By Ivana Kostadinova, 4HLka (Internship Istanbul, Summer 2026)

Four weeks. One city that never sleeps, straddling two continents. My Erasmus internship at Dream Design Factory (dDf) in Istanbul was far more than just a part of my CV, but rather an experience that completely reshaped how I view project management, creativity, and cultural connection. 
Stepping into dDf on my first day, I was a bit nervous. But I soon realized that I had nothing to worry about. The “dDf” team welcomed me with great kindness. They mentored me through the whole internship; they always made sure I understood what I needed to do and helped whenever I needed it. 
During my internship, I helped plan events and take care of client needs. I researched current event trends and came up with creative ideas for interactive experiences like pop-up events, which are meant to help brands gain more recognition without the typical ads. I also helped organize project planning documents and designed the layouts for event spaces. Additionally, I handled practical details like finding great hotels, restaurants, and thoughtful gifts form the “ dDf” clients.
That city itself had incredible colourful energy. I went through a living masterclass of culture where I was surprised to discover art galleries inside metro stations during my daily travels. Almost all, if not all metro stations had something special and art-like to them. Art is everywhere in Istanbul. 
Between seeing how local traditions feed into modern Turkish design at work, exploring neighborhoods like Balatand Karaköy, going for a swim while visiting the Prince’s Island and trying traditional Turkish meals, every day brought a new conversation with the incredible people I met from all over the world and laughter filled stories to tell. 

My four weeks in Istanbul went by in a flash, but I returned home with hopefully better project management skills, a sharper creative mindset, a few great friends, and an unforgettable experience that proved taking the leap was worth every second. Be aware that when visiting Istanbul, you will get lost in the lively streets or eat an extreme number of delicious sweets.