Adobe CC, Microsoft Suites, Figma, Image Databases
Role
Skills
Branding, Print Design, Typography, Layout Design
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Graphic Design Intern
Graphic Design Intern
Timeline
8 Months, 2024
Tools
As a graphic design intern for the University of Illinois’ College of Liberal Arts & Sciences’ Marketing and Communications team, I had the opportunity to engage in a diverse range of responsibilities and projects. My role included fundamental tasks such as image resizing, editing, and database organization, which helped me develop a keen eye for detail and efficiency in managing visual assets. I contributed to various design projects targeting both the college’s internal and external audiences. Some of these included creating alumni newsletters, promotional materials that highlighted events and initiatives, signage to enhance navigation and accessibility on campus, and illustrative event banners to generate excitement for upcoming activities. Additionally, all this work was completed under the university brand standards.
College of LAS Internship
Process & Experience
Learnings & Outcomes
Design & Marketing @College of LAS (UIUC)
During my internship, I collaborated with two other designers and a project manager. While I often needed to be self-sufficient and rely on my own problem-solving skills, I was also able to reach out for assistance when necessary.
Most of my projects went through various phases, involving different team members and sometimes even individuals outside our team. This experience taught me the importance of adapting my communication style to effectively engage with those beyond the design and marketing fields.
For larger projects, I was responsible for interpreting project briefs from clients and passing them on for review, which frequently included multiple rounds of revisions. At times, I received open-ended prompts or limited information, requiring me to exercise my creative judgment.
I worked on a wide variety of projects, some of which followed similar patterns that allowed me to establish a routine, while others were unique and required me to conduct external research to better understand the marketing landscape. This diverse experience greatly enriched my skills and understanding of the field.
During my internship, I worked on over 50 projects of varying sizes and types. Some were small-scale internal projects, with prints distributed within a limited community, while others were large-scale initiatives that reached hundreds within the facility and student body.
Throughout this experience, I developed many essential skills associated with a graphic design role. This included management tasks such as organizing an image database, editing and resizing images, and overseeing website content. I also learned how to create common layouts for magazines, flyers, signage, and more. Overall, this internship provided a well-rounded experience that equipped me with a diverse skill set applicable to various situations.
