MEET OUR NEW INTERN, ALLIE!
The world was flipped upside-down when COVID-19 hit, destabilizing the normal day-to-day, not only for businesses, but for universities as well. Communities and companies alike pushed for social distancing to keep community members and employees healthy and safe, but this left many questions for university students looking to experience a college must: internships.
Faulkner Design was no exception, with the thoughtful and proactive Executive Team making sure everyone was comfortable both in and out of the office. Therefore, the FDG team was overjoyed when the new Design Intern, Allie, walked through the doors of the lobby.
Allie describes the internship opportunity at FDG as “fate.”
During her first trip to Dallas for a wedding, Allie received an email from her professor at Louisiana State University. The email enclosed a reminder for upcoming internship opportunities that were administered by FDG’s very own LSU graduate, Mary Pat. Immediately intrigued, Allie researched Faulkner Design Group and called Mary Pat. Later that very same week, Allie took a tour of the office and was instantly captivated by the professional and inviting environment and the smiling team members who showed Allie what a great place Faulkner Design was. She was further enthralled by FDG’s specialization in multifamily and senior living communities that correlates with her interest in hospitality design.
Thus, Allie’s internships begins.
THE DAY-TO-DAY OF AN FDG INTERN
FIRST-WEEK FEELINGS
Staring at a new job can be nerve-racking, but Allie felt right at home on her first day at Faulkner Design. Her previous visit had prepared her for what to expect, diminishing all those trying worries like where to park and how to get into the building, all made even more tedious with strict, new COVID-19 guidelines. However, Mary Pat quickly took Allie under her very wise and helpful wing. Allie was able to turn to Mary Pat for any problem she encountered with the knowledge that if Mary Pat didn’t have the answer, she’d do her best to get to the bottom of it. To top Mary Pat’s warm welcome, FDG employees from all departments greeted Allie with welcoming emails or in-person appearances as team members slowly began to return to the office. Allie noted how happy everyone was that she was there, a nice change from previous internship experiences. From there, she moved on to completing orientations and training videos. While there was a lot of information for her to learn how FDG functions, Allie already feels like a Faulkner pro.
THE INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE
After only a few weeks in the office, Allie has already participated in a myriad of tasks, including pulling fabrics for projects, ordering and returning samples, selecting flooring and wall coverings to fit budget specifications, communicating with vendors to set up virtual presentations, prepping ideas and designs for upcoming project presentations with clients, and so much more. Allie’s favorite task so far was attending her first install. An enjoyer of hands-on tasks, Allie was eager to see a project come together right before her eyes and was grateful to be part of the process. Working on three different projects at any given time, Allie appreciates the opportunity to “be” a designer rather than just “work with” designers, as with some internships she’s participated in. Allie admires the diversity of the team and FDG culture that encourages creativity, integrity, forward thinking, and gratitude above all else. A professional work environment with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown Dallas is simply a much-welcomed bonus.
WHAT’S TO COME
Every designer, or designer-to-be, dreams of the day their long-awaited project comes to fruition. Years of fabric selections, tile choices, deciding between a multitude of furnishings, and creating a design from scratch culminates into a stunning community that will be discussed for years to come. Allie is excited to take part in such a meticulous, creative, years-in-the-making process that encompasses designing a multifamily or senior living community. While universities do their best to replicate the general design process that a designer might experience in the “real world,” the projects end seemingly before they begin, leaving behind only floor plans and renderings to showcase the students’ hard work.
“Seeing a real project from start to finish would be such a good learning experience for me.”
Allie, Design Intern 2020
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ALLIE
As a senior at Louisiana State University, Allie is pursing her Bachelors of Interior Design through LSU’s CIDA-accredited program that prepares students for success in the real world. Though originally born in small-town Denham Springs, LA, Allie’s family moved to Florida years ago, a beautiful state that she now calls home. Living both in Louisiana and Florida, Allie and her family are hard-core advocates of water activities with Allie spending a majority of her time in rivers or bays on boats and skis. While Allie notes that she falls into the right-brained category of thinkers, she has some left-brained tendencies that have led her to greatly enjoy art, travel, piano, and a myriad of hands-on hobbies that get her creative juices flowing.
Initially told that interior design was “too risky” of a profession despite having a passion for design, Allie spent her late high school and early college years trying to decide what job suited her best. Trying everything from communication to physical therapy, psychology to radiology, Allie found that nothing capture her interest. Allie ventured back to her roots to figure out what truly made her happy with the help of LSU’s Art Director. Interior design contained the perfect combination of artistic expression, creativity, and logic that Allie was looking for. Three years later and Allie has never looked back. Now sure of herself, Allie is excited for her future in the world of design.
Keep up with our Design Interns throughout their time at Faulkner Design, as they gain experience and leave their mark on FDG.
