Gateway Technical College
Racine Campus
1001 South Main Street
Racine, WI 53403
204-114
Internship and Portfolio Development
Instructor: Susan Hanneman
Office: R238 Number: 619-6438
Course Description
Students will focus on an area of interest in the graphic design field through a match with an appropriate employer. This match can be directed by the student or the instructor. The student will meet with the instructor to discuss job issues and assist in the development of a student portfolio. Career exploration and networking will also be discussed with a focus on the professional development of the individual student.
Competencies
1. Work at a company or firm gaining on the job training in an area of interest, in the field of graphic design or print production.
2. Develop a professional, polished portfolio, using work from previous courses as well as work created on the job.
3. Create additional samples for a portfolio as needed.
4. Understand networking and discuss how to make business connections.
5. Display professional behavior in a business environment.
6. Identify and describe careers in the graphic design field.
7. Develop individual talents and career interests through on-the-job experiences.
8. Reevaluate and update resume.
9. Evaluate internship experience.
Class Procedures
Deadlines:
All assignments must be turned in on time without exceptions. Grades will be lowered 20% for each week they are late. To receive an A in this class, every assignment must be turned in on time.
Professional Behavior:
An internship is an important part of your development as a graphic design student. It is also an opportunity to observe and participate in workflow in a real setting, as opposed to a structured classroom experience. Your professional behavior in this setting will effect your overall experience greatly. Some basic rules of behavior include:
• Be on time and discuss any unexpected changes in hours with your supervisor.
• Dress appropriately—be sure to observe what others are wearing.
• Exhibit professional behavior and ethics at all times.
• Observe confidentiality when necessary—some employer and client information, especially when in the planning stages, may be confidential.
• Ask questions! Don’t try to complete a job blindly if you don’t understand the parameters.
• Contact your instructor immediately if your internship goals change, or you or you supervisor become confused regarding your goals and objectives.
• Remember that a designer’s job is not all glamour and creativity. Many of you will be asked to perform what you might consider menial tasks, like running errands and collating. These are all parts of working as a team, and to some degree paying your dues.
Grades
Grades will be based on a percentage of total points (90% and
higher =A, 80 % = B, 70% = C, and so on.) Total points available
are 100. Class participation will be valued at 20 points. Sharing our experiences will help us learn from one another.
Assignments
Work Journal (20 points)
Journals will be completed by students over the course of the semester, to be turned in during the last class period. Students will include the date for each internship session, an evaluation of what they learned during that session and details including what new software tricks they learned, design ideas etc… It will also be helpful to the instructor if you note what aspects on the job you were unprepared for (in other words, we did not cover the material in your previous classes. Each entry should consist of 3-4 good paragraphs. When the journals are complete, they should be typed and submitted.
Employer Evaluation of Intern (40 points)
All students will submit the evaluation form, provided by the instructor, to their employer. This form proves that the student performed 64 hours of work and evaluates performance. Students are responsible for having this form completed by the employer before May 20th. It must be turned in with all other materials on that date. An evaluation of your performance as an intern measures your potential as an entry level employee in the graphic design field.
Career Paper (20 points)
A 3-4 page paper will be completed by all students. This paper should include research on job opportunities in the graphic design field, personal career goals, and evaluation of your own individual talents.
Portfolio (20 points)
Portfolio will consist of 8–10 pieces of your best design work. This can include work from previous classes, work completed during your internship or any other design related jobs that you had a part in creating. Portfolios will be presented and critiqued during class.
Resume (20 points) Electronic Resume (10 points)
Your complete and ready to use resume will be critiqued during the first few weeks of class.
Contacts list (10 points)
All students will develop a list of at least 10 contacts/sources. This provides a network for professional questions once you are on the job for real! Do the research now and you won’t panic later. This list will be typed and turned in to the instructor on May 20th.
Course Outline
Week 1• Review syllabus
• Where to intern?
Week 2 • Professional ethics & behavior
• Careers available in Graphic Design
• Distribute Employer evaluation forms
Week3 • Resume workshop—bring your existing resume
Week 4 • Portfolio workshop—bring your best samples!
• Resume due
Week5 • Portfolio due
• Career exploration
• Discuss career paper
Week 6 • Share internship experiences
Week 7 • Present and critique portfolios & resumes
Week 8 • Open lab
Week 9 • Open lab
Week 10 • Career paper due
Week 11 • All students must be placed at an appropriate site by this date!
Week 12 • Open lab
Week 13 • Open lab
Week 14 • Discussion—what have you learned so far?
• Share examples of design work from internships.
Week 15 • Open lab
Week 16 • Last class period! • Work journal due
• Employer Evaluation due • Contact list due