Rudolf's Internship at Byte Orbit
16 January 2025 •
By: Rudolf Culture
Tell us a bit about yourself and what brought you to Byte Orbit?
Heyo, I’m Rudolf! I’m a third-year Ideation Design student at Inscape’s Stellenbosch campus. When I first applied to Inscape for an undergraduate course, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, so I opted for graphic design. That changed when a brand ambassador introduced me to UX/UI, and after diving into it, I knew it was the path I wanted to pursue. Although Inscape doesn’t offer a dedicated degree in UX/UI design, I chose Ideation for its strong foundation in creative problem-solving.
During my second year, we received a 48-hour brief from Byte Orbit to improve Stellar, their employee recognition feature. The exhilarating experience of engaging with the design brief, getting my first exposure to product design, and coming in second place alongside my classmate Chaney motivated me to apply for an internship at Byte Orbit the following year—and the rest is history!
What were your initial impressions of Byte Orbit when you first started?
I was already ecstatic before setting foot into Byte Orbit. After a warm welcome and onboarding by Alandri, a tour of the office, and meeting our mentors Marichen and Danny, I couldn’t be happier. This was a place where people were as fun-loving as they were passionate and serious about their work.
Describe the project you worked on and what you needed to achieve within the 6 weeks.

We were briefed to validate and expand upon prior research, building on existing wireframes to create a holistic employee experience platform that integrates HR and manager functions. This project has been unlike anything we’ve done before, and despite the highs and lows, I thoroughly enjoyed being part of and shaping such an innovative platform! I’d love to share more, but mum’s the word. ;-)
How was your experience working with the Byte Orbit team?
Nothing short of incredible! I’m an introvert, but I made it my goal from the first week to speak with many people, learn about them, their departments, and their work. Everyone has been kind, open, and always willing to help or share their insights. Both personally and professionally, the Byte Orbit team has been exceptionally accommodating!
What new skills have you gained during your internship?
I’ve definitely refined and put my soft skills into practice more than ever before. Collaboration is paramount. We often become attached to our ideas or perspectives on a problem, but many pain points and solutions emerged through frequent communication and deep-diving into various steps of the design process. It was also emphasised that design doesn’t occur in a vacuum; one must negotiate and substantiate when there is too much input. A special shoutout to the new tools we were introduced to: Visiliy and Useberry.
Were there any challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them?

One of our teammates unfortunately had to leave early on, which forced us to adapt and reassess our objectives, taking on different roles to fill the gap. Since we had established a structure in the first week that played to everyone’s strengths, this change was an unexpected but fantastic lesson in versatility. It taught me to embrace new roles, whether they were my forte or not, as opportunities to learn and grow.
Do you have any memorable moments that stood out to you?
Joh, where to begin… The most cherished experience has undoubtedly been the time I spent with the Byte Orbit staff. Everyone was so warm, welcoming, and eager to hang out. I could nerd out with Burt over Warhammer 40,000 and Star Wars, bombard Marichen, Danny, and Valdre with questions about everything UX, and Brent, Laks, and Khanya about UI. They always made time in their day to talk about something fun or work-related. I also thoroughly enjoyed the workshops and Friday standups!
Do you feel more prepared for your future career after this internship?
Absolutely! There’s still a lot to learn, but I’m exhilarated to continue my journey. Thanks to the invaluable guidance from our mentors and keen insights from Byte Orbit staff across departments, I gained extensive hands-on experience in UX and UI. The company’s maturity also provided me with clarity about the roles of product designers and UI designers, reinforcing my intent to pursue product design.
What was the highlight of your internship at Byte Orbit?
Good question! I know I’ve said this multiple times, but I can’t emphasise it enough: the amazing folks at Byte Orbit truly walk the talk. They create a warm, welcoming space and a healthy employee experience, which are the bedrock of the company’s values. This commitment permeates their daily interactions with each other and with external parties.
By: Rudolf Culture