An overview of my internship process with CDI Solutions, with a focus on learning goals, technology used, collaboration in the workplace, allied disciplines worked with, and projects worked on.
The Firm
CDI Solutions is a Commercial Design Interiors Firm located in Baton
Rouge, Louisiana that was established in 2004. Their Interior Designers work
collaboratively and effectively to deliver innovation, quality, and
sustainable interiors. CDI Solutions has practice areas that include
restaurants, bars, hotels, retail, banking, healthcare, and corporate
projects. A specialty that this firm also incorporates into their designs
include environmental wayfinding strategies that integrate signage, art,
and architectural elements within the built environment. CDI Solutions
firmly believes that sustainable design is good for businesses, people,
and the planet and strives to provide sustainable interior environments
led by their team with LEED accreditation and WELL Building Standards
project experience. As designers, CDI Solutions is committed to
providing design solutions that create a better world to live, work and
play.
Rouge, Louisiana that was established in 2004. Their Interior Designers work
collaboratively and effectively to deliver innovation, quality, and
sustainable interiors. CDI Solutions has practice areas that include
restaurants, bars, hotels, retail, banking, healthcare, and corporate
projects. A specialty that this firm also incorporates into their designs
include environmental wayfinding strategies that integrate signage, art,
and architectural elements within the built environment. CDI Solutions
firmly believes that sustainable design is good for businesses, people,
and the planet and strives to provide sustainable interior environments
led by their team with LEED accreditation and WELL Building Standards
project experience. As designers, CDI Solutions is committed to
providing design solutions that create a better world to live, work and
play.
Learning Goals
From this internship, I hoped to gain insight on the commercial aspect of Interior
Design, the way allied disciplines intertwine, the phases and timelines of commercial
projects, as well as the collaborative, team working setting within an Interior Design
firm alone. In search of personal development within the Interior Design field, practical
business knowledge, teamwork and software skills, this internship furthered and
practiced my knowledge in these areas. In addition, I was interested in learning the
daily agendas, presentation, communication skills, time management, budgeting,
problem-solving and business owning lifestyle overall. I enjoyed asking questions regarding leadership and problem solving skills starting with “How do you?” and “What do you do when?”. As great Interior Designers and teachers, this firm provided guidance as well as insight of the reality within the Interior Design Industry.
Design, the way allied disciplines intertwine, the phases and timelines of commercial
projects, as well as the collaborative, team working setting within an Interior Design
firm alone. In search of personal development within the Interior Design field, practical
business knowledge, teamwork and software skills, this internship furthered and
practiced my knowledge in these areas. In addition, I was interested in learning the
daily agendas, presentation, communication skills, time management, budgeting,
problem-solving and business owning lifestyle overall. I enjoyed asking questions regarding leadership and problem solving skills starting with “How do you?” and “What do you do when?”. As great Interior Designers and teachers, this firm provided guidance as well as insight of the reality within the Interior Design Industry.
Collaboration & Technology
The firm uses an ample amount of technology in order to complete projects. In
order to collaboratively work on the same project and incorporate other allied
disciplines, the firm uses BIM 360 and Revit collaboration in order to work on the
same projects simultaneously. This is useful for projects that are collaborative
between an architecture firm and interior design firm and allows for immediate
updates in the Revit model. It is also useful within the office as you can have
people on the design team do different tasks in the project and allow for quicker
results. Other softwares are also utilized in the office such as Enscape, Adobe
Illustrator, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop, AutoCad, Microsoft Powerpoint,
Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Bluebeam, and Sketchup to create conceptual
design sketches, mood boards, precedent studies, and more.
order to collaboratively work on the same project and incorporate other allied
disciplines, the firm uses BIM 360 and Revit collaboration in order to work on the
same projects simultaneously. This is useful for projects that are collaborative
between an architecture firm and interior design firm and allows for immediate
updates in the Revit model. It is also useful within the office as you can have
people on the design team do different tasks in the project and allow for quicker
results. Other softwares are also utilized in the office such as Enscape, Adobe
Illustrator, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop, AutoCad, Microsoft Powerpoint,
Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Bluebeam, and Sketchup to create conceptual
design sketches, mood boards, precedent studies, and more.
Allied Disciplines
Working in an Interior Design Office has surprised me with the amount of
collaboration they have with multiple project teams. Interior Designers are
constantly working on projects with multiple disciplines such as architects,
landscape architects, contractors, engineers, manufacturer representatives, and
clients. CDI Solutions alone consists of two founders, three licensed interior
designers and frequent interns. Working closely with the Interior Designers in the
office has taught me a lot about their process throughout a project, project
deadlines, how to effectively take note of dimensions, drawing elevation sketches
and taking measurements at a site visit, how to use the Industry standard software's to complete documentation such as construction documents, renderings, elevations, wayfinding packages, and material boards.
collaboration they have with multiple project teams. Interior Designers are
constantly working on projects with multiple disciplines such as architects,
landscape architects, contractors, engineers, manufacturer representatives, and
clients. CDI Solutions alone consists of two founders, three licensed interior
designers and frequent interns. Working closely with the Interior Designers in the
office has taught me a lot about their process throughout a project, project
deadlines, how to effectively take note of dimensions, drawing elevation sketches
and taking measurements at a site visit, how to use the Industry standard software's to complete documentation such as construction documents, renderings, elevations, wayfinding packages, and material boards.
Site Visits
Local Business Office
Baton Rouge Library Project
Baton Rouge Library- Interior Details
Baton Rouge Library- Interior Details
Baton Rouge Library Project
Projects & Activities
I was fortunate enough to be a helping hand for various projects
during my time with CDI Solutions. I was able to get hands-on
experience through attending client and team meetings, site visits
and measurement documentations, software modeling, creating
functional excel sheets with Design standards for projects, creating
project binders, sorting through and organizing the material library in
the office for a functional and aesthetic atmosphere. Another task I
was proud to assist with was being in direct contact with
manufacturer reps and ordering samples for multiple projects, as
well as helping the Interior Designers choose these materials.
during my time with CDI Solutions. I was able to get hands-on
experience through attending client and team meetings, site visits
and measurement documentations, software modeling, creating
functional excel sheets with Design standards for projects, creating
project binders, sorting through and organizing the material library in
the office for a functional and aesthetic atmosphere. Another task I
was proud to assist with was being in direct contact with
manufacturer reps and ordering samples for multiple projects, as
well as helping the Interior Designers choose these materials.
Credit Union Project Reception Area
Credit Union Project Workstations
Credit Union Material Selections
Updating & organizing Material Library
Updating & organizing Material Library
Credit Union Project Customized Workstation
