Graphic design interns build portfolios while helping CWU departments

Every summer, a growing number of CWU graphic design students are given an opportunity to hone their skills as interns in a variety of departments on campus.

The ART 490 class, led by Art + Design Professor David Bieloh, helps students prepare for their careers by working alongside professionals in the Office of Marketing and Communications, the Publicity Center, University Advancement, the Music department, Athletics, and others.

About a dozen current students and recent graduates are working as interns on campus this summer, while others are lending their expertise to companies and organizations in Ellensburg and elsewhere in Washington.

ART 490 is intended for junior and senior Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) majors specializing in graphic design, and participants are required to complete between 200 work hours (five credits) and 400 work hours (10 credits) during the summer quarter.

Graduating senior Laura Allen has been working as an intern in the Publicity Center for the past two months, overseeing project management and client communication with various CWU departments.

Her duties include planning and hosting client meetings, communicating with clients and third-party vendors, and designing a wide array of visual communications. She is also responsible for coordinating cost estimates from clients while simultaneously managing demanding project deadlines.

“This full-time summer internship has taught me how to hold client meetings, communicate with clients and third-party vendors over email,” Allen said. “I also obtain estimates for project deliverables and prioritize and manage multiple projects and project deadlines simultaneously."

Throughout her internship, Allen has seen the differences between in-class classroom learning and a professional work environment. Unlike her in-class projects, where she only needs to present theoretical project briefs, she now must figure out what her clients need, consider their needs and interests, carefully weigh the project costs, and create the final deliverables.

“I’m working with real-world clients across the university’s departments, and I’m actively communicating with them to realize their vision for a given promotional campaign for an event or a specific department,” Allen said. “I’m also learning how to get estimates for different deliverables from third-party vendors we’re working with, such as Abbott Printing, Wildcat Printing, and Sticker Mule."

Professor Bieloh emphasizes the significance of the difference between school work and professional work because it allows students to broaden their technical skills while learning how to communicate with other designers and contribute to a team environment.

“We would hope that students would go work for an employer and do things for that employer that are just outside the bounds of what we would normally do in the classroom," he said. "I see it as a transitional period for students. It gives them an opportunity to transition from the academic environment to the full-time employment environment."

Hands-On Experience

Allen’s classmate Alex Littman — also a graduating senior — is working as an intern for Auxiliary Marketing in the CWU Office of Marketing and Communications. The professional experience she has gained thus far has been unforgettable, although she admits to being scared and anxious at first. But her experience this summer ended up exceeding her expectations.

"At first, the idea of being in such a professional and organized setting was really nerve-wracking, but after the first few days I really settled in and enjoyed the process and working alongside my co-workers," Littman said. "The Auxiliary Marketing department here at Central has really welcomed me with open arms and has made an effort to make me feel comfortable."

Littman has learned that the summer internship is not merely about completing the work; it also requires strong communication skills that contribute to the exchange of feedback and ideas with colleagues during every stage of the creative process.  

"It has made me gain confidence, not only in my own design abilities but also in my communication skills," she said.

Similarly, Allen has also noticed progress in her professional development. As she works directly with clients, handles multiple problems, and collaborates with colleagues, she is able to sharpen her conceptualization skills, while reinforcing her problem-solving abilities.

"I have become very comfortable asking for feedback and creative direction from my coworkers in my office and from the clients I’m working with," she said. "By sitting in on client meetings and directly emailing clients with my ideas, sketches, drafts, and final designs, I am more confident in my ability to effectively and professionally communicate with clients to learn and meet their marketing needs."

As Professor Bieloh highlighted, the graphic design summer internships train students to manage varying workloads and prepare themselves for constructive criticism while helping them build resilience that will help them collaborate better with professional designers.

"I always tell them their portfolio is a big part of it, and we can teach students how to build amazing portfolios," Bieloh said. "But learning how to be a good coworker, learning how to be professional, and punctual — those things are critical."

Exploring the World of Design

Several CWU departments, such as Athletics, invite their graphic design interns to work remotely, which the students have enjoyed.

Daniel Walton originally was concerned that working online wouldn’t be as beneficial as working in person, but he has been pleased with the practical experience he has gained. One reason is that the Athletics Department offers students the opportunities to explore new areas of graphic design that might not be covered in their coursework.

Walton shared that this internship experience has gradually drawn him toward a sports design specialization. Along the way, he has been able to learn more technical programs, such as After Effects and Blender.

He explained that learning to utilize these tools is challenging at first because sport design has visually bold and flexible standards. At the same time, he feels like he has come a long way thanks to his training in the CWU Graphic Design program.

"While I was intimidated initially, I found that many of the important design fundamentals taught by professors like David Bieloh provided me with a great foundation to work from," Walton said.

These obstacles unexpectedly steered Walton toward new professional interests. Plus, his internship has helped him expand and optimize his creative capacities, while helping him enrich his portfolio.

"By providing me the time and encouragement to explore a wider range of styles and programs, I've realized that motion graphics and dynamic design is the path I want to follow," he said.

Beyond Designing Graphics

Another graphic design intern working in CWU Athletics, Ethan Magnaghi, said he has cherished the opportunity because he is passionate about sports design and has always wanted to work for a professional sports organization.

This summer has taught him that working in Athletics is not only learning about visual creation or design; it’s also about enhancing the appearance of the CWU Athletics brand and generating social media design materials.

“We’re not just making graphics because they look good; we’re helping present these athletes and their stories in the best way possible," Magnaghi said. "In today’s sports landscape, that can play a role in things like recruiting, NIL (“name, image and likeness”) opportunities, and player retention.”

The internship has taught Magnaghi that being a successful designer entails more than just theoretical knowledge or mere creative ability. It often comes down to a designer’s ability to maximize the productivity of communication, accuracy, and brand awareness.

"I learned how to communicate my ideas, take direction, ask questions when I needed to, and make sure the work was serving the larger goals of the department," he said.

Another takeaway was learning the significance of upholding the balance between expanding personal creativity while following the established visual identity standards of CWU Athletics.

"It taught me that being a good designer isn’t always about changing everything — it’s about understanding what is already working, knowing when to push it, and finding ways to make it better," Magnaghi said. "I think that will be something I carry with me when I eventually join a new team or organization."

Looking Toward the Future

Although these intern students work in different departments at CWU, they all say their work experience has helped them develop a new vision and gain insight into the world of graphic design.

Serving as an intern on campus has helped many of them discover more career potential and identify which aspects of graphic design they want to pursue.

For Magnaghi, the internship has trained him to work in a professional and fast-paced dynamic environment, while giving him more confidence in his abilities and gearing up for the future.

"More than anything, this experience has given me confidence,” he said. “I know that I can contribute to a professional creative team, handle responsibility, and continue growing as a designer. I’m excited to take everything I’ve learned at CWU Athletics and apply it to whatever comes next in my career."

For his part, Professor Bieloh is proud to see the growth and confidence his students have gained through their summer internships.

"I do see confidence levels improve all the time," he said. "I think the challenges are greater because of AI and uncertainty. But at least the internship allows them to go out and work for someone. They realize somebody values their work, and somebody needs their creativity."