From WOWME to BMW: Alec Maclean’s Design Journey

At WOWME, one of the most rewarding parts of what I do—beyond projects, products, and clients—is mentoring young designers and supporting their transition from academia into real-world practice. Alec Maclean’s journey is a perfect example of why this matters.

Alec joined WOWME last year through the QUT Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program. What was initially planned as a defined placement quickly became something more. After completing the formal WIL program, Alec chose to stay on for an entire additional year—driven by curiosity, commitment, and a strong desire to deepen his skills in a professional design environment.

During his time at WOWME, Alec was involved in a wide range of projects, from consumer electronics to motorcycle accessories.

He worked across concept development, design refinement, and visualisation, steadily building both confidence and capability. Just as importantly, he developed a strong, cohesive portfolio—one that combined real commercial work from WOWME with his university projects.

That portfolio became a key factor in Alec being selected for the highly competitive QUT × BMW Academy program. Today, he is preparing for the next major step in his journey: relocating to Germany to begin an internship at BMW.

This is exactly the outcome I hope for when I invest time in emerging designers—not just polished work, but real opportunities. Alec’s progression reflects dedication, humility, and a genuine passion for design as a lifelong practice.

I am incredibly proud of what Alec has achieved and grateful for the contribution he made to WOWME over the past two years. I wish him every success as he begins this exciting new chapter.

Find your path in design life, Alec. The journey is just beginning.

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