowing me to approach challenges creatively and engage with a range of learned skills from various classes. The professional program classes that are a part of the CLA at Purdue have truly made such an impact on how I approach, work through, and execute design. Making me more than ready for even the most prestigious of internships. 

The job ready scholarship has aided me to achieve a goal of mine I have had for a handful of years. Moving to a major city can be challenging financially, but the job-ready program has been a major leverage in helping me to not only work in downtown Chicago, but also live downtown just a 10min walk from work. Being able to live in the heart of the city has been more significant than I first thought. I have been able to manage my time going to and from work every day and experience such rich cultures with endless once in a lifetime experiences that will make everlasting impressions on me. 

6.) Could you highlight a standout aspect of your experience in this program that you find particularly noteworthy? 

A standout aspect of my internship would definitely have to be sitting in on meetings, and getting to see all of the behind the scenes work and stories behind the design of the new Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business building at Purdue.