The Beginning of the End: So Long to Work

My final words on my internship experience in Buenos Aires:

Reenacting my voice-over of M
at the Samsung event.

I thoroughly enjoyed both my internships this semester. I got to develop the exact skills I stated as preference prior to the trip and more. In addition to delving into graphic design, I was fortunate enough to see the process of launching a Website during my time at Artemisa Noticias and the organization of two entire marketing campaigns while at Avant-Garde.

Sitting pretty at the J&J 'Lideres'
event.

I learned so much without attending an overly populated lecture, sitting patiently as a professor demonstrated Adobe programs on a projector, or cracking open a dull textbook. Rather, I got to witness and contribute to all the hard work that went into two campaigns' events of which I also got to attend. I got to meet professional graphic designers, and learned about the blessing and curses of freelance. I collaborated with marketing geniuses (in my opinion) in a new culture under Spanish instruction. I researched like mad and learned an intriguing ideology that realizes a relationship between women and nature that I was more than excited to promote.

I was given two fruitful opportunities and squeezed as much juice from them as I could.

At Avant-Garde with my 'jefes,' Laura and Matías

My portside office (and classroom) for Artemisa Noticias

Forge Ahead!

Avant-Garde: n.
1. the advance group in any field, especially in the visual, literary, or musical arts, whose works are characterized chiefly by unorthodox and experimental methods.
2. a small troop of highly skilled soldiers who explore the terrain ahead of a large advancing army and plots a course for the army to follow.
3. a tiny 'below the line' marketing agency with a long list of impressive clients and advertising partners.

I'm not sure how many of  you have been keeping up with my 'Productivity' section (I know the block text can seem daunting), but the majority of my week days now encompass working at Avant-Garde. Four friendly and talented Argentines comprise the agency that just split from a large one (Ver de Noche) to pursue a more focused path of campaign and event execution. As you can expect, the office can easily get chaotic since there are many a tasks to divide between four people. Fortunately for me, that leaves plenty of work for me to execute as an intern. And no, it doesn't include brewing coffee or making copies...

Instead Matias, my jolly boss, recruited me in his marketing army by assigning me two design projects for a Johnson & Johnson campaign. You remember that soap your mom may have used on you as a child to ensure a silky bottom? Yep, that's the company I'm talking about. I'm designing the folder in which the information about the campaign will be distributed to the clients (aka the distributors of J & J products), and the form of the web message they will periodically send to their clients measuring the progress of each distributor's sales.

The outside and inside designs of the folder for J & J.

Matias also conversed with me about taking on the design of the agency's Web Site! Me! An intern! Design their Web site! Needless to say I was ecstatic to hear about this opportunity and gladly accepted the challenge. And a challenge it will be as I explore the terrain of Adobe's design programs and plot my execution plans.

I never thought I'd end up working for the army, but it turns out that I'd love to enlist for an agency such as this one for whichever marketing battle. I'm enjoying the strong camaraderie of the group as we collaborate from our open desks. Instead of lighting flares, we burn incense. There's a slight hierarchy regarding professional positions, but everyone has a unique specialty or skill that he or she contributes to the ultimate goal: secure a successful campaign for their clients by discovering paths in an innovative way so that their respected audiences follow.