AIA Rochester Internship

Over the course of the Spring 2022 semester, I worked with the American Institute of Architects Rochester as a media design intern. Each project I completed had different requirements and will be posted on AIA Rochester's social media accounts over the course of the next year and beyond.

The first project I worked on for AIA Rochester was to create new templates they could use to announce their yearly Board of Directors. I created a static template in Adobe Illustrator and animated it in Adobe After Effects.

Once the Board of Directors template was completed, I created various versions to highlight individual Board members. This project has been periodically posted to their social medias, predominately Instagram and Facebook.

The next project I worked on was to create Partnership Icons for the AIA Rochester website. These icons needed to be consistent yet distinct, and needed to represent five different categories. These categories represented five different events that patrons could choose to sponsor. I created two variations for each category, with icons that coincided with the theme of the event.

Once these icons were finished, they were implemented into AIA Rochester's website under their Sponsorship Opportunities page.

While working on various projects for AIA Rochester, I was spontaneously tasked with creating a simple but compelling graphic to celebrate AIA Rochester's achievement of gaining 1000 followers on Instagram. I was asked to create a static and an animated version of the graphic.

This graphic was then posted to AIA Rochester's instagram page once they hit 1000 followers.

After completing the first set of projects, I worked on a series of Partnership Templates that AIA Rochester could use to announce when their sponsorship opportunities would become available. I created six versions that the organization could choose from, with most variations including a placeholder for a photo of their choice.

Once this project was completed, the chosen template was used and uploaded to AIA Rochester's Instagram page.

After creating the Partnership Graphic templates, I was tasked with creating several more templates for various projects. The first template I created was for the Honor Awards. I created three variations of this template, each with a placeholder for an image of their choice.

The next project I worked on was a series of Committee & Continuing Education Templates. This project encapsulated two series of templates. I started by creating the  AIA Continuing Education templates, with three variations. Each version includes information placeholders that will regard where, when, and what the Education Seminar would include.

I then created a series of templates for the Committee meeting series that were based off of the versions I had made for the Continuing Education templates. Each type of meeting was designated a color chosen from the AIA's official style guide.

These templates, when meetings are announced, will be posted on Instagram and Facebook to highlight when a specific meeting will take place.

The next set of templates are two coinciding projects that will be posted on social media when a member of the AIA has either been featured or has recently registered with the chapter. I created three variations of each set, adding placeholders for a photo and a quote of the recipient of the post.

I then created template a project that will be posted on social media to highlight an Architect of Color within the chapter. I created three variations, adding placeholders for a photo and a quote of the recipient of the post.

The next set of templates are two coinciding projects that will be posted on social media for Black History Month and Women's History Month. I created two variations of each set, adding placeholders for a photo and a quote of the recipient of the post.

Perhaps the largest project I worked on during my internship with AIA Rochester was creating a series of graphics for their June 2022 Design Awards. I was tasked with creating a graphics package that would be used to advertise the event. These graphics will also be used within the event itself for various purposes.

I was first tasked with coming up with two different themes that could be used for the event. I then had to utilize this theme for a square graphic that would be used for various reasons on social media. The first theme was based off of the George Eastman House, which is the location of the 2022 Design Awards. The second theme is based off of the film aesthetic that will be seen throughout the event. The first theme was chosen, and posted to AIA Rochester's social media and their website to advertise the event and announce winning projects.

After a theme was settled on, I created various front & back motifs for a Design Awards postcard. Each version used the theme established by the square graphic, with placeholders for the schedule of the event and other information.

I then experimented with variations of the theme for a Theatre RSVP sign. These signs will be taped to the chair of a guest of the event. I made seven variations for this sign, all complete with a logo placeholder for the designated firm.

The final project I worked on concerning the Design Awards was a graphic for a Dessert Sponsor, which will be used during the event. I made two versions of the sign, each complete with a placeholder for the designated firm logo.

After I completed my tasks for the Design Awards graphics package, I created a series of icons that would designate different events posted to the AIA website. I created two various of each icon for four different events; a 5k event, an Education event, a Fashion Week event, and a Miscellaneous event.

The final project I worked on for AIA Rochester was an illustration of their office, which is located in the Warner Castle in Rochester, NY. I was given a set of images of the castle and created an illustration based off of the essence of the building.

This illustration will be used on different graphics advertising various events, such as the 2022 Open House that was posted on their social media.

Working with the AIA Rochester team has been a very new but liberating experience for me. I have never worked with a professional team before, so this experience was very eye-opening and I believe my collaboration skills have certainly improved over the course of the semester.

I am beyond grateful for this opportunity, interning with AIA Rochester was an amazing experience that I will cherish forever. I am very glad the beginning of my professional career as a graphic designer started with AIA Rochester.