Another major benefit, according to Media WORKS interns, is the integration among Adobe software tools. LeBlanc, for instance, easily combines vector artwork created in Illustrator CS and bitmap artwork created in Photoshop CS into layouts in InDesign CS. She used this approach to create promotional posters for Media WORKS Enterprise as well as for the local YMCA. She has also designed logos for clients such as the Innerwalk Institute. LeBlanc and the other interns also appreciate the ease of use of Dreamweaver and Flash for creating websites showcasing their personal and professional portfolios, as well as sites for clients.
“Adobe Creative Suite and Dreamweaver are the software programs the professionals use,” says David Conroe, enterprise manager for Media WORKS Enterprise. “The fact that interns are doing real work for real clients using the industry’s best tools is a great source of pride and a big confidence booster.”
Interns also have an opportunity to evolve personally during their time at Media WORKS Enterprise. They must learn to take constructive criticism from their peers and from instructors, for instance. Intern Kristen Napier says that learning to gracefully accept input from others has been especially beneficial for her. She dropped out of high school at age 16. By the time she was 18, she had a child and was a stay-athome mother. Currently the mother of three, Napier, who is now in the managerial tier, credits Media WORKS Enterprise with giving her a sense of purpose in life. She also thanks Media WORKS Enterprise for taking a chance on her, despite admittedly not doing well in the structure of traditional schools.
“Even though I didn’t get the best start, I know now that I can do something artistic where my personality and skills mesh to build a successful career,” says Napier. “Part of what’s building my confidence is learning new technologies. The first time I tried Adobe software, I thought, ‘Wow, it’s amazing what I can do.’”