What I learned during my two UX Design internships at IBM
By: Tucker Hemphill
Tags: UX, Intern, IBM, Tech, Design

What I learned during my two UX Design internships at IBM Tucker Hemphill Follow Aug 5 · 5 min read

If you’re not grabbing lunch with incredible people, you’re doing something wrong…

(NOTE: this was pre-COVID)

Over the course of my internship during the summer of 2019 on the IBM Austin Campus, it would be a strange occurrence to see someone not genuinely enjoying their job. When I walked to the snack room (yes, the snacks are free), I’d see designers constantly inspired and ready to flex their design muscles with the bleeding-edge products that IBM works on.

As an intern at IBM, you’re in a VERY unique position… You’re able to walk around, meet top-notch designers, developers, etc., and even have lunch with them! They’re often able to give you amazing insight into how you might be able to further your career, and more than one was happy to give me a portfolio review.

If there’s one thing in this article that I can’t stress enough, it’s this: Showing an eagerness to learn, and the humility that comes with not knowing everything, will take you places you could have never imagined.

Let’s be honest: there are a plethora of other designers in this world that IBM could hire, but it’s the ones that have excitement, humility, and flexibility that actually get the job.

A culture as flat as West Texas…

Flat culture… Oh what a term!

When I first came to IBM, I was S T R E S S E D about meeting the employees and potentially being brushed off as “just another intern”, but that simply wasn’t the case.

I can distinctly remember one time, when I was Affinitizing stickies in my workspace, that someone walked by and asked me what I was working on. Since I didn’t know who he was, I continued to explain my project, my workflow, and how I justified the designs via the research my team and I had conducted. He gave me some great critique and wished me all the best.

“What a nice guy!” I thought to myself.

Moments later, my manager came up to me and said “Do you know who that was?” I hesitated while racking my brain for an appropriate response, and eventually said, “Nope! Sure don’t!”

She said “ That was Phil Gilbert, our General Manager of Design.”

I shuddered. I couldn’t believe it. He actually cared about an intern’s work?! Seriously?! What is this?!

Time and time again, the employees at IBM have shown an investment and a dedication to fostering a flat culture. It’s a common occurrence to see higher ups at your meetings, giving feedback and suggestions. This concept of flat culture is important because it keeps both intimidation and the barrier to entry low when talking to people in a position higher up the professional ladder. This will propel your skillset as a designer FAST… Like, lightning fast.

Patents, Patents, Patents…

Have any creative ideas? Make sure you start writing them down — NOW!

Both as an intern and as a full-time employee, you have an opportunity to submit patent concepts to an IBM Patent Board, and you get an award/bonus if they get approved!

Over my time at IBM, I’ve met a couple of designers that really helped me think through my patent ideas and even start the process of getting one filed!

Even as an intern, I’d recommend talking with patent experts. It’s not something that many employees take full advantage of, but if you have a good idea, why the heck not submit it?!

Storytelling is the key to empathy

There’s a reason why we still refer to some of the movies that were made ages ago as “The best movies ever created…”

It’s not because the quality of the cameras was amazing, or because the actors happened to be cast perfectly — it’s because the foundation, the story, was great.

Likewise, when you present your findings or deliverables in a way that doesn’t take advantage of a basic story curve, you’re asking for people to get distracted. Make sure that when it comes time to present, you know your audience, you practice your presentation well in advance, you time yourself (SUPER IMPORTANT), and you try to keep it light and entertaining.

People often remember occurrences if they’re conveyed with humor. Make sure you make the presentation light and fun. After all, you’ve worked for months on developing your research and designs; the last thing you want is to go in front of other designers and come across as boring.

Having a good story line can help build the audience’s empathy with your target users, help them understand why you’re designing for your end users in the first place, and improve the overall impact you’re making with your audience.

Don’t just slap some things into a Keynote and call it finished. Take the time to understand how your audience will feel when you’re presenting.

Thank you IBM!

I’ve had an AMAZING couple of summers during my two internships, and I hope to be back in the summer of 2021! To the employees that have helped me along the way, encouraged me, and given me feedback, I can’t say thank you enough. Your dedication to making my internship experience has left a mark on my life that I will never forget.