Interior Design | Vancouver Island University

Learn Beyond the Classroom

Students in the Bachelor of Interior Design program complete a summer internship between the third and fourth year of their degree. This past summer, all students secured internships in their field of design, allowing them to apply their education and training to hands-on experience. The experience of applying their education and being mentored by design professionals reinforces what they have learned at VIU, and further expands the breadth and depth of their industry experience. Students in the Bachelor of Interior Design program participate in client consultations, play a role in designing commercial and residential builds, selecting finishes and working with a variety of building trades. During summer internships, many students see the development of real projects from 'Design Concept to Completion', which is a process they study in class. Studying this process and seeing how it is applied in the field cements their learning and plays a key role in building their design confidence. Many students returning for their fourth and final year continue to work with their host employer part-time or have their internship supervisor serve as their external advisor for their Capstone Design project. The partnerships formed through internships are invaluable to the students, to VIU and to the design industry.

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Student Story

I completed an internship at Coastal Construction where I was part of the team that builds the West Coast’s most beautiful custom homes. During my internship, I had the opportunity to work on real projects and apply the skills I learned at VIU. My role in all of the projects I worked on changed often as they progressed, allowing me to participate in many phases of the design process. I observed an initial client meeting to determine aesthetic direction and contributed to review proposed finishes. I was also fortunate to apply many of the technical skills I learned in my program. I translated numerous lighting plans into Auto CAD drawings, created three dimensional drawings using Google Sketch-Up, and assembled a millwork package to send out for pricing. I was included in the design process's hands-on stages, such as reviewing an electrical rough-in on site and staging a show home. The site visits were a highlight of my internship experience because it was beneficial to see the physical projects I had been working on in the office.

Vanessa Lloyd, Bachelor of Interior Design Student