This May I had the privilege to become an intern for K Design Co.! I had never worked under an entrepreneur before, or remotely, for that matter, but I was interested in branding and web design.
Of course, social media and marketing are also my jam, so needless to say, I was excited. Over the past three months, I have been able to learn so much more than I thought possible in such a short amount of time and have had the opportunity to work on some amazing projects. Here is what I learned.
The Technical Stuff
With any digitally-based internship, it is important to know some…digitally-based applications. Working with the K Design Co. was a dream because it gave me the push to start using Adobe Creative Cloud, something I eventually told myself I would learn. What was awesome about learning from Kristin, the mastermind behind K Design Co., was that she took the time to explain concepts to me over video in a way I could understand, and everything she taught me was relevant to projects we were working on that week. Also, being a branding and web design expert made her a pro at all things Photoshop, so Kristin was able to teach me some helpful shortcuts and different techniques for faster editing.
The Branding Stuff
I’ve done my fair share of branding research as a blogger, but working with Kristin gave me an even deeper understanding of what ‘branding’ means. It is so much more than just colors and logos (especially logos). I learned how to choose the right colors (and to write down the hex codes!!) and how important font pairings are. The branding process is detailed and intentional. Having defined guidelines in place can create the whole foundation for growing your brand as business. I learned how essential the correct branding and positioning is for a business, and that rebranding is also a thing.
The Web Design Stuff
Before my internship, website design was a topic I knew next to nothing about, but was eager to get to know. Kristin took this knowledge and ran with it! She showed me the process of how she builds her amazing websites. From the initial planning and site mapping, crafting the vision, and then actually plugging the pieces into the website. I was able to work on multiple platforms such as WordPress, and Showit, and see the behind the scenes of how a website is born. It truly does take a lot of work, thought, and patience and I definitely have a deeper respect for website designers now.
The ‘Running a Successful Business’ Stuff
While working for the K Design Co., I was able to see straight into that #entrepreneurlife. Not every business is the same and should be run the same, but I was able to learn a few general tips and tricks on how to run a successful business. Working with Kristin taught me that every client should be given a unique experience. Especially when it comes to branding and web design, it is all about standing apart from the rest. It is so important to listen to what your client wants and keep them updated during the whole process. It’s not about what you want, it’s about what they want.
I’m no perfectionist, but working with Kristin taught me that maybe I should be sometimes! Especially when it comes to handling someone else’s business (literally, their business), it is important for everything to be perfect. Not perfect in the sense of being obsessively OCD, but producing a product that you are both proud of.
As a young adult heading out into the professional world, gaining work experience and new skills is a must. I am thankful for my internship with the K Design Co. as I was able to work one-on-one with Kristin to learn new skills, help her deliver amazing products to her clients, and had fun in the process.
Rachael is the founder of Planned in Pink where she assists small business owners with digital marketing strategies and implementation. She is also a bullet journalist and reader!
