My second networking event was on Zoom, titled “Zoomin with Creatives.” We had three speakers lined up, one of whom was Todd Goldstein. He’s quite the multidisciplinary artist, dabbling in music, animation, and graphic design. Interestingly, Todd’s academic journey started with English literature, but he soon found his passion for design, leading him back to school. He landed an internship at Pentagram NYC after attending Parsons. Todd’s work speaks for itself – from collaborations with Warner Brothers to crafting the iconic Saturday Night Live opening titles. Not to mention, he’s behind the Warner Records logo and the branding for Green Jones.

Next is Rehan Miskci, an artist specializing in photography. Starting her academic journey with interior design during her undergraduate years, Rehan later pursued her passion in New York City, obtaining a master’s degree in photography and visual arts. What distinguishes Rehan’s work is her unique approach to photography. She doesn’t simply capture moments; she transforms them into immersive experiences. Leveraging her background in interior design, Rehan uses her photographs with a strong sense of space and composition, resulting in images that resonate with depth and intrigue. For Rehan, photography is about more than just taking pictures—it’s about creating environments within the frame.

The third speaker, Marcos Chin, has a deeply personal journey that fuels his artistic endeavors. Born in China, Marcos relocated to Canada at the tender age of two, seeking refuge from the civil unrest alongside his parents. While his mother navigated the world of data entry and his father toiled in factory work, Marcos found solace and inspiration in the vibrant world of MTV, which served as a welcomed escape. This early exposure sparked his passion for art, leading him down the path of commercial illustration and digital creation. Marcos’s hard work reached heights, including a notable poster for Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi,” along with impactful contributions to the LGBTQ community. His collaborations span a diverse range, from partnering with Banana Republic for Pride-themed apparel to creative ventures with Starbucks, Truly Hard Seltzer (including collaboration with Dua Lipa), and even Dave Chappelle.

Each of the speakers shared a unique story about how they found their way into the world of art. Marcos stumbled into illustration without knowing it was a career option, simply because he loved to draw, even with limited resources. While he initially aimed to make money, his passion for illustration grew over time. Todd’s journey was driven by a constant desire to create and produce. Despite starting with music, he eventually found his calling in visual arts after taking several art classes. Rehan initially pursued photography but discovered the diverse opportunities within design, eventually finding her niche in visual storytelling and spatial exploration.

This current week for the internship, we got our weekly hours today emailed to us. I get to work 11 hours a week. It felt like a real job where everyone has different tasks. One of my tasks was to do more research on the school colors and what fonts to use. Then me and my colleague double checked the information we typed into the excel sheet of the amount of students from different places. I’m learning more about how art jobs work with a group of people and how different people work on different things.

We’ve just kicked off our first project, and it’s an important one. Our task is to revamp a four-page infographic, and the section I’m tackling, with the assistance of my coworker, focuses on updating the map data. To begin, we crafted an Excel spreadsheet, carefully inputting the numbers representing student applications to Brooklyn College from various areas within the boroughs.

It was quite the undertaking, as accuracy was important. We wanted to ensure our data was precise and reflective of the real numbers. Despite the time it took, there was something oddly serene about the process. We were really focused on the task, almost finding a sense of calm among the detailed work.

For the work culture, because it’s a work from home job, we didn’t have to worry much about work attire but we did have meetings on zoom every week about the first project and future people that will be joining the internship. Whenever i did have questions, i would communicate via text or emails to my colleague.

Today, I had the opportunity to attend an insightful webinar titled “Navigating AI Creativity & Ethics in Digital Advertising.” The webinar featured speakers Kyle Spraker and Ritu Trivedi, with Angelina Eng serving as the interviewer. It was a fascinating discussion centered around the utilization of AI to enhance creativity and ethics in digital advertising, allowing companies to allocate more time towards creating impactful advertisements for consumers.

One question that particularly caught my attention was whether AI would replace artists. Kyle Spraker, one of the speakers, addressed this by emphasizing that AI won’t replace artists but rather alleviate their workload. He highlighted that while AI can assist in generating content, it lacks the human connection necessary to truly resonate with audiences. This insight underscored the irreplaceable role of human creativity and emotion in advertising, reassuring that AI is a tool to augment rather than supplant artistic talent.

i just started my internship and had our first meeting on the 29th. it was exciting to dive into what’s coming up. we talked about the projects ahead and what me and my partner will work on. right now, we’re getting into the details, like what colors to use, the school logo, and how we’ll share info. since we’re in the department of effectiveness at brooklyn college, it’s important that everyone can easily get the info we put out, including people with disabilities. our department’s pretty small, just a few folks including our boss and five other seniors. we’re all working from home, so we haven’t been to the campus.

brooklyn college, a public institution founded in 1930, has been a cornerstone of higher education for nearly a century. its mission revolves around providing accessible learning opportunities to individuals of all backgrounds, enabling them to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for success in their chosen fields. with a diverse array of academic programs and a commitment to fostering inclusivity, brooklyn college serves as a hub for intellectual growth and community engagement. a notable historical moment in the college’s history occurred in 1963 when it hosted the influential activist malcolm x, underscoring its dedication to promoting dialogue on social justice issues and fostering a culture of critical thinking and activism among its students and faculty.

in our recent brainstorming session, my internship partner and i explored various innovative approaches to engage prospective students and the broader community. my partner introduced the idea of utilizing tiktok videos as a means to reach younger audiences and spark interest in applying to brooklyn college. inspired by the vibrant and dynamic nature of tiktok, we discussed ways to showcase the college’s unique offerings and campus life in short, engaging videos. additionally, i proposed leveraging the iconic wes anderson aesthetic in our design materials, drawn to its timeless simplicity and colorful palette. by infusing our content with elements of popular culture and contemporary design trends, we aim to create visually appealing and relatable marketing materials that resonate with our target audience.