INTERNSHIP STORIES

I first found out about this internship opportunity when my professor told me he was working on a feature film called Stealing Cars and was looking for interns. He said I could request any position I wanted to learn more from. A few months prior, I was on set with him and his wife where I was in charge of Art/Continuity. He told me I would be a good script supervisor, a position I didn’t know existed, so I requested to be script supervisor on his feature. As script supervisor, my job was to be the link between the director(s) on set with the editor(s) in post-production. Luckily, both my professor and his wife were the directors and editors of Stealing Cars so my job was a little easier than normal. I had to take notes on each take that was shot so when they edit the film later, their process will move faster. I also had to make sure each scene and take were consistent; it’s very easy to get mixed up with props and wardrobe during filming. Everyone on set is so focused on their job t...

The organization I interned with was a banquet furniture manufacturer called Lion’s Wood. They specialize in crafting elegant and functional furniture pieces for the food service industry. Their commitment to blending creativity with functionality resonated with me. They are known for their attention to detail and innovative designs that elevate event spaces. The journey began when I discovered this internship opportunity through MICA Network. After thorough research and preparation, I applied and successfully secured the position. Throughout the internship, the marketing director guided and mentored me. Her expertise in the field, coupled with her willingness to share insights, played a pivotal role in shaping my learning experience. My responsibilities were diverse and hands-on. I learned positions within the company, gained insights into their business model, and dived into the fascinating world of link boxes and induction. I had the opportunity to create new spec sheets for the com...

Danae Industrial 3D Printing is a 3D printing lab run by a MICA Alumni and winner of the MICA START. Originally beginning as a company focused on the creation and design of 3D printed prosthetics, they have since expanded to become a printing and prototyping service with SLA, SLS and FDM capabilities, taking clients from the medical/pharmaceutical industry, large sports companies, and companies on the fortune 500. I found out about this internship and applied for it through the MICA Network’s list of posted internships. The internship was secured through an email application and zoom interview. My direct supervisor was the founder and CEO of the company who oversees the management of the company and works creating processes to improve the workflow of the company, as well as securing production deals with potential clients. My main responsibility was to assist the production floor printing technicians with the slicing, printing and post processing of incoming jobs. Projects I was involv...

This summer I interned for a painter named Tommy Roberts located here in Baltimore at the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower.  I found out about this internship opportunity through one of my fellow peers at MICA.  This was a one on one setup so Tommy gave me instructions and directions the entire time on what was expected of me and what I was supposed to do.  As Tommy’s intern, my tasks included wiring, framing, and hanging canvases all around his studio and outside for display. I also had to create my own type of artwork everyday when I would come in. Lastly I would help Tommy with any little small favors that he may have needed. I am most proud of the works that I created while there, through Tommy's critique, feedback, and lessons. I elevated my artwork to an unbelievable level through the summer.  My biggest takeaway from this experience was that if I truly want to become a self-sufficient artist then I have to be consistent and show up everyday for my craft. I have to be...

Polychrome is an online design studio. The studio creates trend reports and fully repetitive patterns. I found out about this opportunity through an interview the founder did for a fashion podcast. I checked out their design studio and applied. My direct supervisor was the founder of the studio. While working there, I helped with researching fashion trends through fashion websites like Vogue. I pinned pictures to Pinterest boards for different future trends and helped with creating photo mock-ups for pre-existing patterns. Another responsibility I had was creating patterns with Photoshop and Illustrator. I feel proud of my skills in Photoshop and Illustrator, I learned many good digital tricks through this internship experience. My biggest take-away was learning how to keep everything labeled and organized; though I think I still have room for improvement. I feel one important thing about doing pattern design is staying productive, and that needs a well-planned out workflow. I also lea...

AARP is an interest group in the United States that focuses on issues affecting those over the age of fifty. I worked within the ICM (Integrated Communication and Marketing) Department. A professor of mine shared the link to the Publication Design Intern position and along with the application, he connected me to another professor who actually works at the company as a designer who I was able to reach out to with my materials and exchange a few emails. For the most part I worked with the Associate Art Director. Though she was more of my day-to-day supervisor, I worked with several people on different projects. I worked with the Assistant Art Director with The Ethel Newsletter’s social media posts. I was also specifically tasked with designing the International Women’s History Month campaign. There is another newsletter by AARP called the Veteren’s Report for which I was asked to design bi-weekly covers of the stories featured. Additionally, I was trained in the software used by the com...

I knew I was interested in doing some sort of architectural photography work after graduating from MICA, so for my internship I decided to research some architectural photographers in the area. I reached out to a few photographers whose work I liked to see if they would be interested in taking me on as an intern. Fortunately, the first person I reached out to accepted my request.  CPI Productions is a commercial architectural photography company that primarily focuses on larger corporate buildings rather than smaller homes and other real estate. My direct supervisor’s role was head photographer and owner of the company. My day-to-day responsibilities included accompanying my supervisor to on-site photoshoots where I would assist with setting up scenes and camera angles, as well as setting up lighting. I also helped on the post processing side as we went through the editing process of the photographs taken on site.  I am most proud of the work we produced at some of the larger,...

Hamiltonian Artists' mission is to build a dynamic community of innovative artists and effective visual art leaders by providing professional development opportunities and advancing their entrepreneurial success. Through a two-year fellowship program they produce group shows and solo shows to help build a solid foundation for emerging artists. A professor from one of my courses works at Hamiltonian Artists and reached out to me at the end of the course if I would be interested in an internship. During my internship I would report back to my supervisor with tasks I was assigned to and we would discuss program planning for the future. I was involved in a variety of projects like managing donor and board member Thank You letters and learning about the Bloomerang database. I also helped plan programs for kinetic members which is a sales and lending program on cultivating the next generation collectors. The mission of the program is to connect artists and collectors in such ways as cond...

I have been interested in Globe since coming to MICA and I found out about their internship through a letterpress class that I took. My interest in Globe/letterpress is what pushed me to apply for the internship, as I was looking for a way to continue this enjoyment outside of class. Globe started out as a local letterpress shop and poster company, its collection (both posters and type) was bought by MICA in 2011 and has since been used to teach. On top of the collection being used in classes Globe still functions in the poster making world creating posters for different clients and events.  My role at Globe was to help my supervisor with whatever projects needed to be done; whether it be designing/printing posters, packaging online orders, organizing the shop, or setting up for workshops. I have learned the steps for how Globe goes about creating posters, for any given poster we are working on I may help with the digital design work, setting the type, screen printing the backgroun...

Hill Studio is a design and development studio that provides creative, thoughtful and lightly engineered solutions in partnership with companies. They provide sketch concepts, physical prototypes, and 3D models to the clients. The businesses they work with are furniture and lighting manufacturing businesses in North America with some overseas. I was offered this internship by my supervisor, we had already discussed this position over the summer, and I pursued it and continued the conversation before the semester. My direct supervisor is the owner and principal designer of the studio. I’m not able to discuss the details of the projects because I signed an NDA but they range from furniture, lighting, and household products. I helped develop concepts, create 3D models, 3D renderings, and 3D prototypes as well as designing presentation decks to present to clients. I am most proud that one of my designs for a product was approved by the client. I have many key takeaways from my internship, ...

Creative Alliance is a non-profit arts organization with a location in Baltimore, Maryland. They host exhibitions, resident artist programs, workshops, live performances and community events. I found out about this internship opportunity through a MICA Career Fair. There I talked to the someone from Creative Alliance. After our short conversation, I sent my resume and cover letter to apply to the curatorial internship position. I had a second meeting with them and we decided to move forward with the internship.  My supervisor oversaw the operations of exhibitions and its related programming, including managing the resident artist program. The resident artist program is a housing/residency program. Artists apply to the program, pay subsidized fees for housing and studios in the Creative Alliance building and receive professional support and exhibition opportunities in return.  As a resident artist coordinator, I interviewed resident artists about their needs and used this infor...

  The Syndicate is an entertainment marketing agency that focuses on musicians and comedians. They also work in radio promotion. I was working with Dismiss Yourself, an independent record label and one of the people I was working with posted a link to the internship. I applied for the position and did an interview after my application went through. My supervisor was in charge of the design department in the Syndicate. She oversaw the design team and works with the marketing team to make sure that they create compelling work that fulfils The Syndicates' and clients' criteria. My responsibilities were to work with the design and marketing teams to create assets for their clients. we would make videos, posters, social media content, and more for multiple people. I am most proud of the video I made to promote the Guns N’ Roses Mexico tour, I was also very proud of the posters that I made for the Laugh Button Live.  My biggest takeaway was that this would be an ideal kind of job ba...

  Keypair is a security company with blockchain technology and KCMVP-certified products. This internship was introduced to me when I visited Keypair with an artist who is planning to make NFT to ask about NFT. While I was asking some questions about NFT to the CEO, he offered me a design intern position. I thought it would be a great experience so I started my design internship at Keypair. The main project of the company was to upgrade a crypto wallet app. Therefore, we were adding new functions and upgraded them. My direct supervisor is a UI/UX designer/developer and we discussed a lot of the UI/UX design of the app and what can be implemented through code. I was honored to be part of designing the whole UI/UX and visual designs of the app. I am most proud to see my designs on an app that everyone can use. My biggest takeaway from this is that I learned more depth about software, such as Figma, Illustrator, and After Effects. The most important thing that I learned from this inter...

  I had the honor of interning with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History as an animator, creating an animated film that will be a part of the temporary exhibit Cellphone: Unseen Connections that opened up in June 2023. The exhibit discusses everything from how cell phones are made from raw, earthly materials to how we can help the environment by repairing our phones instead of constantly replacing and upgrading them. My biggest takeaway from this experience is that working with a professional team for a creative project is incredibly valuable and fruitful, as every member has something very different to offer and their own unique perspective. I also appreciated how much everybody genuinely cared about the message and purpose of the film. When working collaboratively, the most important thing I learned was how to translate the core team’s ideas and words into visuals that they approve of. They helped me push my own ideas and also gave me some of their own to work with ...

  Imagine This Women's International Film Festival aims to empower women and non-binary filmmakers worldwide. They promote these great filmmakers so that more people can see women's power and provide them with educational and professional opportunities. I found this opportunity through LinkedIn. It's the first time I have tried social networking with unfamiliar people. For this internship, I did a virtual interview with my supervisor, and she told me I got the Graphic Designer position after one week. We had a total of 4 Graphic Design interns working together. We all work through a platform called Asana. Every week we have a virtual meeting for 30 mins. Sometimes it's 1 hour. We also share our progress on different projects so we can easily get suggestions from others. For this position, my major duties included: ● Opening Credits(Typography Animation) for the 7th Annual Imagine This Women's International Film Festival ● Sales for tickets Motion Graphics ● Design ...