Designing the Future: Insights from an Agency Internship
We’re big believers in nurturing young talent and Reech was lucky enough to welcome Hannah to the agency this Summer. Hannah is studying Graphic Design at The University of Edinburgh and was looking for some hands-on experience in a busy, full-service marketing agency. We sat down with Hannah to hear more about her experience.
The Interview
What’s your background so far? Education, work experience?
I was always very interested in Fine Art, and considered pursuing it as a career until I attended an open day at Shrewsbury Colleges group for Graphic Design and I fell in love with the course. I ended up finishing my A Levels with grades of A*AA and was lucky to be offered a place at Edinburgh College of Art, The University of Edinburgh for the BA (Hons) Graphic Design course. I have been studying in Edinburgh for three years now whilst working at River Island and I will be progressing into my final year of study this September.
What were your goals for the internship?
As part of my course, it’s essential that I gain some experience of working in an agency and also to give me an insight into working in the Graphic Design industry after graduating university. Reech stood out to me, not only because of the exciting projects that they work on, but also because they are a marketing agency and I hoped to learn not only about the designers but also about the other teams working at Reech and how they all work together to generate successful rebrands. I also hoped to learn a variety of new Graphic Design and team collaboration skills, to enhance my progression as a designer.
What have you been up to during your time at Reech?
Before coming to Reech, I was not fully confident with my branding design work as I had previously favoured a more illustrative style but after being at Reech for a month, I am considering pursuing branding design as I can combine both my illustration style with my digital skills. The design team had set me a brief to create my own rebrand for a tech company. From completing this project, I have noticed that my design skills have excelled due to George teaching me further skills and technical details about logo design. I have also been given the chance to present my work twice which gave me a true insight into presenting to a client. Working on this project within the agency environment has been really inspiring, and I have found that through the support of everyone, I have produced designs more efficiently and confidently.
What software or tools did you use most frequently?
As I was completing a design brief, I have been using Adobe software such as Illustrator, Photoshop and Indesign. I also completed some illustration work in response to the tech branding brief, so I did use my own sketchbook as a tool, including enhancing my designs on Procreate. George also introduced me to a mockup tool called “Envato Elements” which allowed me to create a realistic stationery suite design that I included in my final brand presentation.
What was the most surprising thing you learned about the industry?
I had been told in University lectures that when applying for an agency, you need to make sure that they are the right agency for you as a designer. Since being at Reech, I have learnt how important their own values are to them, and how every member of the agency reflects these attributes. For work to be successful, team collaboration is essential so being comfortable working in the agency environment is vital.
What advice would you give to future interns in a similar position?
The advice I would give is to be confident and do not be afraid to make mistakes – you need to make mistakes to allow you to learn off the experienced team around you. Do not be afraid to ask questions, gather every bit of advice and information you can. I have found that after learning all of this knowledge, my design confidence has progressed massively so it is important to really make the most of your internship as this will prepare you for the future industry.
How did this internship influence your career goals or perspective on graphic design?
This past year I had been feeling overwhelmed about who I am as a designer, and which avenue of design I would like to pursue. After completing this internship, I now feel confident that I enjoy the branding side of Graphic Design and that working as a designer in a marketing agency will most likely be a career goal. This internship has made me love Graphic Design even more because I can now see how collaborating with an Agency team allows me to merge all areas of my creativity into a final refined design.
Looking ahead
We’re also excited to announce that our Creative Director Dena Evans will also become Hannah’s official mentor in her final year of study. Dena shared “It’s been amazing to see the work Hannah has produced over the past few months and we’re really seen her skills and approach evolve with the support of the team. I’m absolutely delighted to be Hannah’s mentor as she completes her final year at University and look forward to help guide her towards her future career.
If you’ve got a creative project in mind and want to chat to our talented team of designers and creatives, get in touch today.
