Internship -> Full Time Employment

When I interned at Ford I was lucky enough to find myself placed on the Bronco team. I was nervous to start work in the car industry, where people ogled over hot sketches and beautiful artwork - something that wasn’t at my forefront. My 21 year old self didn’t have an interest in aesthetics, and leaned into human-centered design, research, functional considerations, and conceptual thinking. Uncertain of how this perspective would align with the automotive design world, I was curious about what my role would be on the team.

I soon met my manager who brought up that he looked at my portfolio. He asked, “You don’t want to be a car designer, do you?” And I nervously laughed a, “No…” in response. Fortunately, he went on to say that’s exactly why he was excited to have me on the team. I could offer a new perspective in the Bronco space beyond the vehicle itself. I felt a weight off my shoulders. From there on out I was given the freedom to contribute with my product design lens. Instead of drawing Broncos I focused on understanding and catering to the diverse needs of its users, leading to the creation of distinctive products and experiences.

After I interned, I was offered a full position, and was happy to take it. I never wanted to end up in the car industry, but that internship opened my eyes to what actually goes on behind the scenes in design. It isn’t just about making things look good, there’s so much more to it. Most importantly, I was was happy to find a family who saw my potential and embraced my thinking and designing, instead of trying to change me.