Katie Joins the Rap Team for Work Experience

We were delighted to welcome Katie Nock for four days of work experience as she explores the commercial interior design industry and navigates the initial stages of her career. During her time with us, Katie has further developed a range of essential design skills and contributed to a live office interior design brief, gaining valuable insight into how an interior design company operates and the various stages involved. Read on to find out Katie’s highlights and key takeaways from her experience at Rap Interiors.

Why did you decide to do work experience at Rap Interiors?

My background is primarily in product design, but during my MA studies, I had the opportunity to work on several commercial interior design projects. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and was keen to explore the field further. I approached Rap Interiors about the possibility of undertaking work experience after seeing the impressive range of projects featured on their website—particularly their work in school design. Having previously designed products for children, this felt like a natural way to bridge my past experience with a new area that interested me—and it absolutely was!

What have you been up to during your time at Rap Interiors?  

Over the past four days, I’ve been working on a live project, developing a design scheme based on a real client brief. This involved creating mood boards, specifying sustainable furniture to align with the client’s requirements, and incorporating key design elements—such as feature walls—to establish aesthetic focal points throughout the space. By sketching to-scale floor plans, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of space planning and the importance of optimising layouts for functionality and flow.

I also had the opportunity to sit in on team meetings, which gave me valuable insight into how designers maintain clear communication across the team regarding project progress and status. It was particularly interesting to see how collaborative discussions helped solve project challenges and keep everyone aligned throughout each stage of a project.

What have you learnt from your work experience?

Many of my tasks have built on my existing design skills. For example, creating mood boards has helped me further develop my visual communication and presentation abilities.

During my work experience, I also gained new skills specific to interior design. Working on a floor plan sketch deepened my understanding of space planning, while learning industry-specific terminology—such as the definitions of Cat A, B, and A+ fit-outs—enhanced my grasp of the broader scope of the industry. This knowledge will be especially valuable moving forward, as it enables me to engage more confidently in discussions and clearly articulate my ideas using the correct terminology.

In addition to technical skills, I’ve gained insight into the design process in a professional setting and the importance of clear communication and coordination between different parties to ensure the smooth progress of a project.

Next Steps

I’d like to thank Rap Interiors for this incredible opportunity. The team has been incredibly welcoming, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the experience while gaining a great deal of valuable insight.

Looking ahead, I plan to continue expanding my knowledge of commercial interior design, including developing my skills in AutoCAD and similar software to create more detailed and professional visualisations for future projects.

Let’s Hear From the Rap Team

“It has been an absolute pleasure to have Katie join our team for four days and to support her with valuable work experience as she embarks on her career path. Throughout her time with us, Katie has shown great initiative, creativity, and a strong willingness to learn—eagerly absorbing new information to deepen her understanding of the interior design industry. We wish her every success in her future career and look forward to seeing where her talents take her.”