This summer, Natasha Patel ’27, Virtual Reality Development, interned at Apple as a 3D Artist and XR Developer in the Vision Products Group.
After a remote internship last year, she said working in person at Apple’s Sunnyvale, California, office made a real difference.
“It made it easy to ask questions, collaborate, and observe how designers find creative solutions,” she said.
The artists on her team shared industry-standard workflows and techniques they had developed throughout their careers, and she had thoughtful conversations with colleagues about their paths and about working in emerging technology. Those exchanges changed how she approached her own questions and relationships. “I began asking more intentional questions and becoming more confident in connecting with people,” she said. “I realized how important it is to bring your unique personality and be someone others want to work with.”
Her internship project was designed to stretch her skills and introduce her to new tools. Working with both design and engineering teams gave Patel the opportunity to use what she learned in school to contribute to real-world applications. “Ringling has taught me how to communicate, stay organized, iterate, and be open to critique,” she said, “and all these skills became part of my daily routine.”
Patel left the summer with new technical skills, lasting connections, and a clearer sense of how she wants to contribute to the future of creative technology. “This internship has prepared me for the transition from the classroom to the workplace,” she said, “and gave me plenty of reasons to keep showing up with curiosity, passion, and a smile on my face.”
