Internship key to alum landing a role at a major cosmetic brand

The courage to explore while studying pointed Rita Sun in the right career direction and now she’s flying high at L’Oréal.

The role came after Rita graduated from RMIT’s Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) where she completed a critical internship at L'Oréal. Now, as a Senior Retail Designer for the brand, she has designed and managed the construction of approximately fifty retail stores across various Chinese cities from Shanghai to Shenzhen, Hangzhou to Xi’an. A highlight was leading the design of Armani's first global new image store, which opened its doors at the upmarket Deji Plaza in October 2025.

But the path to her dream job wasn’t always easy. The brand initially passed Rita over and she feared her ambition of working wouldn’t come to fruition.

“When I first applied through the official process, I was actually screened out quite early, so for a moment I thought it wasn’t going to happen,” she said.

“What really helped in the end was the experience I had built through internships, including a summer internship at L’Oréal and another internship at a design studio.”

Rita in her graduation cap and gown holding a rolled RMIT University certificate folder, posed in front of a grey studio backdrop

Making the right choice

Rita always knew a creative arts degree was for her, but she just didn’t know which one. Having the opportunity to experiment with each subject during her early years of study helped her narrow down the choices.

“What really helped was that my Foundation Studies (Art, Design and Architecture) gave me the chance to try some of those areas before making a final decision,” she said.

“I realised I liked graphic design, but I didn’t necessarily want it to be my full-time direction, and animation felt more like something I’d enjoy as a hobby.”

Her choice of universities felt clear and once she began looking closely, RMIT’s Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) was the right fit.

“[RMIT] has such a strong reputation in design, so I felt that if I was going to pursue that path, it was the right place to do it.

“I also went to RMIT’s Open Day and looked at student work across different disciplines, and interior design immediately felt like the most interesting one to me. It was creative, practical, and broad at the same time, and I could picture myself building a career in it.”

RMIT is a top pick for many students looking for a future in the creative industries. In this year’s QS World University Rankings by subject, RMIT took out the coveted first place ranking in Australia and nineteenth in the world for art and design.

Front view of an Armani beauty store with light wood interior, illuminated ‘ARMANI’ sign above the entrance, central display counters and large perfume and cosmetic posters on the walls.

Exploring led to career definition

Rita’s four years of study at RMIT widened her perspective of interior design. While it gave her a broad base of skills and experience, the degree also helped her define exactly where she wanted to take her career.

“It didn’t make interior design feel narrow at all – it felt like a very open field with lots of different possibilities,” she said.

“Over the four years, I got to try more traditional areas like hospitality and residential design, but also much more unexpected and playful projects.

“I still remember designing a space for chickens, which was definitely not something I expected when I first started university. I think that freedom to experiment was so valuable, because it helped me understand both what I enjoyed and what I was actually good at.”

Rita graduated in 2022 and looking back on her time at RMIT, she said there are many skills she learned that she applies in her day-to-day work. Project management, presentation, and visual storytelling are chief among them.

“I work in an international company, so being able to clearly explain design ideas in English and collaborate confidently with global teams has been a huge advantage.”

Corner view of a Shu Uemura cosmetics store with black exterior framing, red accents, glass display windows and large illuminated images of makeup products and faces.

Earning trust and reliability

Rita was hired by L’Oréal’s Luxe division in April 2023, just four months after graduating from RMIT. The practical skills and early industry connections she developed while doing two internships were a big advantage in her recruitment.

“My internship experience, especially my summer internship at L’Oréal, played a big part in helping me understand the team and the role more clearly,” she said.

“It also showed me how valuable internships can be, not just for building skills, but for creating real professional connections.”

Rita was promoted to Senior Retail Designer after just two years as a retail designer for L’Oréal. She attributes this to the reputation she built within the company for reliability and trust.

“In my first year, I spent a lot of time understanding every stage of a project and mapping out the overall workflow for myself, even when that wasn’t something I was specifically asked to do,” she said.

“That helped me build a strong foundation and avoid mistakes early on.

“I also tried to be very proactive about communication, especially if I noticed a potential risk or issue in a project. Over time, that helped build trust with my manager, and I was given more complex and visible projects to work on. Those projects challenged me a lot, but they also gave me the chance to show what I could do.”

Rita is based in Shanghai and enjoys a balance of working from home, the office and at on-site store fit outs for prestigious brands including Prada and Shu Uemura.

She encourages young designers to try many creative paths and then whittle down their interests until they find their passion.

“My biggest advice would be to use university as a time to explore as much as possible,” she said.

“Try to understand your own strengths, your working style, and what kind of work gives you energy. Once you know that, your direction becomes much clearer.”

Story: Kate Jones

Rita is sitting in a green armchair. She is holding a mug with her legs crossed and is surrounded by wooden shelves filled with large photography and fashion books.

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