INTERNSHIP STORIES

Animation Internship at a Studio I found out about this internship through my friend who started working there before me, and she had recommended this internship to me because we are both majoring in animation. I secured it by applying through their website, and I had a short interview with the head of the studio where we agreed I would start working this fall.  Animation Libation Studios is a small animation-focused studio that is currently working on producing a couple TV shows, and amongst each team there are character, background, and prop designers, animators, and story boarders. My direct supervisor was in charge of overseeing all of the productions on the show, and meets weekly with each team to check up and give feedback on our progress, as well as keep us up to speed on what we need to work on to meet our schedule deadlines. My responsibilities involved mostly background art, with some prop design. The TV show I am working on is called Champions of Eternity, which is an a...

I heard of this opportunity through my illustration professor. I was really excited for this opportunity so I quickly created a tailored portfolio and submitted my application with my fingers crossed. I was really hoping to get accepted because this internship sounded like a great opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and collaborate with other artists. About six weeks later, I got an email and I signed an acceptance form. I worked with several other interns. We had three advisors who taught us a lot about professionalism and ecology and helped by giving critiques throughout the process. The organization we partnered with is the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and our point of contact was a BLM archaeologist. Our point of contact worked with 30+ Native American tribes to protect and sustain public lands and foster an interest in our national heritag e. Our group traveled to Dolores, Colorado, to experience the land for ourselves and make signs for the park that would withstand th...

I found this opportunity when I reached out last year to a MICA Alum whose most recent position was at MacMillan, but completed the Barefoot Books internship in the past. I wanted more insight into the publishing industry and she had indicated that the program was a valuable experience. I submitted my website portfolio, made it through the final interview rounds where I highlighted my improvement over the year within my work, how I have researched the company and what I could contribute to them all while highlighting my passion to make a difference in the publishing industry. I got my offer letter about a week later. Barefoot Books is an independent children's book publisher based in Concord MA whose mission is to publish books that open kids' hearts, minds and worlds. There is a strong encouragement and advocacy for more representational diversity and educational concepts within the books they publish. My responsibilities included designing graphics for marketing and promotio...

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 o...

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 th...