When you think back to your first internship, you probably remember feeling excited and perhaps a bit nervous. After all, this was your foray into the professional world, the first steppingstone in your career journey.

At Dever Designs we are fully invested in the internship process. People were good to us when we were setting off on the graphic design career path, and we feel, in a way, that we owe something back. We’re thrilled to play a part in building the next generation of designers.

This summer we were pleased to work with aspiring designer Brianna Kittleson, a Maryland resident who recently completed her freshman year at Andrews University in Michigan. We offered her a peek into a real-world working environment, allowing her to observe how a studio runs, gain working knowledge of the craft and help us where possible.

Below is her take on her summer experience.

Interning has been a wonderful experience. I have learned and grown so much in just a short period of time. As I head back to school I feel like I have a much better understanding of this field and the kinds of things that come along with it. While working here I have been able to observe and participate in a variety of things. One of the many things I have learned is that attention to detail is key. Watching Jeff as he tweaked colors or adjusted text made me recognize that making even the smallest changes can be the defining factor in pulling a piece together.

Here at Dever Designs, I have noticed the extremely organized manner in which they approach every project that comes their way. It creates an incredibly efficient working environment and personally I will now try and apply these same principles as often as I can.

Another thing I have seen from working here is the importance they place on the interactions between the designer/project manager and the client. It is a huge part of the design process and I can now see how important it really is. Everyone has given me so many insider tricks of the trade and pieces of advice and I am excited to apply them as often as possible. 

My favorite project was when they had me lay out a feature story for my own magazine. I used programs such as Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop to create a feature on a family that runs a farmer’s market. This is a piece I will be able to add to my portfolio.

Internships can and do make a difference. The second employee we ever hired at Dever Designs was an intern who stayed with us 23 years.

To learn more about how Dever Designs can serve you, visit deverdesigns.com

We’re excited to announce that we’ll be exhibiting at ASAE’s Marketing, Membership, and Communications Conference on June 13 and 14, 2016.

The MM&C Conference is all about finding branding strategies to make your association’s brand more recognizable—that’s why we have found it such a valuable event to share ideas and make new connections each year.

Associations and other membership-based organizations need to offer tools and resources that are compelling in both content and design. We’ve found that while many associations are experts in their fields, they often focus on the content of their resources, leaving design as an afterthought.

While content may make sense in text format, designing a piece that presents the content in an attractive and accessible format across all channels takes thought and consideration.

We specialize in organizing design from the user’s point of view. Whether it is a magazine, report, brochure, or branding system, Dever Designs can help shape your vision into a finished project that best serves your audience.

Visit our booth in the exhibit hall (booth #302) to start the conversation about how we can help you serve your members through design. Plus, complete a short survey for a chance to win a $500 Southwest Airlines gift card!

It turns out our President/Creative Director has another not so secret life. After Jeff’s work appeared in the “LOOT” show at MAD, the Museum of Art and Design, in New York last fall, he was approached by the Executive Organizers of China Millennium Monument World Art Museum. They invited him to participate in the third “Beijing International Contemporary Metal & Jewelry Art Exhibition” BICMAJA. Though communication and coordination was tedious at times, after careful vetting through the international art jewelry community, he ultimately agreed to participate—his first international exhibition. Jeff says “I am so honored to be included among this talented pool of international art jewelry artists.” The exhibition ran November 8-22 2015, in Beijing China, and here are a sampling of images from the shows varied events. If you’d like to see more of what Jeff does in his spare time under the moniker Jeffrey Lloyd Dever, just click on the link below and enjoy.

jeffreylloyddever.com