L-R: Lachlan Marshall (Marketing and Creative Manager, Kinchrome), Sophie Holloway, Andres Ferrandon (Industrial Designer, Kinchrome)

Sophie Holloway, a graduate of the Bachelor of Industrial Design and a final-year student in the Master of Design (Interaction Design) program, is already making strides in her career, thanks in part to her Work Integrated Learning (WIL) internship at Kincrome. Her experience at Kincrome not only provided hands-on industry exposure but also equipped her with skills that will shape her future as a designer.

Sophie’s design journey began with a passion for fine art, but over time, she discovered her love for the technical side of product design.

“I was drawn to tangible products, where creativity and technicality intersect,” she shares. This led her to pursue a Bachelor of Industrial Design at Monash University. “Monash stood out to me as it housed a great balance of theory and practice, strong design thinking and well-equipped fabrication studios. It just felt like the right fit.”

Sophie’s internship at Kincrome

Through Monash’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program, Sophie secured a six-month internship in her final year with Kincrome Tools, one of Australia’s leading tool manufacturers.

“I was drawn to Kincrome because of its strong reputation and the opportunity to get insight into professional product development.” Sophie says.

Her role involved redesigning a product for the company’s range of tools, a project that would soon go into production. This hands-on experience allowed Sophie to apply her design principles while working within a corporate structure.

Working in Kincrome’s design team, Sophie was tasked with redesigning a product from Kincrome’s flagship range, ensuring it aligned with the company’s style guide, colour schemes, and design constraints. She also had the opportunity to conduct site visits and user interviews, observing firsthand how customers interacted with the existing product. Insights that helped guide meaningful design changes.

“This project really challenged me to level up my CAD skills, especially in surface modelling, in which I gained significant confidence through industry experience.” Sophie explains.

A stepping stone for the future

Sophie's experience at Kincrome has been a highlight in her design career.

“The internship gave me the opportunity to walk away feeling like I had made a real impact. “It was incredibly rewarding to see the product come together, to know it would be used by people,” she says. “The idea that something I designed could become part of someone’s everyday life has stuck with me.”

This industry experience allowed Sophie to learn how to navigate time management, work within a team, and accept and integrate critical feedback.

“My supervisor made a lasting impression on me, one that will stay with me throughout my career. He taught me to really listen closely to users, ask thoughtful questions, and keep iterating until the design truly fits. His advice was invaluable.” Sophie explains.

Lachlan Marshall, Kincrome’s Marketing and Creative Director, spoke highly of Sophie’s skills and integration into the team. “We were impressed with Sophie’s design thinking and desire to try new things.”

He also praised the course which he believes provides students with industry relevant skills.

“I think the Monash Industrial Design course is one of the best in the industry and the training sets students up for their professional careers.”

For Lachlan, the partnership with Monash Art, Design and Architecture (MADA) has been highly beneficial and he considers the internship program an excellent bridge between academic learning and practical experience.

“Monash Design students are well prepared for industry. Many of our industrial design team members are Monash Design, so it made sense to collaborate with the university.” In fact, “we have a full time employee who recently went through the Monash Internship program,” he explains.

For Sophie, the internship has been instrumental in shaping her career trajectory. It not only equipped her with essential industry experience but also helped her refine her craft and build a portfolio that will serve her well in the future.

“The project and real-world industry experience I gained at Kincrome helped me secure my first graduate design role.” she shares.

Sophie now works part-time as a Junior Industrial Designer at SchoolFurn while continuing her Master of Design in Interaction Design.

“I’m passionate about bridging industrial and interaction design, creating products and experiences that empower people through user-centred design.” she reflects.

For future students, Sophie has this advice: “Design shapes everything around us, it’s woven into the fabric of how we live, work and play. It becomes a question of where you want to make your impact? Monash can help you get there.”