Experience with APM

Bridging the gap between graduation and full time employment. Behind the scenes of work placement and what i learnt from professionals in the field.

Prior to joining APM as an Interior Designer and Project Management Assistant, Nur completed a work experience placement. Here are her reflections:

As my time with APM (Absolute Project Management) is coming to an end, I can proudly say that it has been the most enjoyable and rewarding work experience.

Having been struggling to find my place among designers since graduating, this experience has shown me how important it is to have these opportunities available for students earlier in their careers. If there were more opportunities for students, it would make the career hunt a lot easier and help to create networks with designer which would improve the chance of getting employed. Having this experience has taught me a lot over last few weeks, such as how much time it takes projects from the start, through designing and construction. I have gained knowledge from amazing designers, who were patient and understanding.

Over the course of time I spent with APM I have learnt many things from start to finish from time management, to talking to a contractor, electrician and neighbours. One very important example is communication. A large part of the job is keeping clients happy and keeping them the loop. Similarly, creating friendly relationship with contractors. These relationships take time to form but having them makes designing and managing project much easier. I have also seen and learnt about how to deal with neighbours that can be quite passionate about their concerns.

New things I have come across

I have come across a lot of educational information on electrical work. Jo Sampson (the Design Director) at APM kindly showed me how we set out electrical points on elevations and add measurements for the electrician so that they can do their wiring correctly. Even though it is a simple daily practise for designers, for a student it is something new, as I had to think about which measurements were most useful and important to include, and whether to set out from the corner of the room or from another feature.

I had the opportunity to assist at site meetings and gained insights in understanding the amount of people who are involved in designing and creating these spaces that have huge environmental impacts on people, particularly regarding their mental health. It was interesting coming across the materials used in building’s today, especially those that are more sustainable. Limestone concrete (Limecrete), for example, is a more breathable concrete, compared to that of modern concrete. This can make it more suitable for use in older buildings, as well as more sustainable. I also learnt about old plaster used in a grade II listed building and learnt that they used horsehair for this.

It was an easy adjustment for me into the team, as APM have been amazing mentors in taking time to teach me valuable information on various topics even in their busy schedule, showing their care and aid in providing others to succeed and excel.

Not only did the experience give me an insight into the work life of an interior designer but it has also sparked more excitement and hope within me for what my future could be steer into, and becoming a great designer. Overall, it was an amazing experience working with magnificent people, who are real artists within their field, showing me the ropes and providing aid and advice when needed.