The top 3 things I learned as an iilo intern
My summer internship with iilo
I feel incredibly lucky to have found this internship, which allowed me to get to know all these amazing people who are passionate about doing creative work for the greater good. Working virtually for the most part, I realized I enjoy working from home at my own pace. I also worked in person with Lisa, iilo’s co-owner, one day a week. That gave me an understanding of how in-person collaboration works.
During my internship, I helped with three client projects, including BC Rent Bank and the North Shore Restorative Justice Society. That was my first time working on projects for clients, so the process was new and exciting! I also worked on internal iilo projects and helped to produce slide decks, PDF documents, return address labels, website illustrations, and many other deliverables. As a thank you for such a great internship, I gifted Lisa and Madelen a comic about the top three things I learned.
1. Proper file naming will save your life
As everyone has their faults, I had trouble with proper file naming during the internship. This was one of the main things I needed to be reminded of, but I did gradually improve my file naming as the internship went on.
2. Ask for help if you need it
In one of my projects, I tried to take out the white background of a black logo, but I wasn’t doing it correctly. If I had asked for help at the beginning, I would have saved myself time. The next time I had a design challenge, I asked for help first, and saved both time and energy.
3. Get to know your coworkers
I have discovered that the best way I learn about the graphic design industry is by asking people in the industry. I got to have many conversations with different people working at iilo and learned a lot from everyone I had a chance to chat with. It was inspiring to hear everyone’s journey to their careers and how non-linear life is.
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Our impact
“It was a pleasure working with Lisa and her team. They were organized, thorough, and really understood our vision and needs. All deliverables were provided on time with a lot of support provided along the way. We hope to work with them again!”