Reflection: Sustainable Conservation Trust Internship

Looking back on my time with Sustainable Conservation Trust, I’ve realised how different it feels to work within an organisation where design is closely tied to community and environmental responsibility. It wasn’t just about producing drawings or contributing to a project, but understanding how decisions sit within a wider social and physical context.

Being involved in the skatepark project made that especially clear. Seeing the site in person and then later discussing it in meetings helped connect abstract design thinking to a real, lived space that people actually use. It made me more aware of how many factors sit behind even small design decisions, from movement and safety to how a space is experienced day to day.

Working with the wider team also gave me a clearer idea of how a project develops through conversation rather than individual output. A lot of learning came from listening to how feedback is given, how ideas shift, and how different perspectives are brought into one direction without losing the core intent.

I also noticed a change in how I operate within a professional environment. I became more comfortable asking questions, contributing where I could, and working within an ongoing process rather than waiting for complete clarity before acting. That shift, although subtle, felt important.

Overall, this internship has stayed with me because it showed me architecture as something active and responsive rather than fixed. It has encouraged me to think more critically about the role of design in everyday environments, and how I want to continue positioning myself within that kind of practice moving forward.