Enhancing Creative Abilities within Professional Spheres
### Graphic Design Student Gains Real-World Experience through Internship at My Voice Media Center
Sally Alawadi, a BFA in Graphic Design student, recently completed an internship with the My Voice Media Center, a project of Tulare County, California's Designated Arts Council since 2014. The internship provided her with a wealth of practical experience, working on a variety of projects and honing her skills in a professional environment.
Alawadi's internship involved problem-solving, teamwork, and communication, as she worked towards deadlines and collaborated with professional designers. During her tenure, she worked on the virtual gallery for the My Voice Media Center, designing a poster called "Sunshine and Rebirth" and editing pages on the organization's website.
In addition to these projects, Alawadi also worked on brochures, site plans, advertising, postcards, proposals, presentations, templates, maintenance websites, annual projects, event signage, magazine, catalog, and more. This diverse range of tasks allowed her to apply design principles in client-driven contexts, enhancing her problem-solving and creativity under real-world constraints.
The internship process in a BFA Graphic Design program is a structured, supervised experience that builds on prior coursework. Students must complete foundational and intermediate graphic design courses before applying for internships and generally need to be juniors or seniors in the major. The internship placement must be in a professional environment approved by the program director or faculty, such as an ad agency, museum, or design firm.
The BFA program at the unspecified institution includes an innovative DEG 410 Internship and Entrepreneurship class developed by Dr. Meryl Epstein. This class offers students the opportunity to earn credit while gaining professional experience with clients and employers.
Alawadi was motivated to study graphic design and to study online at the unspecified institution due to her hobbies and desire for a degree in art, as well as her friend's recommendation. Her creative background includes drawing and oil painting, and she had a history in computer programming.
The My Voice Media Center offers free art training sessions to adults who have first-hand or second-hand experience with mental health crises. For those interested in the Sessions BFA in Graphic Design program, visitors can talk to an Admissions Advisor for more information. Alawadi is open to the possibility of working with the My Voice Media Center again post-graduation, demonstrating the potential for internships to lead to long-term professional opportunities.
[1] BYU-Idaho Academics: Graphic Design Program. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2023, from
[2] Epstein, M. (n.d.). DEG 410 Internship and Entrepreneurship. Retrieved February 24, 2023, from
[3] Sessions College for Professional Design: Graphic Design Degree Program. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2023, from
[4] The Graphic Design Internship Guide. (2021, October 13). Retrieved February 24, 2023, from
- Sally Alawadi, a BFA in Graphic Design student, participated in education-and-self-development by completing an internship at My Voice Media Center, which enhanced her skills-training and provided practical experience for career-development in a professional setting.
- Alawadi's graphic design projects during her internship, such as designing the "Sunshine and Rebirth" poster and editing pages on the organization's website, were a part of her online-education, offering her the chance to apply design principles in client-driven contexts and gain real-world Problem-solving experience.
- Students pursuing a BFA in Graphic Design, like Alawadi, benefit from structured, supervised internships that are a crucial part of their education, often involving problem-solving, teamwork, and collaboration with professionals in the field, and contributing to their overall learning and career development.
