Where Design Meets Science: My NIST PREP Internship

My name is Yoon Thwel, and I am a Communication and Graphic Design student at Montgomery College, Gaithersburg, Maryland. In spring 2025, I had an amazing opportunity to join the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as a Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) intern. I worked under Office of Weights and Measures (OWM), Metric Program, which plays a vital role in helping K–12 students and educators understand and use the metric system. Under the guidance of my mentor, Elizabeth Benham, I had a chance to expand my knowledge in communication, design, education, and technology.

During my spring term, I became familiar with the Drupal website content management system and redesigned numerous OWM webpages to make the experience more intuitive and user-friendly. My main website projects included expanding the OWM Training and Events Calendar design, updating Training FAQs, and developing a Course Catalog to help streamline the training registration process for customers. Other projects included technical poster design collaborations, B-roll curation for video production, and supporting NIST Educational STEM Resource Registry (NEST-R) new record development. I also explored technical tools like the NIST Library makerspace’s poster and 3D printers.

By fall, my role evolved into more interactive outreach work. I developed a new SI Teacher Kit poster to increase awareness with U.S. STEM educators and supported publication request fulfillment and distribution. I assisted with facilitating hands-on education activities during the NIST Summer Institute for Middle School Science Teachers and visiting students during NIST tours. I contributed to the development of the Metric Estimation Game (SP 1336), a new classroom activity, enhancing its clarity and educational impact.

One of my favorite projects was leading the production of a Celsius temperature education video for K-3 learners, where I undertook primary responsibility for scriptwriting, research, illustration, and audio editing. This project was an opportunity that pushed my multimedia and storytelling skills in new directions. I also stepped into the world of data analysis, reviewing NIST publication webpages audience engagement. Spotting patterns, flagging issues, and suggesting fixes gave me a much clearer sense of how design and communication shape the user experience.

By reflecting on my internship, I have grown not only as a designer but also as a communicator and collaborator. This experience has strengthened my long-term goal of becoming a UI/UX designer and ultimately a creative director who creates thoughtful, accessible, and engaging digital experiences. As I am preparing to continue my studies at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, I am excited to bring everything I’ve learned into new projects, whether they’re in media, design, or education.