Intern of the Week: Kyle Baker for Graphic Design

Name:Kyle Baker
Internship, Co-op or Research Site:Fleishman-Hillard
Location of the Organization (City, State):  Washington, D.C.
Title of Your Position:Design Intern
Major(s)/Minor(s):Graphic Design
Expected Graduation Date (Month & Year): 2014

1. Briefly describe your internship, co-op, research or service-learning position/assignment, including your day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.

My internship was with a media communications and public relations firm; Fleishman-Hillard. There I worked with the digital-creative team. I designed logos, advertisements and layouts for social network pages. I also participated in brainstorming sessions, pitching ideas that could be used for various projects the company was embarking upon.

2. What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company and what have you found most challenging?

I most enjoyed the fact that I was given the opportunity to use the knowledge and skills that I’ve gained in the classroom in a workplace setting. Working with a team of professionals certainly aided my understanding of the importance of working collaboratively with other talented and skilled people in order to accomplish a task. The most challenging aspect of the internship was probably deciphering ways to get messages across more efficiently.

3. What have you gained from your experience that you could not have gained from another summer activity?

I gained so much from my experience working as an intern. Apart from gaining better knowledge of the adobe creative suite programs, as a paraprofessional, I was immersed into many aspects of the design studio. I worked as part of a collaborative digital/design team and worked with clients to create design-based projects assigned to the team and me.

4. How do you see your summer work as meaningful? Has it given you a chance to work on issues or with communities that matter to you?

Working this summer was meaningful because it enabled me to gain practical knowledge and gave me many opportunities to explore beyond the confines of design, but also many other aspects. I worked alongside members of the media communications, public relations, and analytics teams. The exposure and opportunity gave me a glance at the corporate atmosphere.

5. How has your summer experience shaped the way you think about your power to impact the world? This might involve skills you’ve gained, information you’ve learned, mentors you’ve connected with, or projects you’ve completed.

I believe that based upon everything I learned from my internship this summer, I’m better equipped to find work and be successful in the world of design once I graduate. I’ve confirmed that this is the type of work I could see myself doing; design is definitely a profession in which I’ll be happy.