I am planning to set up internships and mentorships for design program students. This would be open to GDC student members (as interns/mentees) and professional GDC members (as intern supervisors/mentors). The student would also have to go through a regular interview/portfolio process with any possible supervisor or mentor. There should be a good personality fit between student and mentor, and students have to show aptitude via their portfolio. I will post more information as I progress, but meanwhile comments and suggestions are welcome.

Some of my goals in the next 3 months:
— create guidelines for both students and businesses
— plan an online sign-up form/questionnaire for both students and businesses
— match up student with businesses
— be available to sort out issues and questions and modify this program as needed

1. sigrid Says:
   February 13th, 2006 at 4:19 pm

   Here’s a bit more of what I’m thinking of.

   Mentorships would go on for a duration of 1 year minimum. The student and his/her mentor would meet once a month for 1 - 2 hours max. There could also be some email and phone contact, on an informal schedule.

   Internships would be 1 - 3 months in length, and be unpaid, or have a nominal payment (maybe $500 - 1,000 max). I see these as happening mostly in the summer months, although some schools may wish to incorporate a short internship into their curriculum. Internships could also be extended to students who have graduated, in fact, it would be best if students in their final year could do an internship, as they will have developed a minimum skill set by then.

   Thoughts?

2. Dale Simonson Says:
   May 13th, 2006 at 7:24 pm

   In a recent article on SpeakUp, Kenneth FitzGerald writes he was inspired by Ambrose Bierce’s classic 1911 book, “The Devil’s Dictionary” to conceive a dictionary that defines term of common usage in the practice of graphic design: “… using a word that pointed to a meaning wholly at odds with the dictionary definition. They were code words, doubletalk. I imagined making a small volume of terms and my alternate definitions. It would be called The Printer’s Devil’s Dictionary.”

   In the comments on the article, Jason Tselentis proposes the following definition:

   internship n. [Real World, neuter of wage-based job] 1. an environment where designers learn how to take orders from clients 2. an expansive limbo that exists between academics and private practice, especially for persons wanting an excuse to leave school early 3. work that is easier than school, but done under harder conditions with greater constraints 4. slavery 5. what every young designer wants before they realize what they’re getting into; “I really thought that internship would let me get my design into the world, but then I found out I had to actually work with other people and share ideas.” [syn: thrall, exploitation, subjugation]

   Humorous, but true?

3. john becks mentoring america Says:
   November 17th, 2006 at 9:33 pm

   I’ve many goals regarding my business and all kind of stuffs about which iam doing marketing like,and above points are making my steps much adequate,thanks for this.

4. Danielle Says:
   March 26th, 2007 at 11:40 am

   As a student i’m finding it impossible to find out which design firms even offer internship. So far i know of Ion Design, who has been working with intern since the 80’s. i’ve searched the net, and nothing.
   Can any list a few more places for me, please?

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