Polygraph Creative

Polygraph Creative is an award winning design studio based in Washington,D.C. that specializes in branding, product, editorial and environmental design. They have a reputation for finding truth and authenticity in their work by fusing creativity, passion and craft into their creative decisions.

Due to the lengthy and competitive nature of finding a summer internship position, I sought advice from my department chair. She recommended several local design studios and agencies, one of which was Polygraph Creative. Their website did not list any open positions, so I did not expect to receive a response to my cold email. However, one of the principal designers happened to stumble upon my recent packaging project on MICA's Instagram account and recognized my name upon reviewing my email. He replied a day later, and I went in for my interview soon after with my physical portfolio in hand. The next afternoon, I received the official offer and was welcomed to become part of the team. While working with these talented designers, I discovered that Polygraph’s love for the poetic stems from their appreciation for design that starts its journey outside of the computer. 

Each day varied as I worked on many different projects for several companies. My responsibilities ranged from designing graphics for product and environmental spaces, to creating artwork that would be used to create identity systems. In addition, I was introduced to branding for the food and hospitality industries. I experimented with pattern making and fine tuned my skills in typography. I learned how to integrate my love for analog art and design with functional logos and identity systems. Aside from acquiring skills in conceptual design and overall career skills, I also learned new technical skills in photoshop and indesign. I became more confident with laying out large areas of text, using Pantone colors, making my own mockups, overall communication, photography, and word play.

One of the highlights during this internship was my opportunity to create abstract artwork for the Washington DC National Portrait Gallery. To my delight, my work was approved for their 2019 gala brochure cover and inner panel design. I was also proud to be able to create patterns and original artwork that would be used for the identity system of a hotel. It was so encouraging to have real clients be excited about something I created.
This summer, my taste in design was elevated to new heights because of the time spent with top caliber designers and artists. The line between good and bad design has started to become clearer. My experience as an intern at Polygraph Creative was an incredible opportunity that helped open my eyes to the design world. This exposure has enabled me to feel more prepared to tackle the beginning of my career, as well as help highlight areas to work on during my final year at MICA. 

Fantagraphics Books

My name is Rey Sagcal and I am a senior Illustration major. This summer of 2018 I worked as an editorial intern for Fantagraphics Books, a publishing company located in Seattle, Washington.

I was initially drawn to attend this internship after developing a deep interest in comics through my sequential arts class at MICA and the influence of my peers and instructors. Through my exploration of comics, I learned that Fantagraphics has been one of the leading innovators of this medium since the 1970s, consistently publishing work that challenge the conventions of comics. The people behind Fantagraphics, such as publisher Gary Groth, were some of the first people in America to push for the elevation of comics as an art form on the same level as painting and literature, way beyond the commonplace view of it as simply childish entertainment. Thus, when I found out that Fantagraphics was looking for interns, I decided to apply by emailing my resume and cover letter. Even though the internship listed was for an editorial position and not so much an illustration- or design-related job, I was excited to be a part of a company whose work has deeply influenced me in such a short period of time.

During the internship, I was supervised by one of the editors, Kristy Valenti. She gave me most of the tasks and projects I worked on, including proofreading comics, digital de-texting and lettering of comic pages, researching literary and visual material to publish on the online magazine, The Comics Journal, transcribing audio interviews between Fantagraphics and various artists, and indexing and cataloging books and other material for both the physical and digital libraries. Occasionally, I was also asked by Keeli McCarthy, their senior designer, to design various promotional materials including flyers, bookmarks, and bookplates. Of all the tasks I worked on, I was most proud of the design work I did, as I was eager to put into practice the art training I’ve received at MICA.

Besides the technical skills I gained through my internship such as operating Adobe Indesign, researching, and editorial writing techniques, one of the more important things I learned is how to work and even just how to be in an office environment. As I was first starting out at the internship site, I often felt stressed by my self-imposed expectation to be perfectly adept at every task I was given. I was quite eager to prove myself and impress others, sometimes at my own mental cost. Over time, I understood that the internship is truly a learning opportunity and began to take it easy on myself and learned not to be afraid to ask others for help. I think I initially felt this way because artists are often taught to value their own independence and self-importance over everything, as they self-identify with the work they produce. This internship made me realize that what is sometimes more important than individual success is the value of collaboration and cultivating good relationships with the people we work with.

Overall, I am satisfied with the time I spent at Fantagraphics and my stay here in Seattle. I learned so many valuable lessons that are helpful in progressing my career as an artist and even lessons beyond matters of career advancement. I have grown more as a person in general, less concerned with striving for individual success as the main purpose of life and more eager to seek ways to help other people, during work and outside of work.

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company

My name is Emma Rubini, and I am going into my senior year as an Illustration major. In summer 2016, I interned in the costume department at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company (CSC). The world of theatre is one that has interested me since I was a child, but I had gotten out of it since starting college, and it was something I really missed. After becoming interested in costumes as a hobby, I took the costume design class here at MICA in fall of 2014, and it was from the professor of that class that I heard about CSC. I emailed the costume director, Kristina Lambdin. She got back to me quickly, and after a short back-and-forth, she accepted my internship request. She is also the one who became my direct supervisor. She is in charge of designing costumes for new shows (sometimes with a co-designer) as well as maintaining the costume shop and creating new costumes.

The Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is a theatre company here in Baltimore, and I was drawn to them because of their dedication to the education of the community, and their creative spirit.  While working there, I acted as Kristina’s assistant, sometimes working in conjunction with other hired seamstresses. 

During the time I worked, the company put on the play The Three Musketeers, and I helped with modifying existing costumes as well as cleaning and repairing costumes that were damaged during the show. I assisted with organizing and repairing the costumes and returning them to their correct places in the stock. We followed a similar process for the next show, Anne of a Thousand Days.

I am very happy with my time at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. I think what I am most proud of is the fact that my work will be seen by so many people. Even though my contributions weren’t large or grandiose, even the small feeling of pride I get thinking about that tells me that I am on the right path. I am very interested in the design and production of costumes and fashion, particularly in the world of theatre, and I think the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company has been the perfect place to start.