RDG’s 2022 Interns Create Meaning Together

The summer months present a prime opportunity for college students to continue learning through real-life experience. Each summer RDG Planning & Design opens its doors to a new group of summer interns who work alongside professionals in various disciplines and across multiple markets, learning directly from seasoned practitioners and getting hands-on project experience.  

This year RDG welcomed 12 interns from across the nation to join the teams in Des Moines, Iowa City, Omaha and St. Louis. As RDG’s 2022 intern class makes their way back to their respective universities, a few of them are taking a moment to reflect and share about their time at the firm. 

Olivia Bolton, University of Kansas ‘23 – Planning, Omaha

What excited you about your internship at RDG? 

Being surrounded by people who are deeply passionate about their work. RDG fosters an environment that encourages curiosity and enables professionals to both celebrate their strengths and push their boundaries. It’s exciting to come to work every day when you know that your contribution matters to your team and the communities you serve. 

Beyond the actual internship, what other perks or learning opportunities did you gain from being at RDG? 

Moving to Omaha, even temporarily, was an amazing opportunity to see parts of the country I had never visited before. Through projects at RDG, I listened to a wide variety of people from all different backgrounds talk about what they love in their communities and what they want for the future. I will always value not only the confidence I gained in myself but also the perspective I gained from others. 

How do you see jobs in your field changing in the future? 

I anticipate environmental issues coming more and more to the forefront of our field. Firms like RDG have the opportunity to help cities prepare for climate change while also actively challenging the industry to mitigate its own impact. In my future, I hope to help bridge architecture and planning to advocate for thoughtful, sustainable community development. 

Luke George, University of Nebraska-Lincoln ‘23 / ‘24 – Lighting Design, Des Moines 

How would you describe RDG’s company culture? 

RDG has been warm and friendly to me and the other interns. Everyone is in a positive mood all the time and it has been a pleasure working here this summer. The people here are kind and have been very helpful anytime I had a question. 

What excited you about your internship at RDG? 

What excited me personally was the opportunity to get on job sites and see how our lighting solutions would be implemented. Being able to travel and see how things were coming along was an awesome opportunity and gave me the ability to see how things I’m creating on my computer would be coming together in real life. 

What advice would you give to yourself going into this internship again, or to others seeking an internship in the future? 

My advice to others seeking internships is to not be afraid to ask questions. I found myself asking questions constantly and it is nothing to be ashamed about. An intern’s main job is to learn as much as they can. If there’s something you are having trouble figuring out, just ask. It’s better to get things right the first time than to ultimately do it wrong. Also, don’t feel like you need to focus on the internship 24/7. Get to know the other interns and coworkers and hang out outside of work. 

Tyler Koory, University of Kanas ‘23 – Architecture, Omaha  

How would you describe RDG’s company culture? 

I would say RDG is doing it right when it comes to company culture. It’s a light and bright environment that allows people to collaborate easily with one another. People know and understand how to have work/life balance and how important that is for the success of both those who work here and the company as a whole. 

Share one fun story that happened during your internship. 

Nick Olsen and I beat the reigning champions (I’m going to name-drop) Catrina Cook and Noah Schacher in a game of bags. 

How do you see jobs in your field changing in the future? 

From what I’ve seen, RDG has done a great job at taking a progressive approach to work – they understand that things can be done remotely now and from all over the world with the same amount of productivity. So, in the future, I see a lot more remote jobs in this field of work. 

Scott Lafferty, University of Nebraska-Lincoln ‘23 – Architecture, Omaha 

What excited you about your internship at RDG? 

The thing that excited me most about my internship was the new learning opportunities presented to me while at RDG. RDG does a great job of making sure interns receive a wide variety of exposure to the work completed in the office. 

Was there anything that surprised you about RDG? 

One thing that surprised me about RDG is the amount of trust and responsibility entrusted to the interns at the office. We are not “just interns,” but instead we are seen as a valuable part of a team. This is apparent in the work you are given and how fellow team members treat interns during their time with the firm. 

What was one learning objective or goal you had for yourself on this internship? Did you accomplish it? 

A learning objective or goal I had for myself for this internship was to challenge my understanding of the design process and to push my skills with the programs used within the field of architecture. Previous experience with the design process was further built upon this summer through the exposure to construction documents, which also allowed me to gain a better understanding of the programs used within the office.   

Aimee Robisky, Iowa State University ‘23 – Interiors, Des Moines 

How would you describe RDG’s company culture? 

RDG is not just a company that operates to get projects done. I found that it is a company that cares about people, both employees and clients. Even as an intern, I felt fully immersed in the collaboration and conversations for projects I helped with. I don’t feel like I got an internship experience – I felt like I was fully a part of RDG and more than a temporary, summer position. 

What excited you about your internship at RDG? 

RDG is an amazing company that is not afraid to show that they care about what they are doing, who they are working with and who they are working for. I think it’s a misconception that firms need to put on a certain attitude to the public to appear professional; RDG is genuine in what they are about and are still very reputable to everyone who knows them. 

Beyond the actual internship, what other perks or learning opportunities did you gain from being at RDG? 

Connections. RDG has a lot of great people and professionals to learn from, and I had the chance to connect with many of RDG’s people, even outside my discipline. 

Breno Sader, California Polytechnic State University ‘24 – Architecture, Iowa City  

How would you describe RDG’s company culture?  

The culture at RDG is designed for both individual and firm success. Employees are encouraged to walk around and work wherever they want to stay productive. I can’t stay productive sitting in one place for hours on end but being encouraged to walk around and providing hotel desks and stand-to-sit desks allows everyone to stay active and encourages not only productivity but also provides various opportunities for social interaction with peers. 

Was there anything that surprised you about RDG? 

I was surprised by how much the company values employee happiness and well-being. While interning, I’d eat out with colleagues at least once every two weeks and the company helped me pay for parking. This made me truly feel valued as a member of the team. 

What was one learning objective or goal you had for yourself on this internship? Did you accomplish it? 

I had two goals: to make some good work connections and to do work that I could be proud of. I have easily done this and have made connections here that I believe will last a long time. 

Alex Sick, Iowa State University ‘23 – Planning, Des Moines 

What excited you about your internship at RDG? 

What was most exciting to me going into my internship was the opportunity to work alongside designers who are passionate about their work. RDG has a reputation for being intentional about design, which has allowed me to learn the best practices in my field. I was able to step outside of my academic shell and really put my knowledge and experience to use and learn all the good that can come out of great design work. Lastly, another exciting factor about RDG is the people here. Everyone has been genuine and welcoming toward me, and I have been able to create new friendships and a professional network to utilize wherever I go. 

What was one learning objective or goal you had for yourself on this internship? Did you accomplish it? 

A goal I had coming into my internship was to gain a better understanding of the planning profession and find my passion within the field. Because RDG has such a wide variety of disciplines and work, I was able to see a variety of planning projects and decipher which areas of planning I want to focus on as I finish my degree. 

How do you see jobs in your field changing in the future? 

One reason I went into urban planning was that I wanted to make tangible changes for the better when it comes to the environment. As we continue to strive for a net-zero carbon emissions future, I think the field of planning will drastically change to help meet those goals. I feel quite lucky to be beginning my planning career at such a monumental time in the climate movement, and I am looking forward to seeing what innovative work will come out of the planning field in the future. 

Matt Valerio, DePaul University ‘23 – Lighting Design, Des Moines 

What excited you about your internship at RDG?  

What excited me most about my internship at RDG was the opportunity to be involved in projects from my first day in the office. When looking for an internship last spring, one of my biggest fears was that I was just going to be an observer or do things like running to get coffee; that has not been the case at RDG. Another aspect of RDG that excited me was the diversity of projects that were being worked on. One day I could be working on a sports stadium, a hospital and a cathedral all in one day. Every day is different, and each day brings new challenges and triumphs. 

What advice would you give to yourself going into this internship again, or to others seeking an internship in the future?  

In this industry, you must take every opportunity and run with it. You never know who knows who and it could lead to more work or new opportunities, both for you and the firm. You never know who will see your work and who will be inspired by even the smallest of projects. 

What personal qualities or abilities have you observed that make someone successful in this job or field? 

One thing I have observed about my peers that sets them apart is the ability to say “no.” I have found that saying “yes” is very easy, whereas saying “no” is not. In the spirit of a project, it’s okay to say no, especially if there is a reason behind it. If what is being asked is unreasonable, having the courage to say no or advocate for a different solution is what sets the good apart from the great.