Senior advertising student Gracie McClure spent her summer in the windy city as a Creative Strategy and Branding intern with Chicago-based United Airlines. She worked as a designer on various projects, including signage for Red Rock Amphitheatre, with whom United has a partnership, and the new uniform showrooms.  

“My best memory was getting to see my designs come to life,” McClure said. “I helped design a pin for everyone going to the Democratic National Convention. Getting to see it in real life was so rewarding.” 

During this experience, McClure gained a real-world understanding of a corporate setting and how to bring designs to life. 

“I learned a lot about working for a client and integrating their ideas into a certain design style,” McClure said.  “This contributed to learning why branding is so important when it comes to advertising for large companies.”  

Usually, McClure’s day included project meetings and networking with employees in various departments. Many of those encounters sparked her interest.  She also worked on projects by creating, editing and exporting sample designs to print.  

“Day to day was always different, which is exactly what I was hoping for,” McClure said.  

McClure credits much of her experience to the culture. She says her team was welcoming, and she felt like she was part of it.  

“It was a very light-hearted and calming environment which allowed me to grow and not be afraid to start conversations and ask questions, which I really appreciated,” McClure said.  

McClure learned a lot from her internship, but one takeaway from the experience is how it prepared her for her career after graduation.  

“Come ready to learn,” McClure said. “I can honestly say I enjoyed every second of the internship because I looked at it as an opportunity for trial and error. Every second was a learning experience that I can one day use in my future career.” 

This story originally appeared on the Communication Arts and Sciences website.