Ferris State University students gain valuable work experience through internships. Internships also can confirm or redirect career decision-making, provide marketability, develop people skills and enhance classroom learning. Many academic programs require one, but the experience is encouraged regardless to provide students with a better understanding of what will be expected of them in the workplace.
Many students are participating in myriad internships this summer. Meet: Emily Noffsinger
She is: A senior from Rockford, Mich., majoring in Graphic Design
Internship: Grey Matter Group, a marketing agency in downtown Grand Rapids. Her summer internship is paid.
What she’s learning: “The responsibilities at Grey Matter Group differ by day. Because it is a small agency, the client work varies, which is something I enjoy a lot about my internship,” Emily said. “I work on everything from concept sketching for new projects to digital iterations of current projects and finalizing documents for the client. I love working on projects that are going to be produced and used by actual clients and people. It’s very rewarding.”
Favorite experience: Going on a video shoot for a lighting company.
“Grey Matter Group came up with the storyboard and concept and hired a video agency to do the actual video shoot,” Emily said. “I've always had an interest in film and broadcasting, and it was too cool to be on set and to see how much work and takes go into filming a short video.”
Core value: Ferris’ core value that Emily’s internship most emulates is “learning,” she said.
“My internship has been a huge learning experience,” she said. “I’ve learned a ton about production and tips on doing things more efficiently. … When the time you take on a project is being billed to a client, it puts a certain amount of pressure on you to be efficient and focus.”
She credits her education at Ferris with preparing her for the internship: “The design program at Ferris has taught me a ton about talking about my work and talking to professionals.”
On campus: Emily is president of the AIGA registered student organization for design students and also is an active member of AIGA’s West Michigan chapter.
Her plan: After she graduates in May, Emily plans to stay in Grand Rapids and hopes to work for different-sized companies to see what she likes best.
Her ultimate goal?
“Later on, my best friend and I plan to start our own company,” she said. “It will be half design firm, half sandwich shop: Design & Deli.”