Working as an intern in Art Direction at Arc Worldwide was an exhilarating experience, allowing me to immerse myself in the field of my dreams while gaining valuable insights and personal growth. Throughout my time at the company, I encountered many different challenges that forced me to evolve as a professional, a creative, and a student.
The challenges I faced during my internship were time management, socializing and networking, and the pursuit of perfection in all the tasks I took part in. As an intern who was eager to make a lasting impression, I took on additional responsibilities from other teams to showcase my dedication and to expand my knowledge. However, this decision soon presented me with a challenge of time management. Juggling overlapping meetings and deadlines became a daily struggle, prompting me to create an organization system to keep track of deliverables, prioritize tasks, and schedule any future events. Through this process, I learned the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and learning to say no to extra tasks I was not capable of delivering..
As an ambivert, social situations can sometimes make me anxious. Team-building events became opportunities for personal growth and allowed me to push beyond my comfort zone. By attending them, I was about to network and introduce myself to new people. I tried to challenge myself and to become more engaging and open, initiating conversations and seeking introductions with colleagues and professionals from various backgrounds. I skipped some in favor of pushing out some work that took precedent. This also allowed me the opportunity to take a social break as my social battery needs time to charge. In that down time however, I still engaged via the TEAMS chat function in team based groups and conversations. This step-by-step approach not only helped me overcome some social anxieties but also enriched my overall internship experience, emphasizing the significance of building strong professional networks. I was given the opportunity to meet so many new people in the industry that I am so eager to work in.
Being a designer, I strive for perfection in every project I undertook. However, this pursuit of perfection often left me grappling with self-doubt and fear of making mistakes. Continuous edits and revisions became too common, and I soon realized that accepting constructive criticism was the difference between growing as a creative and being creatively stagnant. My idea was that mistakes are stepping stones to improvement and understanding this allowed me to boost my confidence as a designer and to focus on being productive and accepting feedback rather than unattainable perfection, especially on first iterations of projects. This also allowed me to work on concepts and mockups more quickly so that more of my teammates can look at it and critique the work. Instead of constantly trying to make perfect work from the get go, I aimed to get as much feedback as possible on projects where that was possible.
As I reflect on my internship as it comes to an end, I can confidently say that these challenges have left a mark on my approach to life, work, and design. Self-compassion, Time management, and courage have become important principles that will shape my future career in Art Direction and beyond. Armed with newfound confidence and determination, I look forward to applying these insights in my future endeavors and embracing growth with an open heart and mind.