As an art director for a non-profit, I have experienced substantial growth and development in a short time. This role marked my first role as an art director, and I embraced every challenge as a learning opportunity. I consistently put forth my best effort, which allowed me to gain experience and confidence in my design skills while also enhancing my people skills. Overall, this internship has significantly broadened my understanding of the advertising world, and the importance of connections and communication.
As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs and discussions, I am accustomed to working independently since I typically don’t work in groups in class. I often took on multiple roles, such as strategist, copywriter, and designer. Working with a group of 11 people, including myself, was a new experience that required adjustment. I sometimes forgot that I had an entire team supporting me and needed to remind myself to ask for help when needed.
Additionally, navigating remote work presented its own challenges. I had to wait for responses and be considerate of everyone’s schedules, as some had other internships, jobs, or commitments. This sometimes made it difficult to coordinate meetings via Zoom, but we made the best of it, and everything worked out in the end.
During the third week, we had to switch clients and create entirely new presentation decks. I viewed this as a minor bump in the road, reflecting real-world experiences where clients might unexpectedly stop working with you. Despite these challenges, my overall experience was positive. I was able to make connections and grow, particularly in my communication skills and in expressing my thoughts and ideas, which is something I’ve struggled with. It was wonderful to collaborate with a team and work on a PSA that will be aired in the fall.
Working remotely comes with its own set of challenges, as everyone has different commitments and schedules. Coordinating a Zoom meeting that fits everyone’s availability was tough, but we managed to make the best of it. We only had mandatory meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Wednesdays were reserved for Sunnyside Chats, where we met with industry professionals.
To facilitate our meetings, we used When2Meet, a website where each team member can input their available times, making it easier to schedule meetings that worked for everyone. This internship was also my first experience working with such a large group and having a partner to collaborate with.
I quickly realized the importance of communication, transparency, and asking questions, especially when trying to meet tight deadlines. Since it was remote work, I couldn’t just walk over and ask questions in person, so sometimes I had to wait for responses. Despite these challenges, the overall experience was positive and instructive, helping me adapt to remote collaboration effectively.
1a. As a designer I have used other creative works such as photography, illustrations, etc. To maintain ethical standards, I keep records of all images, including links or sources. For images under Creative Commons licenses, I ensure proper attribution is given, respecting the creators’ rights and adhering to legal requirements. This practice not only upholds professional integrity but also fosters trust and reliability in my work.
Personally, I am very mindful of the images I use. I typically source images from royalty-free sites like Pexels, Unsplash, and PNGWing. Additionally, I purchase stock photos and assets from Freepik when needed. Such as my senior project where I will list all the sources I use in my reference page and give credit where credit is due.
2b. The Fairey Copyright Case centers around the “Hope” poster created by Shepard Fairey for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. Fairey used a photograph taken by Mannie Garcia for the Associated Press (AP) without crediting Garcia or the AP, and he refused to pay the licensing fee. This led the AP to sue Fairey for copyright infringement. Fairey argued that he had altered the image enough to qualify as fair use, but the AP contended that the changes were insufficient and that the poster still retained the essence of Garcia’s photograph. The case was eventually settled out of court in 2011.
In my opinion, the Fairey Copyright Case is a crucial lesson for designers to avoid legal issues. It emphasizes the importance of giving credit where it’s due and obtaining proper licensing for the use of others’ works, especially to prevent being sued and engaging in a prolonged legal battle.
1a. Ethics in design is crucial for protecting both designers and their clients. The AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) guidelines provide a comprehensive framework for professional standards and ethical practices in the field. The guidelines ensure we uphold a certain standard to foster trust and reliability. Both are important in the design felid.
In my internship, I am assigned to the art direction role, responsible for overseeing the visual and creative aspects. So far, I have created presentation slides and sourced images from various platforms, including the client’s website and Instagram, as well as paid for images such as Freepik. Despite its name, some images on Freepik are not free. I also utilize Pexels and Unsplash for royalty-free images and PNGWing for transparent PNG files. After our client meeting, I received the brand guidelines, which included the company’s logo, font, and color specifications.
1b. A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is a legal contract designed to protect the parties involved by ensuring that sensitive information remains confidential and is not disclosed to others. In my current internship, instead of signing an NDA, I signed a participation agreement, which includes a media agreement section. The key points of this agreement are:
1) I must maintain the confidentiality of the organization’s information.
2) All activities and reporting should credit the organization.
3) Any publications require approval from the organization.
4) Before posting any organization-related media online, I need permission.
Previously, I signed an actual NDA about three years ago when I worked as a social media intern in 2021. This agreement stated that all my work (images taken and captions) was credited to Ron, and I did not own it. Additionally, I was prohibited from sharing or using the work personally.
In this internship program, I was partnered with two mentors. We meet bi-weekly. Both mentors have been incredible and immensely helpful in my internship experience. One of my mentors shared his journey into a design career, which resonated with me as we both started with traditional art before transitioning into digital design.
My other mentor is a previous participated in the GROWTH initiative program in 2022 and shared valuable insights from his time there. His experiences have been extremely helpful in anticipating what lies ahead. He also shared his final presentation and the work he did as an art director during the program, which provided a practical perspective on what to expect from my role.
Through this program, I have been able to expand my network and make meaningful connections. One of my goals this summer is to enhance my LinkedIn profile. I have realized the importance of having strong professional connections. As an introvert, reaching out and putting myself out there can be challenging, but I have learned to take small steps. The worst that can happen is someone says no, and that’s okay. As a designer, it’s important to establish a presence in the industry. How else will people know who I am or what I can do? Building a network is essential for growth and opportunities in the design field.
This is my first role as an art director. As an art director, my role is to adhere to the brand guidelines and ensure the presentation deck fits the brand and is built from scratch. This includes sourcing images, creating infographics, and illustrations in Illustrator, collaborating with the strategist, checking the copy to ensure there are no widows or orphans, ensuring the images are of high quality, and properly communicating the idea. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. I also collaborate with the production team to develop creative concepts, which include storyboarding, creating mood boards, and providing examples to visually explain the concept. Additionally, I attend meetings, seek approval of the deck from the mods before presenting to the client, receive feedback, and make changes to the deck accordingly.
On May 28, I attended the orientation via Zoom at 8 PM. I was both nervous and excited, anticipating what lay ahead. During the orientation, my role was finally revealed. I had applied for positions in art direction and project management, as they suggested applying for a second role due to high competition for art direction. I was thrilled to learn that I had secured the art direction role. I was also introduced to my team, including my co-art director and our client. Unfortunately, my client changed during week 3 of the program.
Despite the setback, our team continues to be optimistic and push forward with the new client. Also in an agency changes like this happen often as explained by my mentor so I’m maintaining a positive outlook, I view it as a minor bump in the road and a learning experience.
100 Roses From Concrete is a non-profit organization founded in September 2019 to support people of color in the advertising industry. The name is inspired by Tupac Shakur’s poem “The Rose That Grew From Concrete,” symbolizing the resilience and strength of people of color who thrive despite challenges in a predominantly white industry.
The organization offers several programs, including the G.R.O.W.T.H. (Giving Real Opportunity With Talent & Heart) Initiative, launched in March 2020. This ten-week program provides college students with real-life experience in advertising and marketing, allowing them to work in groups and with actual clients. Participants gain hands-on experience, enhancing their skills and preparing them for professional careers. This is the program I applied to and got in.
The program sometimes hosts Wednesday night Sunnyside Chats, where industry professionals share their insights and answer questions. I’ve attended some of those and find it provides valuable learning opportunities, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the advertising industry and discussing what has been successful and what hasn’t throughout their careers.
I like to get a head start on things, so I began searching for an internship in January. I updated my resume and portfolio and applied to numerous internships and programs. I received some interview requests and follow-up emails, but often, I didn’t hear back. Despite this, I stayed motivated and continued applying.
A breakthrough came when my friend informed me that 100 Roses From Concrete had opened applications. She encouraged me to meet them at City Tech, where they presented their program. There, I met the founder, Keni, and had the opportunity to ask him relevant questions. She had a positive experience with them, so I decided to apply. I answered all the application questions honestly and submitted my application.
Eventually, I was contacted by the founder for a formal Zoom interview. I was nervous even though I had gone through a few interviews already, but his approachable demeanor made me feel more comfortable. A few weeks later, I received the fantastic news that I had been accepted into the program! I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to start.
