This is a series dedicated to highlighting the insights our students gained during their internships.
Name: Sarah Hogg, Department of Art & Art History Graphic Design Emphasis
Internship: I interned with the Salt Lake City Sustainability Department, or SLCGreen, the summer of 2019.
What responsibilities did you have as an intern?
I wrote and designed informational assets for the department, and wrote posts for SLCGreen’s blog about current events in sustainability in the community. I also tabled at local events such as the farmer’s market, Partners in the Park, and Craft Lake City. At those events I engaged with members of the community on various local issues in sustainability.
What new skills/knowledge did you gain from your internship?
I worked on design projects and was able to have valuable back and forth conversations like I would with a client. Of course, I learned a ton about sustainability and also about local government which was a world I was unfamiliar with but was really interesting to learn about and experience.
What connections did you make and how do you think those connections may help you in your career?
I was able to meet many different members of the community, from other interns/students studying everything from creative writing to public health, to employees in local government, to many involved in sustainability. I hope to incorporate sustainability into my work as a designer in the future, and these are connections I would have never made in the design program alone.
What advice would you give other students who are interested in a similar internship?
Don’t be afraid to apply and put yourself out there, and just express your passion. It’s easy to feel underqualified or scary to expose yourself and your work, but most people realize you’re just starting out. You’re there to learn and gain experience. Also, showing enthusiasm goes a long way. Just being able to articulate specifically what you’re interested in and why will have a huge impact on people.
How did your internship compliment your arts education?
A big part of design is visual communication, knowing how to best convey a message through imagery and visuals. During my internship not only was I able to practice my design skills, but I also created written content and spoke face to face with members of the community about sustainability. All of these different methods of communication combined gave me a really well-rounded experience in connecting with people.
Are there other thing you would like to tell us?
I only became interested in sustainability after working on a design project for class about plastic recycling. This piqued my interest enough to apply for this internship, which turned out to be a wonderful experience. I would definitely encourage students to explore any other passions or interests they might have. College is uniquely suited for learning and exploring different subjects. Even if your interests don’t directly relate to what you’re studying, I think it’s worthwhile to take the time to explore and engage with other interests you have or might stumble upon. As artists we often have the creative abilities and opportunities to combine different themes or topics into our work in unexpected ways.
