Sarah Chin

What I worked on

I completed my Work Integrated Learning placement at ThoughtFull Design, a customer-centric design and innovation consultancy based in Auckland that helps organisations reimagine their future through research, strategy, and the design of products, services, brands and experiences. During my three-week internship, I worked alongside a multidisciplinary team of designers, researchers and strategists on a variety of real client projects across different industries.

Throughout my placement, I had the opportunity to contribute to a range of client projects, giving me exposure to different areas of interaction and service design. One of the main projects I worked on was a strategic planning platform that helps organisations analyse survey insights, generate recommendations, and develop action plans. I explored ways to improve the user experience by redesigning elements of the planning canvas, developing onboarding concepts for new users, and identifying opportunities to make the platform more intuitive and engaging through interface improvements and user-focused interactions.

I also contributed to a service design project exploring challenges around recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals in rural and regional communities. This involved researching workforce challenges, generating concepts to improve recruitment experiences and communicating ideas through journey maps, frameworks and visual artefacts.

In addition, I participated in workshops focused on developing new AI-powered service offerings for ThoughtFull. I helped synthesise workshop outcomes, organise ideas into strategic frameworks, develop evaluation criteria to assess different concepts, and create visual materials to support discussions with the leadership team.

Alongside these larger projects, I had opportunities to support other members of the team on smaller pieces of work. This included generating early design concepts for a bulkhead installation and exploring how supermarket pick-and-mix snack areas could be reimagined to create a more engaging customer experience.

Skills I used (and grew)

How AUT prepared me

As a final-year AUT student completing a double major in Interaction Design and Communication Design, my studies at AUT have given me a strong foundation in both user-centred problem solving and visual communication. Through project-based learning, I developed skills in user research, design thinking, prototyping, interface design, and presenting ideas visually, all of which I applied throughout my placement.

Working on collaborative studio projects also prepared me to contribute my ideas confidently within multidisciplinary teams, participate in workshops, and adapt to different client challenges. I found that many of the design methods and processes I had practised at university translated directly into the professional environment, giving me the confidence to contribute meaningfully from my first day.

What I learned

Working in a professional design consultancy gave me a much deeper understanding of how design operates beyond the classroom. I learned that successful design is highly collaborative and iterative, with ideas constantly evolving through feedback, discussion, and testing. Being involved in multiple client projects at once also taught me how to manage my time, adapt quickly to different contexts, and communicate my ideas clearly to both teammates and clients. The experience strengthened my confidence as a designer and showed me how research, strategy and design come together to create practical solutions that deliver real value for organisations.

My tip for other students

My biggest piece of advice would be to say yes to every opportunity and step outside your comfort zone. Be curious, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to contribute your ideas, even if you’re still learning. Work integrated learning is one of the few opportunities where you can apply everything you’ve learnt at university to real projects while being supported by experienced professionals. The more involved you are, the more you’ll learn – not only about your chosen field, but also about the kind of designer and professional you want to become.

Read more about the Bachelor of Design Te Tohu Paetahi mō te Hoahoa

Back to testimonials