Jordan Domjahn had a packed uni schedule maximising international travel and work integrated learning internship opportunities. It was no surprise when he was awarded the Graduate of the Year by the Design Institute of Australia.
After graduating, Jordan completed an internship at BMW Group in Munich, Germany as part of an international collaboration project between QUT and BMW. The program gave students the opportunity to work across a range of BMW Group departments, using cutting-edge emerging technologies such as VR, AR, robotics, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and big data to develop world-first solutions to real world problems.
We caught up with Jordan to reflect on his journey and how to make the most out of being a QUT design student.
Can you sum up what you've been up to since graduation?
After graduating from Industrial Design at QUT, I went straight to an internship at BMW in Munich, Germany. I was one of 26 QUT design students (and counting) who were accepted into the internship program through the official partnership between BMW Group and QUT. I was employed at BMW as a Digital Design Intern working on various 3D projects, mostly within the logistics and manufacturing areas of BMW.
When I returned home to Australia I was offered the chance to join the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy as a Design Associate. The Academy is administered by QUT here in Brisbane and based on three key programs: Internships, Research and Special Projects.
What made you choose this career/organisation?
The main reason I chose QUT’s Bachelor of Design (Industrial Design) was because I really enjoyed Graphics and Technology Studies during high school. Industrial Design was the closest university course to those subjects. As I learnt more about industrial design – what it is and the career opportunities it provides – I realised it was something that I wanted to do continue doing.
I chose to accept the job at the Academy because it was an opportunity to continue working on unique BMW Group projects, including some of the work I started during my internship in Munich.
What did you enjoy most about this job?
At the Academy I got to do a bit of everything – 3D modelling and visualisation, graphic design, photography, project management - in addition to leading the Internships program and Special Projects program. Being involved in all areas of the Academy has helped me to maintain or develop important technical and personal skills, and I also really like helping design students develop their skills and succeed.
We had a very skilled and knowledgeable team at the Academy and being able to learn from them and work with them is great. Another bonus was that the Academy had a BMW M8 Competition Coupé as a design teaching and research tool. As someone who has always been into fast cars that was incredibly exciting.
What are some of the major projects you've worked on in your career to date?
One of the first big projects I worked on at the Academy was the 3D model and rendering of the idealworks iw.hub, an autonomous mobile robot used in logistics and manufacturing. This robot started as a BMW project, and was so successful that the core team formed idealworks, a fully owned BMW group subsidiary. The renders we produced coincided with the announcement of the idealworks company.
Another major project has been creating 3D assets used in digital twins and Artificial Intelligence training systems for autonomous robots within BMW Group. This global project included NVIDIA as an official partner with BMW Group.
A career highlight was being awarded both state and national Graduate of the Year Awards by the Design Institute of Australia. It was unexpected but something that I am very proud of.
What are your future goals?
I’ve always said that doing something car or mobility related is the goal for me – it's my passion and what makes me happy. More broadly, I want to keen creating positive and meaningful experiences for people.
What did you find most beneficial, or enjoyable about your experience at QUT?
Attending the Asia Studies Tour, a two-week trip to Hong Kong and Tokyo was definitely a highlight. It was an amazing experience where I visited design consultancies and universities, participated in a workshop with designers at TTi (Techtronic Industries), and toured their manufacturing plant in China. These remain some of the best experiences I’ve had abroad.
During my course, I elected to completed a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) minor to complement my industrial design major and other minor in graphic design. This gave me the chance to complete internships and gain industry experience before graduating – something I’m glad I did, as it led to valuable learning and part-time work.
How did your learning at QUT prepare you for career challenges or help you get to where you are today?
My studies at QUT were an excellent introduction to the key technical and personal skills needed to succeed as a graduate designer. The industrial design course had so many knowledgeable people – both teaching staff and guest experts – who provided immense learning support, new perspectives, industry insights, and made me aware of unique opportunities like the BMW Group internship.
Learn more about the Bachelor of Design (Industrial Design) and the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy.
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