Packaging and Promotional Materials Design
Tyler
Experience Information
Employer: Natural Earth Paint
Job Title: Graphic Designer
Major: Art & Design
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: No
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Natural Earth Paint is a small woman-owned and family-run business located in Oregon. The company is dedicated to the production and distribution of certified eco friendly, naturally sourced, and safe art supplies from fine art to kidsý projects. Their products are available for order on their site and via select art supply stores across the globe. Natural Earth Paintýs mission is to support sustainability and provide green alternatives to traditional supplies and packaging.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
My role at Natural Earth Paint during my internship included updating and designing packaging and labels, as well as making promotional materials for print and the web. I communicated closely with the founder of the company to design materials that matched the aesthetic of the existing branding. I designed files for print, using the specifications of the printer as needed.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
I learned about communication first and foremost. Designing for a company with an existing brand and mission is much different than designing for fictional businesses as homework. Sometimes there were lots of rounds of feedback and updating the design according to the creative input of others. I also learned about professionalism as it relates to utilizing web resources and paying attention to small details that could impact the business. Lastly, I gained much needed experience preparing files for distribution and printing in a print shop.
Favorite Part of the Experience
The most rewarding part was being able to see some of the final results as finished products on the Natural Earth Paint website. I also very much enjoyed being able to work on multiple projects over the course of the internship, from small labels to larger graphics where I had creative freedom.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
This experience has confirmed that the best fit for me would be designing for a small local business, as has always been my goal. I appreciated the ability to communicate directly with the owner, and work with a single existing brand over the course of the summer.
Internship Format
Remote/Virtual