A Summer with West Elm
This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to work as a Decorative Accessories Intern at West Elm in their Brooklyn headquarters. For ten fast-paced, inspiring weeks, I got to immerse myself in the world of retail design—surrounded by talented teams, beautiful objects, and a company culture that values creativity with purpose.
From day one, I was thrown into the rhythm of the studio. I contributed to trend research, sample reviews, and product development meetings, all while gaining a deeper understanding of what it takes to design pieces that are not only beautiful, but also functional, affordable, and manufacturable at scale. I touched everything from vases and trays to candleholders and seasonal decor—learning how each detail, from glaze to texture to silhouette, tells a story in someone’s home.
My final project was a chance to bring everything together. I was tasked with developing a small decorative accessories collection from concept to presentation. I started with a theme rooted in the Holiday 2025 capsule—thinking about how materiality and form could communicate comfort and quiet beauty in everyday spaces. I sketched, rendered, sourced references, and even mocked up my research into online formats.
The summer culminated in a presentation to the President of West Elm Day Kornbluth and the CEO of William Sonoma Laura Alber—two leaders I’ve admired from afar and now had the honor to speak directly to. I walked them through my design thinking, visual boards, and collection concept, tying in trends, customer profiles, and material strategy. Their feedback was thoughtful, generous, and energizing. They saw the intention in my work, and that meant everything.
More than just a design internship, this experience gave me real-world insight into how products move from an idea to someone’s shelf. It taught me how to advocate for a concept, how to pivot based on feedback, and how to stay curious in a fast-moving environment. I left not only more confident in my skills—but more inspired than ever by the power of design to shape how we live.
