Why Sprockets is the Best Deal In Town
As someone that has worked multiple internships over the years I am no stranger to “paying my dues” and “working my way up”, both practices that in my opinion are far too similar to the hazing that occurs every spring in your local fraternity/sorority house. I have washed dishes, taken out the trash, walked dogs and cleaned the office, all things that had nothing to do what so ever with my degree in graphic design, but I was told that this was what had to be done so I played along and in the end learned how to make a damn fine cup of coffee instead of how to be a better designer.
This all changed last summer when I became a Sprocket at Spoke. Sure I made coffee and took out the trash but I was also given multiple client projects (real clients, not making t-shirts for my bosses) to work on, and by work on I don’t mean shoved in a corner and never given any direction, I was given help every step of the way. The guys here at Spoke even let me talk one on one with clients and actually micro-manage some of the projects we Sprockets were working on, something that is virtually unheard of in my experience. Not only were the graphic design interns given real world experience but the marketing intern was able to experience what working in a real agency was like, both the good (working with clients) and the bad (doing research).
By the time my summer internship came to an end I had not only learned valuable skills in dealing with clients as well as some shiny new things to put in my portfolio from some big names in the community, but I had also built a relationship with my bosses that I had never had before. In the end I managed to hang around long enough that they offered me a job, which I promptly took, and I have never looked back. I hate to use the phrase “I love my job” or “I jump out of bed every morning” but I actually do like my job, what’s better than working all day with friends and always being in close proximity to a fully stocked bar, which you are encouraged to take advantage of, to a certain point.
If you want a real world experience in which you will spend most of the summer doing actual work and only making the occasional cup of coffee then the Sprockets program is for you.
Oh yeah, and did I mention that they actually pay you?
Some of the work done by past Sprockets:
The Mission Continues: Creation of complete new visual identity including a new logo, brochure and newsletters.
Cancer Support Community: Created a marketing plan, re-design of their newsletter and creation of posters to increase awareness of their programs.
Blessing Basket: Refreshed the logo, and designed point-of-sale elements that helped increase same-store-sales by more than 300%.
The Mission Center: Created their logo and brand collateral, and provided ‘visual storytelling graphics’ that enabled them to explain their unique business offering, and innovative corporate structure to prospective clients and investors.
