This Summer I Found the Light
This summer, we were lucky to have Isabella Drag join the Oculus Light Studio team as part of our summer internship program. Isabella is currently a masters student at USC School of Architecture.
During her time with us, she gained hands-on experience in lighting design and collaborated with our project teams, building new skills in Excel and Photoshop along the way. She even took on the challenge of learning to navigate California’s strict energy codes.
Here’s Isabella in her own words, reflecting on her experience—sharing insights, takeaways, and what she learned during her internship.
Summer internship excitement! I scored! This place is awesome!
As my internship comes to an end, it’s time to reflect on this past season. I was pumped to start work at Oculus this summer; diving headfirst into something I knew little about. Because I didn’t know much about the details and inner workings of lighting design, this whole experience has had a huge impact on how I view lighting design, and consequently, my future.
Coming from an Architecture background, I was excited to look at lighting as its own entity, rather than just part of the bigger picture. My mind was blown from day one. I jumped into awesome projects, from rhythmic commercial projects to unique and innovative residential designs. The variety was incredible. I learned software like Light Stanza and AGI32 for light level calculations, and even tackled egress calculations.
Beyond the design, I picked up some serious skills. I mastered big Excel and intricate photoshop files. Plus, I sharpened my Revit & AutoCAD files, which is all part of the real logistical design stuff. But what I will never forget, you may ask, was compliance check. Delving into the world of energy codes in California is no easy feat.
To conclude, the amazing environment at Oculus made it fun to learn so much, so fast. Everyone is so knowledgeable and good at what they do; I truly learned from the best in the business. This includes Gizmo, our office’s supra-canine guard dog who has yet to catch an intruder, but you can’t say he isn’t trying. This whole experience has truly helped me grow so much, both personally and professionally, and I can’t wait to bring these new skills with me as through my career
“Where there is a light, there is a fixture”- ID
