Lessons from an intern by Russ Parrish
I’ll be graduating this summer from Brigham Young University with a BFA in Graphic Design. My plan is to pursue a career in interactive design and digital publishing. Looking back on the career-related experiences I’ve had in college, interning at Thinkso in New York City during the summer of 2011 was among the most valuable. I came to work every morning excited to learn something new and thrilled to work with these friendly, talented and dedicated designers and marketers.
A big part of being an intern — besides getting coffee and watering plants – is learning as much as you can from the professionals around you. Here are some of the things learned from them:
1. Don’t design just for design’s sake.
Elizabeth shared something that will remain with me throughout my career. “Use design as a business tool,” she said. “Don’t design just for design’s sake.” In the four months I spent at Thinkso, I saw how well they used design as a tool to solve their client’s problems. I helped prepare a presentation for one client that was undergoing a thorough rebranding. Their existing brand identity failed to communicate who they are and what they do. Thinkso approaches branding as good storytelling; a successful brand communicates an organization’s personality, value proposition, and market position all in captivating visuals and smart, concise editorial. Working on this project, I saw how strategy and good design must work hand-in-hand to truly succeed.
2. Find mentors.
Brett and I studied graphic design at the same school — and with a lot of the same professors — so he was someone I could really relate to. He taught me valuable skills: networking, interview etiquette, starting your own studio, and how to work well with clients. I appreciated how Brett could be both intensely focused on work, and sometimes a much needed distraction. In addition to the practical, he also stressed how “Personality is just as important as portfolio.” He said “It’s essential that each part of the team be capable, but so much better if they’re people you enjoy being with anyway.” Which brings me to my next lesson:
3. Work with people you like.
In a design studio, there can be several people working on one project at the same time, sometimes late into the night. I soon realized that you needed to work with people that you actually liked or everyday would be hell. “Thinksorts” are more like family than co-workers. Everyday we ate lunch together on the outdoor terrace, around one long table. I will always remember how they threw me a “surprise” birthday party, even though as the intern I was sent out to get my own birthday candles.
4. Learn how to write.
Because Thinkso writes practically everything they produce, this internship exposed my greatest weakness: writing. I experienced how important it is for designers to articulate their concepts in words as much as pictures, even if it’s just being able to put in a placeholder headline so that the writer understands what I’m trying to communicate and can rewrite it. This lesson prompted me take a writing class when I returned to school, and I’ll continue to nurture this skill as I develop my design expertise.
In addition to the lessons above, my internship also lead to immersing myself in social media, discovering the design blogosphere, meeting celebrity designers Stefan Sagmeister and Michael Bierut, touring some amazing studios, and, of course, doing some great work with my friends and colleagues at Thinkso.
Not bad for one summer in New York City!
Russ Parrish - @russ_parrish