2024 SUMMER
ROLE
UX/UI Design Intern
DURATION
May 2024 - Sep 2024
TOOLS
Figma, Sketch, Illustrator, Github,
Visual Studio Code
TEAM
1 Product Manager, 5 Engineers,
2 Design Mentors
MAIN TAKEAWAYS
As the first design intern at Siemens Digital Industries Software Supplyframe, I had the rare opportunity to shape how design fits into a deeply technical environment. During my 16-week internship, I owned the redesign of the Fragments design system, a foundational tool used across six supply chain products. This meant not only improving components and documentation, but also navigating how developers, product managers, and external users each experienced the system differently. Through this work, I learned that being a designer is as much about reasoning and communication as it is about craft — every decision had to be intentional, tested, and aligned with real user needs.
One of the defining moments of my internship was presenting my final work to the global Fragments team, including senior engineers and the VP of Engineering. Preparing for this presentation pushed me to tell a story rather than just showcase deliverables — highlighting why changes mattered, how they addressed adoption challenges, and the long-term impact on consistency across products. Looking back, this internship helped me grow not only as a systems thinker, but also as a storyteller. It reinforced my belief that design’s true purpose is to bridge people — whether they are developers, product managers, or end users — and to make sure every decision is rooted in intention.
1
Design Decisions
Owning the redesign of the Fragments design system taught me that design decisions cannot be made in isolation. Every step required me to ground choices in real user needs and think beyond a designer’s perspective. I learned to reason through each decision carefully and proactively reach out to engineers and product managers, ensuring my work was not only visually cohesive but also practical and intentional.
2
Collaboration with Engineers and Product Managers
Working with different teams showed me how collaboration shapes design outcomes. Engineers preferred mockups and test builds, which pushed me to make designs concrete and testable. Product managers emphasized storytelling and framing decisions, helping me see the impact of narrative in design. Learning to adapt to both perspectives made me a more versatile designer and taught me to bridge technical and narrative needs.
3
Considering Different Users
While my main task was redesigning the system, I realized I was designing for two audiences: internal developers and external client-facing users. Developers prioritized clarity and efficiency in implementation, while external users valued usability and consistency. Balancing these priorities reminded me of my purpose as a designer—to create with intention and ensure decisions serve all users, not just one side of the product.
