I’m Kaitlynn
Larkins, a Graphic Design Senior. This summer, I interned at Baltimore Center
Stage working in their graphics and marketing department to create print,
digital, and written content for their 2016/2017 season. My direct supervisor
was Bill Geenen, one of Center Stage’s oldest employees, and he is the Lead Art
Director. I had actually never heard of Center Stage before the internship was
recommended to me. I knew a lot about the theaters around Baltimore but this
one somehow slipped under my radar. The process of getting the internship took
about two weeks. I had to submit my resume and portfolio, then I had to go to
an in person interview, and a week after that they sent me an email saying I had
gotten the internship. At Center Stage, since the season was just getting started, I was tasked with updating the designs of a lot of flyers, internal letterheads, and posters. A lot of new people had just been hired and the board was also changing over, so I had to create what felt like hundreds of letterheads for everyone associated with the theater.
I also worked on designing print products of all sizes from business cards to flyers, to posters and lamp post signage. They also had me work on coding for their website, which is something I have little experience in, but it was cool to work alongside the IT department and learn about the different languages and programs. One of the coolest things though would be working alongside Pentagram and Planet to help design the new branding and renovations for the theater. I had no previous experience working with architects before, so getting to see how they go from sketches to 3D modeling to physically building something was an interesting process to me and I felt like I learned so much from that experience. 
Doing this
internship has opened my eyes to all the possible places I could go to after
college is officially over to advance my career. Before, I was kind of
everywhere and I honestly had zero game plan on how to use my degree in the
real world. Now, I still feel like my
choices are everywhere but I don’t feel as pressured to streamline and do one
thing. I want to go into a job where I can have my focus be on one thing like
design, but still have the option to go to different departments and help out
when need be. Working in a theater
has allowed me to meet and network with people I would have never thought to
interact with. I’m meeting actors, directors, and designers from all over the
world and it’s brought me opportunities I could never dream of. Within a few
short weeks, I’ve become a better programmer, a better speaker, and most
importantly, a better designer.
