Fostering the next generation of design talent at Gray Puksand

We recently had the pleasure of hosting Deakin University student Lily Simpson for a three-month internship at our Melbourne studio. Now in the process of completing her Master of Architecture, Lily holds a longstanding love of design and is particularly passionate about creating inclusive spaces.

“I’ve enjoyed seeing how architecture can facilitate accessibility, not just for those with disabilities, but for a variety of socio-cultural groups in our community. Learning about how I can include these principles in future designs has been such a valuable experience,” she said.

Lily was awarded the internship following her winning entry at The Emerging Designers Festival, which Gray Puksand hosted as part of the 2023 Open House Melbourne Weekend. Her project “City Circles” drew inspiration from Indigenous artwork and symbols to deliver a cutting-edge urban planning concept that connects Melbourne’s growing population with the land through circular meeting areas.

“Entering The Emerging Designers Festival was really beneficial for me, not just because of the internship, but because it gave me the rare opportunity to present my work to a panel of industry experts and gain valuable feedback from them,” said Lily of her experience at competition, which Gray Puksand will be proudly hosting again in 2024.

“I’ve enjoyed working across the different sectors and have gained so much knowledge in each one. I found healthcare design particularly interesting because there were so many layers to it that I’d never considered before, especially from an interior design perspective,” added Lily.

Lily gained experience in a variety of skills including materiality sourcing, floorplan rendering, Revit development, concept exploration, site plans, architectural support, and supplier communications.

“I’m grateful to have been able to develop my software skills as it’s an area that I haven’t had the opportunity to work with before. The knowledge I’ve gained will be incredibly useful as I progress my career.”

“Having previously known only a few basic skills in Revit, Lily has taken on the challenge of learning and progressing this knowledge. She has shown great improvement in her technical Revit skills and has been able to support the team in their design projects using this technology,” said Lydia.