The Internship: Developing a Print and Web Presence for ENG 497/597
Flyer for Spring 2013 internship course, composed in Adobe Photoshop.
The Project
From my work in the Design Center, I was prepared to consider some of the aspects and elements of an online and print presence for the internship program. Over the course of the semester, I also incorporated ideas and questions raised in classes I've taken such as Jen Almjeld's Online Identity and Jenny Sheppard's Online Pedagogy courses. How do I reach a dual audience--prospective interns and site supervisors--and link them via multiple modes of communication (department webpage, listserve, and a brochure)?
The Research Element
In order to decide on content and design choices, I researched documents and websites of established internship programs, such as the one at University of New Mexico. In addition, I read several articles from the Journal of Internships and Cooperative Education. I also read business and professional blogs to better understand the personal experiences of both interns and the companies who employ them. I read many successes and many horror stories!
Because I'm finishing my 3rd year as a PhD student and am preparing for my comprehensive exams, there are also random readings on Jung, Aristotle, Butler, Sedgwick, and other scholars informing my rhetorical decisions. (For instance Foucault, in his piece "Docile Bodies," explains that schools, hospitals, and prisons are all institutional and have a singular aim to control all aspects of bodies. Working creatively within institutional confines made me think of this concept quite frequently.)
This internship (on developing materials for the internship course) helped me further hone my Adobe Suite skills--notably Photoshop and InDesign. I learned many fine-tuning text techniques which also carried over into further experimentation in InDesign.
Below are examples of the internship work I've done this semester, including some early drafts and comments. Many thanks to Dr. Laurie Churchill for her feedback, revisions, and support, and to Dr. Patti Wojahn, Cathilia Flores, and Jen England for looking over the brochure draft during a very busy part of the semester.
Summer/Fall Flyer Design (final draft/early draft)
Flyer (final version) for Summer 2013/Fall 2013 Internship Class. Created in Adobe Photoshop.
An early draft version of the flyer above. It ended up in the trash, but was an important step toward working out the final version. Design work involves many hours of decision-making which sometimes results in feeling "like I have nothing to show" for my work!
Finding Design Balance: University Branding vs. Creative Freedom
The NMSU branding initiative is very specific and regimented. However, the current branding templates are under review and revision. Official branding descriptions are available at: brand.nmsu.edu.
Part of the challenge of designing a visual presence for the internship program involved respecting the university's stipulations regarding photographic elements, while still incorporating creative design elements.
After learning I had permission to expand with my own creative design, I moved away from this initial template.
The second brochure cover mock-up. A little too "quilty," as pointed out by my supervisor...
Editing and Collaboration
Final (Almost) Brochure Draft
