LFB ‘24 Internships
SUMMER INTERSHIP
My name is Mary Caroline Collier, and I am a rising sophomore at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville majoring in graphic design. I started my summer internship with Loaded For Bear in May, where I met the crew and learned the ropes.
This past semester, I worked for the graphic design team in the University of Tennessee’s Athletic Department. This gave me great insight to office culture in the design field and experience in Adobe and other necessary tools. However, mockups, mechanical files, and more were foreign to me. I expected to be the typical intern experience - getting coffee, cleaning, doing the office chores no one else wanted to do. Instead, I hit the ground running. Thanks to their confidence in me, I was given the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects, which contributed to my skill development and learning. It required me to think quickly on my feet, observe and adapt to workflow. However, mistakes are inevitable. And when one did come about, I was met with compassion and guidance from the other designers to learn from my mistakes and improve. The office workflow encourages a culture of feedback, where everyone has the opportunity to give and receive input on projects. For the design team, we hold regular meetings to critique each other's work. This collaborative approach provides new perspectives on our projects. “ While the primary goal is to deliver a product that meets the client's needs, the real essence of a project lies beyond its superficial aspects. The true core of any design is the meaning and story behind it. ”
Naturally, I had my share of classic intern moments. One of my funniest memories was when I went to pick up Hattie B's chicken for my coworkers and myself. The bag turned out to be much heavier than I expected, and on my way back, it split open all the way down the middle.. It was the quintessential intern mishap you often see in movies, and we all had a good laugh about it as we enjoyed our fried chicken. My biggest takeaway from working here is a lesson I will carry with me throughout my life. While the primary goal is to deliver a product that meets the client's needs, the real essence of a project lies beyond its superficial aspects. The true core of any design is the meaning and story behind it. Anyone can select a typeface, choose colors, and create something visually appealing. However, what truly makes a design stand out is the attention to detail and a deep understanding of the client’s story. Interning at LFB was a game-changer for me—it helped me nail down what I want to do as a graphic designer and set me up well for school. I learned that slow office days and challenging projects are opportunities to revisit past work and experiment with new ideas. This concept of experimentation, emphasized by a freshman-year teacher at Tennessee, was brought to life at LFB. I saw firsthand how essential it is, especially when working with new clients where we explore multiple concepts to find the one that resonates. As I enter my second year as a graphic design student at The University of Tennessee, I am deeply grateful for the skills and insights gained at LFB. This internship has opened new doors for me, and I look forward to applying what I’ve learned in my classes and within the UTK athletic department. I also cherish the connections I made with my coworkers and look forward to coming back and visiting!SENIOR CAPSTONE PROJECT
Hi! I’m Lydia Clark and I am a summer intern for Loaded For Bear. I am 18 and a senior in high school. I originally came to LFB to intern for a school project, but it has become so much more than that. Coming to shadow at LFB has been such a cool experience and I have learned a ton.
At first, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about being in an office but the office at LFB is such a unique environment that I forgot I was in a “traditional” office space. LFB is far from traditional, the things they are doing there are so creative and fresh. I have had the great privilege to sit in on production meetings and see the behind the scenes of the things they create. I have been able to connect what I see in the real world to how it is made and where it comes from. Ideas in the office flow around so freely; it is such a creative space. I also got to do some hands-on marketing work at Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, one of LFB’s clients. I went into the store and made content for the Hattie B’s social media page which was not only fun, but made me feel involved at LFB. Overall, my involvement and experience at LFB has opened my mind to new opportunities and has also given me a little sneak peek into what it’s like to be in the workplace. Loaded For Bear, thank you for everything!