Hello, my name is Everett Orange. I am a Communication Design student at City Tech. I’m interested in design, motion graphics, and videogame design, and I also work as a Media Arts mentor/tutor and video editor at BMCC’s Office of Accessibility.

The Office of Accessibility is part of (BMCC), which is in the CUNY system in Lower Manhattan. It’s a public college, and the office’s mission is to give students with disabilities equal access to education through accommodations, mentoring, and faculty support. Their “clients” are really both students and faculty.

BMCC was founded in 1963 and has grown into the largest community college in CUNY. It moved to its current campus in the 1980s and showed resilience after 9/11 when the campus was heavily impacted.

I work in the Media and Arts area, where I tutor students in creative software and design projects.

Two recent BMCC updates stood out:

  1. Record Transfer Rates (2025) – More students are moving on to four-year schools like City Tech and NYU.
  2. Digital Accessibility Initiatives (2025) – New faculty training is making courses more accessible.

This first week was about preparing—organizing my tools, setting a schedule, and reflecting on how my role in design and mentoring connects to OA’s mission.

Week 1 – Getting Started

Preparing for My Internship at the Office of Accessibility

The first week was all about getting myself ready to start this internship on the right foot. Since I’m working hybrid, I wanted to feel organized and confident, so I made sure I had my schedule mapped out, my design software updated, and my mindset focused on balancing both schoolwork and internship responsibilities. I reminded myself that this internship isn’t just a class requirement, it’s a chance to really grow as a digital designer.

At the Office of Accessibility, my role connects to what I’ve already been doing at BMCC as a Media Arts mentor. I regularly tutor students in creative programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Cinema 4D. A big part of my job is helping students figure things out step by step, especially when they feel stuck, and showing them ways to build confidence in their projects. That experience actually gave me a lot of momentum coming into the internship, because I already knew how to explain creative concepts in a way that’s approachable. I also learn something new myself after tutoring each student. Overall, week one felt like laying the foundation, getting to know my responsibilities and meeting expectations.

Week 2 – Designing Manuals for Staff

Creating Manuals to Support Neurodiverse Students

One of my supervisor is Ms. Grace Harris, Manager of the Office of Accessibility, assigned me my first design project during my internship; she wanted me to create a Staff Faculty Manuel for the Professors to know how to understand students more who may be on the spectrum. Ms. Grace usually assigns projects, gives feedback, and helps me think about how my design work connects to accessibility goals (colors & fonts matters a lot in this area).

I chose this internship site because I was already familiar with the office from my time as a student at BMCC. I had built connections with the staff through my tutoring and mentoring work, and when I expressed interest in an internship, it was a natural fit. The process was pretty straightforward: I spoke directly with Ms. Harris about my experience, the skills I could bring to the role, and how the internship could help me grow. Since I had already been contributing as a student worker and mentor, I didn’t go through a formal interview process instead, my past work with the office spoke for itself.

During week two, I designed two staff manuals using Canva. The first is called “A Spectrum of Possibility” and the second is “Supporting Neurodiverse Students.” (I did a lot of research to come up with the best name for them). Both manuals are meant to help faculty and staff better understand and support students on the autism spectrum.

This wasn’t just a matter of dropping text into a document. I had to think carefully about the layout, color, typography, and flow of the content so the manuals felt professional but also approachable. I also designed an online booklet version that could be easily shared across the campus, which added another layer of accessibility.

This project was a learning curve because it pushed me to focus not just on how something looks, but on how clearly it communicates. It showed me that good design can directly impact people’s lives, especially when it’s connected to education.

Week 3 – Newsletter Template Design

Building a Newsletter for the Office of Accessibility

On week three, I worked on something new, Grace wanted me to design 3 newsletter templates in Canva for the Office of Accessibility. The idea was to create a clean, reusable layout that staff could update with announcements, events, and resources for students. I had to keep the design simple enough that anyone could edit it easy.

This project also gave me a chance to observe the workplace culture at OA. The environment is supportive and collaborative, with a casual dress code (I usually dress in Jeans and a pattern button up collar shirt). A typical workday includes meetings, mentoring sessions, and project work, with flexible breaks (thank God I get an hour break) and plenty of communication. My supervisor, Ms. Harris, usually checks in through email or quick conversations, and staff rely on tools like Google Drive, Canva, and Adobe Creative Cloud to manage projects.

What I enjoyed most was realizing design here isn’t just about making things look nice, it’s also about creating tools that are accessible for everyone on the team. Oh, and I forgot to mention that I have my own office with a door!

Week 4 – Google Form Project & NY Comic Con Event

Creating a Google Form and Exploring New Inspiration

Week four gave me a chance to look at my work and also step outside for new inspiration. At the office, I created a Google Form for the OA called “Professor Career & Field Interview.” The form was designed to collect feedback from professors about their careers and fields of study. My goal was to make it clear, professional, and easy to use, especially for busy faculty. I think I did well on the structure and layout, but if I evaluate myself honestly, I know I could improve on double-checking accessibility features earlier in the process. That’s something I’ll focus on in future projects.

Outside the office, I signed up for New York Comic Con to connect with independent video game developers. Since I’m passionate about design and storytelling in games, this event felt like the perfect opportunity to see how others bring their creative ideas to life. I’m hoping it sparks ideas for my own projects and connects me to role models in the industry who show what’s possible when you take risks and innovate.

This week reminded me that growth isn’t just about the tasks you finish it’s also about evaluating yourself, learning from what you could do better, and finding inspiration in the creative community around you.

Week 5: Industry Exposure & Benefits Research

During Week 5 of my internship, I had the chance to attend New York Comic Con (NYCC) from October 9–12. Before going, I spoke with my supervisor, Grace Harris, who encouraged me to attend since it could help me find new artistic inspiration, meet other creatives, and explore how design connects with business. The experience fits perfectly with my internship’s focus on professional growth and creative design.

Experience at NY Comic Con

NY Comic Con was an unforgettable experience packed with a lot of energy and creativity. I met some independent artists selling everything from posters and T-shirts to stickers, keychains, and digital art prints. Some of them used Krita and other software similar to Illustrator that I haven’t heard of before. This gave me new ideas for using accessible tools in professional design work.

Even though I couldn’t afford the celebrity meet-and-greets, it was still amazing just being in the same space as well-known actors like Norman Reedus from The Walking Dead and the cast of Land of the Dead. Seeing all the different artists, vendors, and fans together reminded me how big and diverse the creative world really is.

Learning Outcomes

From a professional standpoint, I learned a lot about how freelance and independent artists build their income through conventions and merchandise. It was clear that booth design, clear branding, and customer engagement make a huge difference in sales. Many artists talked about how important it is to have a consistent style and visually appealing setup — from the signage to the lighting and product display.

I also paid attention to how they priced their work. Most used tiered pricing systems, with small items like stickers in the $5–$10 range, medium-sized prints around $20–$40, and premium items such as hoodies or framed prints going for $50 or more. It showed me how artists balance affordability and value to make their art sustainable.

Another major takeaway was networking. I connected with several designers and illustrators who shared tips about promoting art online using social media and QR codes to link to portfolios or shops. I plan to follow up with a few of them on LinkedIn and Instagram to keep building those professional connections and possibly learn more from their experience in the field.

Week 6 – Mentoring New Media Arts Students

This week, my supervisor Grace Harris gave me three new Media Arts students to mentor. Each one had a different focus — one is studying Comic Art, another is in 3D Animation, and the third is taking Video Production. My job as a Media Arts Tutor is to help students with disabilities use programs like Illustrator, Photoshop, and Cinema 4D, and to support them with whatever they need to complete their projects.

Using what I learned as a former BMCC Media Arts student and now as a City Tech Communication Design major, I was able to guide each student at their own pace. We also set up a weekly tutoring schedule, so everyone gets consistent time for one-on-one help and feedback. Even though I’m the mentor, I still learned a lot myself—especially new tools and shortcuts in Photoshop and Illustrator. Teaching really does make you better at what you already know.

Ethics in the design field, makes me think about how things work at the Office of Accessibility. When we create materials or help students with design projects, we always make sure to use original or properly licensed images and avoid anything that could cause copyright issues. I also make a point to remind students to credit their sources and be mindful of what they use online.

Our office doesn’t have a formal written ethics policy, but my whole team practices good habits, being respectful, honest, and professional with every project we work on. Overall, it was a really busy work. I enjoyed getting to know the new students, helping them build confidence in their software skills, and thinking more deeply about what it means to design responsibly. I really want to keep improving how I teach and make sure students not only create great work but also to do it the right way.

Week 7 – Student Outreach & Networking

This week was definitely one of my busiest so far. My supervisor, Grace Harris, sent me an Excel sheet with a list of over 80 Media Arts students registered with the Office of Accessibility (OA). My job was to call everyone on that list to check in and see how their semester was going.

I used the office phone and introduced myself on each call:
“Hi, my name is Everett Orange, I’m calling from the Office of Accessibility. I just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing this semester, and if you need any support with your classes, tutoring, or campus resources like counseling. Also, we have a Disability Job Fair coming up on October 22nd at 2 PM if you’d like to attend.”

There were a lot of names to get through, so this task took most of the week. I managed to call about 33 students, and I’ll continue with the rest next week. Each call was different — some students needed help with software access or tutoring, while others just appreciated someone checking in. It was nice getting to talk to so many students majoring in Media Arts and putting voices to names.

On top of that, I was still tutoring students in person, so balancing both roles taught me a lot about time management and patience. Making calls all day while switching between tutoring sessions kept me on my toes, but it also gave me a better understanding of what it’s like to handle multiple responsibilities in a real office setting.

Even though I didn’t attend an outside networking event this week, these phone calls honestly felt like one. I was building connections, practicing how to communicate clearly, and representing the OA office in a positive way. Networking isn’t always about big events — sometimes it’s just about being present, professional, and genuine when talking to people. Week 7 taught me a lot about communication and the importance of follow-up. Every conversation matters, and it’s nice to know that a simple check-in call can make someone’s day a little easier.