Grace was a Design Intern for Soelberg Industries during Winter 2026.
Briefly explain what you did and the result of your internship.
During my internship at Soelberg, I worked on two concurrent projects over three months, both focused on designing acoustic ceiling solutions using ½” PET felt. One project explored folding as a generative strategy to expand an existing product into a cohesive family, while the other focused on developing a system of patterned ceiling tiles. Managing both projects simultaneously strengthened my ability to prioritize, iterate efficiently, and maintain momentum across multiple design directions. My process combined sketching, paper prototyping, and digital modeling in Rhino 3D to develop and refine concepts, which I translated into cut files for full-scale prototypes that I fabricated and tested weekly in an on-site ceiling grid. This iterative cycle allowed me to evaluate form, installation, and performance in context and make informed design decisions. One of my projects was launched during my internship, and I played a key role in preparing client-facing deliverables, including assembly instructions and installation pattern studies, requiring clear visual communication and attention to user experience. My second project is scheduled for release this fall, and I developed a similar set of materials to support a smooth rollout. Beyond my individual work, I contributed to weekly team meetings by presenting progress, receiving feedback, and collaborating with designers to troubleshoot challenges. I also explored parametric design in Grasshopper, expanding my understanding of how computational tools can generate variation in form and pattern while supporting efficient iteration.
What did you learn on your internship that you were not expecting to learn?
I learned a lot about managing multiple projects at once, especially staying organized while working between them.
How have your future plans changed because of what you learned from your internship experience?
Working at Soelberg showed me what it is like to work for a small company, and I really enjoyed that atmosphere. It was easy to ask questions to different departments and to work collaboratively.
Please share how your experience led to personal inspiration or insightful revelation.
This internship helped me put the principles and concepts that I had been learning in school in a professional context. This was extremely insightful into learning about how this field works and what skills I have been learning are important.
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
I would definitely recommend this internship. Working at Soelberg gave me the ability to really work in a hands-on way from concept to final product release. The supervisor really cares about both company and academic success and was very supportive throughout the internship.
Is there anything else you would like to say regarding your internship?
Both the internship and the internship class were really well structured and helped me learn a lot.
