Junior year at Tulane…the year that many people go abroad, and most students move off campus. To my surprise, it is also the year that everyone somehow lines up their summer internship months in advance. This came as a shock for me as the summer rapidly approached, and my plans remained largely unknown. After applying to what felt like a million but was realistically a few dozen internships, I finally secured one that fit everything I wanted. I landed the role of Graphic Design Intern at Rumored, an uber-fashionable, East Coast-inspired women’s online clothing brand. It was fully remote, which meant I could travel throughout the summer- combining my love of fashion with graphic design and doing it with the freedom to go to the beach whenever I wanted. Sign me up!
Not only did my internship end up being the ideal structure for me, but I cannot emphasize how much I learned about design, running a business, and teamwork. Luckily, my learning doesn’t have to stop quite yet, because I am staying on with Rumored as a Junior Designer and Social Media Assistant while I finish my senior year here at Tulane! Here are a few of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned during my time at Rumored:
1.Take the initiative to try new things
Some of the work that I’m most proud of from my internship are the email graphics I asked to work on after admiring the ones my supervisor had created. Of course, I loved making Instagram stories and the other projects I was working on, but I was also eager to try email designs and made them a big part of my final project towards the end of my internship. Taking the initiative and showing interest in trying new things in your work is a sign of a diligent intern and a great trait to have in any role!
2. Ask questions!
During my Zoom calls with Kelly, our Creative Director, and my supervisor, I am always sure to ask questions about her design process and write down important, helpful, and applicable information in my notes. This is the best way I learn tips and tricks about the Adobe apps I use every day, especially coming from someone who knows them much better than I do and has valuable experience I can learn from. I’ve noticed that my designs have become much more professional in the few short months I’ve done this!
3. Less can be more
Since designing for Rumored, I’ve realized that a more minimal, simple design can sometimes be much more effective than an overcrowded one or one doing too much with color. This is especially true regarding the aesthetics of the Rumored clothing imagery – it’s essential for the clothes to stand out and be the focus! My style has definitely changed since working here, and it helped me realize that the product or topic that you’re selling as a designer should be the primary focus.
4. Communication is key
Throughout my internship, I was able to see how important communication is in running a business. At Rumored, we use the platform “Slack,” which allows for messaging on a wide range of topics to reach each other throughout the work day quickly. Everyone resolves any issues easily this way and has open communication – making teamwork and adding new team members seamless.
5. Learn from your feedback
When I submit my designs to receive feedback from the other team members, I always note what I need to change so that the next time I work on a similar project, I’ll know how best to complete it! This is the best way I have learned and grown as a designer while also doing the best job and delivering better, more efficient work on future projects.
About Izzy Kallen
Izzy is a junior at Tulane majoring in English and Design, originally from Washington, DC! In addition to writing for the Crescent, she loves graphic design, baking, painting, and most of all, shopping (especially for a good sale!)
Izzy is a junior at Tulane majoring in English and Design, originally from Washington, DC! In addition to writing for the Crescent, she loves graphic design, baking, painting, and most of all, shopping (especially for a good sale!)
