A look behind the scenes of an independent brand

House of Thol is an upcoming sustainable design brand with global ambitions.
Running it with the two of us means we both have quite a versatile range of duties, from design and research to production and packaging as well as marketing, content creation and sales - aside from all the practical management tasks of the everyday. 

If you are thinking about running an independent design brand, an Internship at House of Thol is a good way to experience what that will require from you.

Develop a versatile toolbox

Since we have so many things that need to be done at the House of Thol headquarters, we can create a tailored internship experience that will help you develop your skill-set in area's like design, hands-on production and marketing.

Of course we ask you to help us out with production of small series and prototypes as well as packaging products and help ship orders around the world. We also would love to have you with us at the various fairs and exhibitions we present our work if that is something you are interested in. If you are more into marketing, you can explore creating content or help run the PR-department, and if you like international sales there are plenty of chances to hone your skills. 

House of Thol is an SBB approved training company (erkend leerbedrijf ID100363378) for the studies 'Creative Craftsman' (Creatief Vakman), 'Adviseur Duurzaamheid' and 'technician human technology' (technicus human technology).  Other studies may be added if needed.

What to expect from an internship at House of Thol

Design and research are front and centre when it comes to developing new products, but there's a lot more to being a 'designerpreneur' they don't share in schools and academies. 

At House of Thol we ask you to start by simply tagging along with the daily operation. A lot of time is spent on practical things like production, packaging and shipment, as well as sales, marketing and communication with both companies (B2B) and consumers (B2C).

After a few weeks we will determine together where your strengths lie, and how we can best tailor the internship towards your personal development.
If there are certain skills you would like to learn or things you would like to research, we are always interested in finding ways to incorporate that into your time here.

One-on-one attention & independent time management

Since we are such a small and hands-on company, a lot of time will be spent one-on-one with either Thomas or Jana, especially in the beginning. 
After a while, we will give you more responsibilities and work towards you scheduling your own time and working independently on tasks and projects.

We would like to have you present at the House of Thol headquarters from 09:15 - 17:00 4 days a week. The fifth day can be spent on a personal research and design project at home.
When we have a fair or exhibition that requires our attendance in weekends, we will discuss together whether you can be there and how we can swap those days if necessary.

Our goal is that when you leave House of Thol you will have grown your personal toolbox, learned new skills and have a good grasp of the reality of running an independent design studio.

What we are looking for in an intern

Since we will be working closely together, we are first and foremost looking for a personal click: we like us all to feel at ease around each other. 

Secondly, we are looking for people with the same a hands-on approach and pro-active attitude towards work we have. We like to be able to count on you when it comes to getting things done (but don't worry, we respect your time).
We expect you to be careful and diligent while handling fragile products and materials and considerate with external communication. 

Both English- and Dutch speaking interns are welcome.
We might require a higher level of english (US) if you would like to take on communication and content creation.
Bonus points if you speak German and can help us with content aimed at the German market.

How to apply for an internship at House of Thol

If you are interested in an internship at our studio, please send us an e-mail accompanied by a resume and portfolio. 
Let us know what you study, when your internship is scheduled to take place (and how long you would like it to last), and what you expect from your time here.

We will get back to you to schedule a personal meeting, preferably here at the House of Thol headquarters, but if you are based abroad, meeting via Zoom is also a possibility. 

Practically

Please note: House of Thol is based in a rural area, and getting here by public transport takes a bit of effort. Please take your daily commute into account when considering an internship here.
We have ample parking space available and it is possible to leave a bicycle at the nearest bus-stop (7 cycle-minutes away).