Internships: more than 1,000opportunities for MICA artists and designers

MICA students leave the studio and classroom to puttheir skills and professional interests to the testin many of the nation’s top museums, galleries, design and

artist studios, computer game companies, performing arts

centers, nonprofit organizations, corporations, Web design

firms, printers, publishing houses, and magazines. MICA

undergraduates who complete an internship are more

competitive in their chosen fields. Alumni report

that the practical experience from an internship led to employment in their field after graduation.

There are opportunities to fit every interest and test anyambition among the 1,000+ internships listed with the Joseph

Meyerhoff Center for Career Development. Many offer

competitive pay. All offer students an invaluable glimpse into

what it’s really like to work in their fields of interest. Some

recent internships held by MICA students are listed below.

“In three months, I learned somuch. Once I gained the trust ofthe staff, I was given a lot moreresponsibility, and I walked awayboth with extensive knowledgeof contemporary photographyand real experience in thegallery industry.”Rafael Soldi (photography ’08)

interned at Clampart, a gallery

in Chelsea, N.Y.

“I got to experience the kind ofchallenges I would face if I wantedto run my own non-profit.” Adam Griffiths (video ’04) interned

at Provisions Library: A Resource

Center for Activism and Arts, a

nonprofit working to foster social

change in Washington, D.C.

“Interns really contribute to the games we develop, and it’sa great way for us to see ifthey’re someone we’d like tohire. If a job is available, we’drather take the person we’vealready trained.”Greg Foertsch (illustration ’95),

artist and internship supervisor

at Firaxis Games

L I V E Y O U R V I S I O N

CAREERM A R Y L A N D I N S T I T U T E C O L L E G E O F A R T

track2008 volume X

Kate Spade, New York, (fashion design)

Artsonje Museum, Seoul, Korea (educational programming)

Craig Kraft Studio, Washington, D.C. (studio assistant)

Baltimore Orioles (graphic design)

HBO, New York (digital editing)

Baltimore Police Department Crime Lab (photography)

Baltimore Sun (news information graphics, photography,

and publication design)

Marcy Sagle & Associates, Baltimore (interior design)

Seoul Movie Company, LTD, Korea (animation)

Little, Brown & Co., New York (book design)

DC Comics, New York (illustration)

Victoria’s Secret (fashion design)

Donna Karan, New York (fashion design)

Gen Play Games, Milpitas, Calif.

The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden,

Washington, D.C. (exhibition installation)

J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles (art conservation)

Jessica Wynne Studio, New York (editorial photography)

Boston Phoenix (photography)

Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (curatorial and

research projects)

Macy’s, New York (promotion products)

Barbara Nessim, New York (studio assistant)

MTV, New York (animation)

Urban Outfitters, Washington, D.C. (display design)

National Geographic Society (editorial/library assistant)

Ogilvy & Mather Advertising, New York (graphic design)

Polk Audio, Baltimore (graphic design)

USA Today, Arlington, Va. (illustration)

Pyramid Atlantic, Riverdale, Md. (book/printmaking)

Washington, D.C., National Opera (costuming)

Reebok International, Westford, Mass. (graphic design)

San Diego Museum of Photographic Arts,

(arts administration)

Sesame Street, New York (image production)

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of the

American Indian, Washington, D.C.

(exhibits, multimedia)

Betsey Johnson (fashion design)

Studio Art Center International, Florence, Italy

(teacher’s assistant)

Transistor Studios, Hollywood (video production)

Walt Disney Company, Burbank, Calif.

(special events & marketing)

Marriott Corporate Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

(graphic design)

Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital,

Microsurgery Advanced Design Lab (educational

software animation)

2

…launched into a competitive new media job

Chris Sulzbach (experimental animation ’06) is a modeler andtexture artist at Firaxis games in Baltimore. Firaxis is the homeof legendary game developer Sid Meier and his Civilization titles.

Chris started at Firaxis as an intern while still a student atMICA. “Firaxis has completely helped me develop my work.Just being in a studio like that, surrounded by such talent, howcan you not be inspired?”

Chris’s classes like life drawing with Michael Economostaught him how to render the human form. He said it was hisprofessor’s emphasis on technique that made him the artisthis is today. “Mr. Economos wants students to come out of hisclass with an understanding of how to draw a figure. Then thestudents can apply their own ideas to future drawings.”

It was MICA’s commitment not only to a foundation ofcore art classes, but also the College’s emphasis on remaining atthe cutting edge of technology that allowed Chris to fulfill hispotential in computer graphics. “When I first saw 3D StudioMax, I knew that my skills in drawing and painting wouldapply directly to modeling and texturing, because it all goeshand in hand.”

Chris also credits the Joseph Meyerhoff Center for CareerDevelopment, which helps students develop their résumés andfind jobs and internships that are right for them.

Chris was offered his job before he even graduated andplans on working at Firaxis for the foreseeable future. He is agamer, and through the opportunities that MICA providedthough fine arts, technology, and the Meyerhoff Center, Chrishas been given the chance to do what he loves.

…access toleading employers

Lauren Richel (graphic design ’06) researched and initiated herinternship with Kate Spade in New York, a company lauded forits stylish fashion and home accessories. Working directly withAndy Spade, the company’s co-founder and design director, shecreates advertising, Web, and print materials. She assisted inproduct design for the Jack Spade line and helps designers onday-to-day design projects. Because of her experience withfashion and home accessories, Lauren landed a job at MarthaStewart Living soon after graduation. There she is the juniorart director for merchandising and style, where she designspackaging, in-store signage, and advertising for all MarthaStewart products sold at Kmart. Lauren has helped open doorsfor other MICA alumni, and today three other MICA grads workat Kate Spade and two have joined Lauren at Martha Stewart.

…displaying talent andmaking connections

Since 2004, 12 MICA students have interned at MTV in thedepartments of On-Air Creative, Off-Air Creative, News andDocumentaries, and Promotions.

• In her first year with MTV, Yaeri Song (video ’07) worked witha post-production team on a new, true-life documentary, FirstYear, which first aired in January 2007. In her second year,Yaeri worked with MTV K, the company’s Korean affiliate,interviewing new VJs and pitching concepts for the newstation. She entered the MTV Intern Contest for the opportunityto work with the company’s senior vice president and generalmanager. During the academic year, Yaeri continued to consultwith the general manager on Korean pop culture. Through aconnection at MTV she was recruited to work with Dalzell,a leading New York events production company, as productionassistant for the Tribeca Film Festival that spring. Herdiverse interest in media, marketing, and communicationsalso led Yaeri to an internship in the public relations office ofthe Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. She later developed amedia relations independent study to complement herpractical experience at the BSO with research and readings.

• Carlos Florez (graphic design ’07) interned at MTV NetworksLatin America designing products, print materials, andpromos for Web and TV. He also worked closely with anMTV art director to produce a video for Puerto Rican bandCirco, collaborating with concept, story line, and editing.Carlos focuses primarily on motion graphics, as part of a new breed of designers who emphasize movement rather than print design.

• Jennifer Epstein (experimental animation ’07) was yet anotherMTV Networks intern from MICA. She was in the motiongraphics production room, where she worked on the 2006Video Music Awards, including introductions, clips betweensegments, and corner graphics.

…gaining entry intoa chosen field

• Annie Farrar (painting ’04) interned at the Baltimore Museumof Industry as a museum teacher. Upon graduation, Annieaccepted a full-time position at the museum as a teacher aswell as a development assistant.

• In his senior year, Scott LaForte (graphic design ’04), internedfor the Baltimore Orioles designing posters and other printpublications. Before graduation, the ball club offered him aprized position as a full-time designer, and LaForte joinedthe team.

• Chris Day (printmaking ’08) interned with the independentrecord label, Secretly Canadian, learning the basics ofproduction and distribution for a record label. He was excitedto blend his fine art education and his love for music in hisinternship experience.

“Employers do recognize and reward persistence and enthusiasm.I really took advantage of any volunteer opportunity that arosein my internship and that paid off for me.”

Yaeri Song (video ’07)summer intern at MTV in New York

3

a sampling of other MICA internships...S O M A N Y O P T I O N S

fashion and textiles• Whitney Artell (fiber ’06) found her internship at Dye-namix

in New York, a custom printing and dyeing company servingthe high-end fashion and interior industries, with the help ofher faculty mentors at MICA. At Dye-namix she was able tocontribute to work for designers like Ralph Lauren andMarc Jacobs. After graduation, Whitney interned with BetseyJohnson in New York, where she experienced her first fashionshow from behind the scenes, and then landed a position withPhillips-Van Heusen’s Izod Women’s Retail division.

• Adrien Travis (illustration ’08) interned with Interface Fabric,a designer of eco-friendly fabrics based in the Manhattanfashion district. He contributed designs in digital patternsand print labels, and also helped with cutting and fabricfiling.

• Rachel Snyder (fiber, experimental fashion ’08) interned atAnna Cohen, a Portland, Oregon-based women’s appareldesign house focused on sophisticated, urban fashion withsocial and environmentally responsible practices andmaterials.

• Sarah Magida (general fine arts ’06) interned at DKNY in theshoe design department working with designer Mia Clarke,who taught her how a shoe develops from inspiration, todesign, to the marketplace. Working with DKNY’s Europeanconsultants on marketing and color choices, Sarah was able tocomplete a design that was sent to China for the “sample market.”

• Sarah Teranian (fiber ’08) interned with the fashion designcompany Mothers Work, Inc., in Philadelphia. The companyis the leading design, manufacture, and marketingcompany for maternity clothes. There Sarah maintained the fabric library and aided the buyers.

product design and marketing• Chris Siez (fiber ’06) interned with the Sarnnoff Corporation

determining weave structures for a project for the U.S.Army. “It was interesting to look into the place where scienceand art cross over and meld beautifully,” he says. He alsointerned at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts andSciences teaching fiber arts to children ages 6-12 in a summercamp setting. He is currently the Foundation’s gallery manager.

• Maggie Covert (interdisciplinary sculpture and book arts ’08)interned with jewelry designer GoGo Borgerding in NewOrleans the summer before her senior year. There, Maggieworked with different metals and tools and gained a deeperunderstanding of the lengthy design and productionprocesses involved in hand-making and marketing jewelry, aswell as an inside look at running a small business.

• Annabelle Pang (graphic design ’07) interned with BrooklynIndustries designing t-shirts and other clothes and accessoriesproduced by the company. Her shirts can still be purchasedat the company’s Web site.

• Kristen Grey (ceramics ’03) interned with Melissa McGill, aresident artist the prestigious John Michael Kohler ArtsCenter in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The Kohler Co., the nation’sleading manufacturer of plumbingware, Arts/Industry residencyprogram gives artists have the opportunity to spend two tosix months creating works of art utilizing the industrialmaterials and equipment. Kristen was invited to return the following summer as a temporary technician withCynthia Consentino.

museums, galleries, and arts organizations• Thomas Smith (illustration ’06) interned with Barbara

Gladstone Gallery, which represents artists such asMatthew Barney, Richard Prince, and Anish Kapoor. Heworked in the archives department, which deals with artistpress and publication.

• Keegan Luttrell (art history ’08) interned at the CorcoranGallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in the museum’sEducation Department. She worked directly with the PublicPrograms Coordinator creating programs for youth andfamilies.

• Kimmy Fung (printmaking ’09) interned with the prestigiousDieu Donne Papermill in New York, a non-profit artsorganization that specializes in creating handmade paper. Asan archive intern, Kimmy cataloged and organized inventory,and also had valuable time in the studio, gaining hands onexperience with papermaking.

• Gabriella Szpunt (painting ’08) interned in Lesley Dill’sBrooklyn, N.Y., studio as part of a team creating Dill’sinstallation at the Neuberger Art Museum in WestchesterCounty.

• Erin Wheeler (interdisciplinary sculpture ’08) interned at TheAndy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.

• Sarah Horowitz (general fine arts ’08) interned at SaLonGallery in London, assisting the director and co-curating and co-producing the SaLon Summer 2007 Show,communicating with artists and the media, and planning this large exhibition/event. She returned that September to assist in curating the SaLon Autumn Show.

• After graduation, Caroline Cecil (fiber ’06) moved to NewYork to intern with Le Studio Anthost and the Andrea RosenGallery. After her internship ended, she was hired by theAndrea Rosen Gallery. While at MICA, Caroline was a textileintern at The Baltimore Museum of Art.

• Yoon Oh (interactive media ’06) interned at the SmithsonianInstitution’s National Museum of the American Indian,helping with content development and creating a multimediakiosk and touch-screen interface for Return to Native Place.

• Adam Pape (photography ’06) interned with Brooks Johnson’76 in the photography curatorial services division of theChrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Va., curating andinstalling the museum’s photography exhibitions. Adam waslater awarded the Meyer Photography Traveling Fellowship,one of MICA’s most prestigious awards.

© 2008 Maryland Institute College of Art

design• Christopher Tate (interactive media ’07) works with award-

winning architect Gabriel Kroiz as a graphic designassistant and model maker.

• Meghana Khandekar (graphic design ’07) interned at theUnited Nations in New York. The next year she interned at an international graphic design firm in New Delhi, India.

• Nick Chow (graphic design ’07) interned at Macy’sMerchandising Group and also worked with company’shousewares and children’s departments to create promotionalproducts. Previously, he developed t-shirt and logo designsat Nautica in New York.

• Ann Swann (graphic design ’06) interned at the NavalCriminal Investigative Services (NCIS), where she workedwith the head designer on the look and feel of the NCISnews publication and website.

photography, film, and video• Jetta Buffum (photography ’06) worked with editorial and

commercial photographer Jessica Wynne in her EastVillage studio in New York City, assisting with her on-location shoots around the city for clients including TheNew York Times, Newsweek, The New Yorker, Details, Fortune,and W magazines. Buffum also assisted Wynne in her fineart photography shoots and marketing initiatives withadvertising agencies.

• Antonio Chiu (experimental animation ’08) interned withDigital Kitchen, a motion graphics company in New York,assisting the creative team on television commercials andopening credits for movies and film festivals—an experiencethat will help him with his career plan to work in an animationstudio and develop his own animation shorts for festivalcompetitions.

• Hector Leiva (video ’08) worked on HBO’s The Wire, whichfilms in Baltimore, on location sound-stages and securinglocations for future episodes.

• For Gisette Gomez (experimental animation ’08), an internshipat NBC Universal in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., researching andcreating dayside and prime-time graphics for The TuckerShow and other productions led directly to freelance workfor MSNBC.

• Erica Madden (photography ’08) interned at the InternationalCenter for Photography in New York, a museum and schooldedicated to the art of photography.

• Yoon-ah Jung (video ’08) interned with the Joylamb productionteam at WooTari in Seoul, Korea. She came away withexperience in lighting, sound, video production, and editing,as well as how to work with clients, actors, and a large staff.Motion graphics Yoon-ah produced using After Effects werepicked up for use in the production.

• Seehee Lee (experimental animation ’07) worked at Seoul MovieCompany, LTD, the first animation production companyin South Korea, to set up a pre-production system. Sheworked on the animation scripts and organized the illustrationsand files to be sent to production.

publishing and the media• Emily Addis (graphic design ’08) interned at Teen Vogue in

New York, a Conde Nast Publication, assisting in the artdepartment on the design of layouts. This was a full-immersionopportunity to experience the hectic schedule of a magazine,as well as the day-today working environment in a largecorporate office.

• Kathryn Ciesmier (illustration ’08) interned with CarusPublishing in Chicago, doing illustrations for a youngadult, literary magazine, gaining insights into the daily workof an in-house illustrator at a publishing company, workingwith editors and art directors and meeting deadlines.

• Ana Benaroya (illustration ’08) completed two internships inone summer with two very different companies: DC Comicsand ABC News, both in New York.

• Lindsay MacDonald (photography ’07) interned at themonthly magazine Urbanite in Baltimore, as a contributingphotographer. She also created ads, updated databases, andedited digital images, honing her skills her in Photoshop and InDesign.

more internships…

“I got to be involved in the marketing of a newly developedfurniture line and act as the project manager on a clientinstallation. Learning how a privately owned design firmoperates was invaluable,” says Ashley Squires (environmental

design ’04) of her internship as interior design assistant

with Mona Hajj Interiors in Baltimore. With Kami Tremblay

(graphic design ’04), Squires redecorated a 6,200 square foot

home in Carroll County, Md. Tremblay did the decorative

painting throughout the home.

CAREER TRACKOFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION

MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ARTwww.mica.eduadmission@mica.edu410-225-2222

MICA students find that there are plenty of internships available year round to help them gain professional experience, develop their professional portfolios, learn the latesttrends in their area of interest, and network with professionals in the field. Manystudents start seeking out internships as early as the sophomore year, although themajority of those who pursue an internship do so in their senior year. Nearly a third ofinternships held by MICA students are paid. The Joseph Meyerhoff Center for CareerDevelopment offers a range of services to help students identify their interests, developapplication materials, and research competitive internship opportunities.