Well, this is a timely question, as with recent restructuring it’s changed a bit. The organization just completed a planning process that resulted in a new business model, and a new name and identity will be established in the coming months (we’ll likely hire or seek out pro bono services for the core identity work). We have a new Development & Communications Director; my position supports this work and has absorbed some routine marketing for our training program—it’s now pretty production heavy. I was hoping for more actual design opportunities, but we’re in limbo right now with a new identity on the way. And with more lay-offs, priorities have shifted (e.g., we’re not producing our catalog).
A little background: One of our programs is an association of nonprofits in Oregon; as part of the new direction the association will become the umbrella for the organization, under which all other programs will fall. This program was launched in 2007 with its own logo and we didn’t have a strategy/system for managing the two identities. Hence our communication of the two identities was super challenged and as a result there was a high level of brand/audience confusion.
From a communications/marketing standpoint, it’s a really exciting time. We’re thinking I should focus my efforts (as they relate to the internship) toward streamlining the look/feel of our existing communications to establish a foundation for the new identity. We’re starting with the basics—e.g., developing a style guide (underway), using fonts consistently, streamlining email signatures, archiving our head-spinning number of logo variations, and setting up an organized file structure (for graphics). I’ve been taking more time to test and understand how our various file formats function in different application (e.g., MS Word, InDesign, PDF), and how these applications interact with our printer. Through this I’m learning about color management, font types, characteristics of paper, and printer troubleshooting. And I’m also getting a sense of how to design for in-house and low-cost printing (e.g., no bleeds, and using one spot color with screen tints rather than two spot colors).
While I was looking forward to more actual design work, I have a hunch that learning the production end of things in this way will strengthen design work later on. And I imagine this experience will be especially important for freelance gigs—where there’s no one else to figure it out.
Hard Skills: Technical skills, administrative skills
Use of constant contact for mass email delivery; mailing list management; use Drupal to create web content; basic HTML; copy writing and editing; use of PhotoShop, InDesign, Illustrator; working with images and graphic editing; typography and layout; print production; file management.
Soft Skills: People skills, communication skills
Organization, attention to detail, strong work ethic, team-orientation as well as self-direction.
Other: Describe
Positive attitude. With a leadership/directional transition that’s been happening for nearly two years in the midst of a recession, there’s been a lot of uncertainty. Having a good attitude helps lighten things up.
Tasks performed and hours worked
3 hours, 2/2
Revised the ETS one-pager
Finalized membership form, trouble-shoot the indesign > adobe PDF > printer issue; recreated in word (defeated!)
1.5 hours, 2/3
Reformat e-communication template and funder logo blocks for Fiscal Managers Assn.
3.5 hours, 2/4
Develop DataBook order form
Format ppt slide for presentation
4 hours, 2/5
Finalized and printed ETS one-pager
Revised benefits matrix
Finalized DataBook form
Printed all
So here are some of the forms I’ve been working on. They were created in Word so that other staff can easily update. And also in part because I was having such a hard time with the printing of documents created in inDesign.
- One-page info sheet for our Executive Transition Services program (eventually these one-page info sheets will exist for each program; be one of a system)
- Order form for a publication
- Membership form
- Member Benefit Matrix