Launching Your Career: Internships at Interior Marketing Group (IMG) and HOK

For aspiring designers and architects, internships offer invaluable opportunities to gain hands-on experience, build a professional network, and launch a successful career. Two prominent firms, Interior Marketing Group (IMG) and HOK, provide structured internship programs designed to nurture emerging talent and provide real-world exposure to the design and architecture industries. This article explores the internship opportunities available at IMG and HOK, highlighting the experiences, benefits, and potential career paths these programs can unlock.

Interior Marketing Group (IMG) Internship: Crafting Luxury Spaces

Interior Marketing Group (IMG) presents a unique internship experience centered around the world of luxury real estate design. With nearly 20 years of exponential growth, IMG offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to collaborate with award-winning creatives and craft inspiring spaces for an elite, global clientele. Interns at IMG have the opportunity to contribute to projects that may grace the pages of Architectural Digest, Forbes, or The New York Times, or be showcased on Bravo, NBC, and CBS.

A Glimpse into the IMG Internship Experience

As an Interior Design Intern, you will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a dynamic and collaborative design environment. You will work closely with our team of experienced interior designers on a variety of projects, contributing your creativity and skills to deliver outstanding design solutions. The IMG internship program is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interior design process, from initial concept development to final execution.

Key Responsibilities

IMG internships offer a diverse range of responsibilities, providing interns with a well-rounded experience. These responsibilities may include:

Sample Library Maintenance: Organize and upkeep the library and the interior design office space. Arrange and maintain lunch and learn calendar with vendors.
Design Team Assistance: Support larger team with errands and samples. Accept and make deliveries as needed.
Assisting in Design Development: Collaborate with designers to develop and refine design concepts for various projects.
Space Planning: Contribute to space planning activities, ensuring optimal functionality and utilization of interior spaces.
Material and Finish Selection: Assist in researching and selecting appropriate materials, finishes, and furnishings to enhance the overall design concept.
3D Modeling and Rendering: Use design software (e.g., AutoCAD, SketchUp, or other relevant tools) to create 3D models and realistic renderings that help visualize design concepts.
Documentation: Support the creation of design documentation, including floor plans, elevations, and specifications.
Vendor Coordination: Collaborate with vendors and suppliers to source materials and furnishings, ensuring timely and accurate procurement.
Site Visits: Attend site visits to gain practical knowledge of construction and installation processes and assist with installations and site measures.
Research Trends: Stay updated on industry trends, materials, and design innovations to contribute fresh ideas to the team.

Qualifications and Skills

IMG seeks interns who are passionate about interior design and possess a strong foundation in design principles. Desired qualifications include:

Bachelor's Degree in interior Design or in a related major.
Proficient in design software such as AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite.
Strong visual and verbal communication skills.
Detail-oriented with a passion for creativity and design.
Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
Eagerness to learn and adapt to a fast-paced design studio.
Self-starter and detail-oriented.

The IMG Advantage

IMG internships offer several distinct advantages:

Exposure to High-End Projects: Work on extraordinary properties-from sky-high penthouses to oceanfront estates.
Collaboration with Industry Leaders: Collaborate with a trailblazing team that is redefining the luxury real estate industry.
Recognition and Growth: Be part of a company celebrated as a NYCxDESIGN honoree and a Stevie Award winner for fastest-growing, woman-led workplaces.
Limitless Opportunities: At IMG, the opportunities are endless, and your impact is limitless.

HOK Internship: Shaping Sustainable and Inspiring Spaces

HOK is a global design, architecture, engineering, and planning firm with a mission to create buildings and spaces that inspire people. HOK's internship program is designed to provide students and recent graduates with practical experience in a collaborative and innovative environment. HOK invests in our people. We’ve designed a benefits package intended to help you live your best life.

A Journey of Growth and Discovery

My journey with HOK began as an intern with our lighting group. I remember being excited about the opportunity but not sure what to expect. Soon I found myself immersed in an ecosystem unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I had the chance to work out of the St. Louis and Kansas City studios, each with its own rhythm, personality and people who shaped the way I saw design. Five years later, I returned to HOK as a full-time member of the architecture group in St. Louis. Coming back felt less like starting over and more like returning to a place that was familiar and part of my professional DNA.

Diverse Internship Opportunities

Internships are available in architecture, interior design, engineering, planning, sustainable design, marketing and other disciplines across our global studios. This wide range of options allows students to explore their interests and gain experience in their chosen field.

Making a Positive Impact

I grew up in a small town in South Africa with an architect father and a nurse mother. My role at HOK perfectly blends my parents’ career paths. As a medical planner in our London studio, I use my background in medical equipment planning, architectural technology and database management to solve complex hospital design challenges. I am proud of the work our team does and the difference we make for our clients-and the broader community. Through our philanthropic arm, HOK IMPACT, I had the opportunity to help lead our pro-bono design work for Yuva Unstoppable, a charity in India that provides educational opportunities for underprivileged children. Our London team designed a school for 200 students outside of Mumbai, and I had the privilege to visit the site during construction. Though a relatively simple project in terms of design, the impact it has had on children and their families makes it a highlight of my career.

Read also: Unlocking Your Inner Decorator

A Culture of Inclusion and Growth

HOK also prides itself on its corporate culture, both within our individual studios and across our firm. Our Diversity Advisory Council works with firm leadership to promote an inclusive business environment and a culture where people with different backgrounds, perspectives, skills and experience can succeed. HOK also seeks to expand the pipeline of designers entering the field. HOK is an equal opportunity employer.

Program Structure and Benefits

Our interns work full-time during the summer and part-time during the school year. All internships are paid. HOK invests in our people. We’ve designed a benefits package intended to help you live your best life.

The HOK Advantage

The thing I appreciate most about HOK is the access it offers to colleagues across our 27 offices. Every connection-be it a quick chat, a design critique or problem-solving session-brings a different perspective. Those perspectives have pushed me, challenged me and helped me grow in ways I didn’t expect.

Read also: Creating a Design Portfolio

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