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internships
TEXT BY ELLEN LUPTON AND TANVI SHARMA
Internships provide crucial work experience and can sometimes lead to job offers or lasting professional relationships. Design internships are offered by studios, publishing companies, and marketing agencies as well as by in-house design departments at corporations, universities, hospitals, and community organizations. Internships aren’t just for students; many entry-level design positions are posted as temporary internships. A design intern might have to run errands and take notes as well as perform an endless array of digital duties—from scanning and photo retouching to drawing logos and tweaking type.
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In many countries, including the US, com- mercial businesses are required to pay interns. In the US, exceptions are made when students receive college credit for the internship. (In this problematic situa- tion, students pay tuition for doing work that benefits a business or organization.) Interns may be paid a stipend or honorar- ium lower than the minimum wage; some companies cover transportation.
Unpaid internships do have defenders.
In the opinion of product designer Karim Rashid, working for free as an intern is more beneficial to the worker then paying tuition to a university. Hosting an intern takes time and effort. Inexperienced interns need guidance. Internships can help less- skilled workers to enter the field.
Although US law allows not-for-profit organizations to offer unpaid internships, the practice is controversial. In 2019, the American Association of Art Museum Direc- tors (AAMD) encouraged museums to pay all interns because unpaid positions favor people from prosperous backgrounds.
Tanvi Sharma shares her experience as an intern here and on the following pages. The pressure on students to find intern- ships can be overwhelming. Be open to other experiences as well, such as commu- nity service, activism, writing and publish- ing, or teaching kids at a local school.
Tanvi Sharma explains how to get the most from an internship
> The network of designers and artists you have been exposed to in any capacity is a good place to start looking for an internship. If someone isn’t advertising open positions, e-mail them anyway.
> Reach out to people in the industry who were in your position a couple of years ago.
I was fortunate enough to have peers who could recommend me for internships that they ended up turning down.
> During your internship, request time with your advisor to have conversations about your personal growth and trajectory.
> If you can, take up personal projects on the side that align with what’s going on in your workplace. Ask for feedback.
> Conduct short, informal interviews with people you are meeting at work and learn what you can in casual conversations.
Ask questions. Connect with these new colleagues on social media and stay in touch. Your future self will thank you.
> I invited some friends to start a collaborative spreadsheet where we could keep each other accountable for follow-ups. Your peers will have your back.