This summer we welcomed interns Dominic and Kaitlyn into the Fiasco studio as part of our Open Internship programme. Open to people from all walks of life, the programme seeks to make our industry more accessible by removing some of the usual barriers.
Dominic and Kaitlyn had both completed their second years at UWE and BCU, respectively. Before they headed into third year they joined us for a month this (rather rainy) summer. We chatted with them about their Open Internship experience at Fiasco: from the application process, right through to the IRL studio experience.
Kaitlyn: The main reason I applied was because of the statement ‘there is a representation problem in the design industry’. I truly believe this. So a studio that recognises the problem and is trying to solve it really impressed me.
It was important to me to get experience and understand the career I’m going into. So when Fiasco advertised the opportunity by saying: ‘No CV or cover letter needed; accommodation on us; and fully paid’, I quickly jumped on it and applied! Like – where else do you get that?!
Dominic: I had just finished my uni work and was really enjoying the type of work I was doing. I wanted to find a way to continue designing, whilst also learning more about the industry I could soon be entering. I also wanted to gain some experience in a team environment to see where I could fit in.
Dominic: The application process was very smooth due to the nature of the Open Internship. It felt much less elitist than other opportunities I have applied to. Being judged based on my work and not other factors was really refreshing!
I was very nervous for the interview. I had been building it up in my head for the previous week, but I was also excited to get the chance to discuss some design rationale and talk about design in a broader sense.
Kaitlyn: The application process was super easy. The requirements of sending in your portfolio and just five bullet points really took the stress away.
Kaitlyn: The internship has been amazing. The whole Fiasco team is super supportive and lovely. They welcomed me with open arms and made me feel included.
I really enjoyed exploring Bristol with the Summer Hours we had, as well. I truly fell in love with Bristol for the food, culture and views it offers. It was also great to have the chance to join the Lunch and Learn session with Dalton Maag, talking about all things typography!
Dominic: I really enjoyed my time here. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work so closely with other team members on projects and get a chance to learn from their processes. It has allowed me to better visualise where I could see myself working, post university.
Dominic: The fact that design goes through many stages. The best thing about that process is that it allows you to experiment with lots of ideas before landing on a definitive final one. It has also been very interesting to see how they use softwares like Figma in their workflow to promote easier collaboration.
Kaitlyn: How friendly and joyful the environment is in Fiasco! Because when we had lectures at university from agencies or went to local Birmingham agencies, everyone was super serious. I had the impression that every agency would be the same. Fiasco has changed my perspective for the better.
Dominic: I’d love it if more studios would disregard CVs in the process of job opportunities and integrate a more inclusive way to find new faces. CVs are very useful for some jobs, but I feel like they can be very discriminative in other instances. They rely on higher education and relevant experience from people who have been raised in a stable environment – but not everyone has.
Diversity includes a whole array of factors, including social class and disability. I am part of the first generation of my family that have these types of opportunities available. I feel incredibly lucky, but I would love to see more people from different walks of life in this industry.
Kaitlyn: I was worried that this is the wrong industry for me, either because I’m from two countries that don’t really recognise design, or because I look a certain way. This needs to change. Opening the space to a broader range of people opens new opportunities and allows not just people – but designs too – to be more inclusive. The design industry is all about connection and in order to do this we must accept, invite and acknowledge everyone.
Dominic: I’m going to complete my Graphic Design course at UWE over the next year. I really want to get my PGCE Qualification shortly after to enable me to teach at a sixth form level. My Graphics teacher was a pivotal figure in my life so I would love to do for others what he did for me. In the meantime, I will continue working on my personal design projects too, in the hope that they will lead me to interesting places.
Kaitlyn: Well, I have a month left for my final year. There are many things I still have to learn, but I am excited to throw myself in the deep end. I also have a couple of personal projects I want to do, such as an editorial about India, my home country. I want to highlight the vibrant culture and eradicate the stereotypes. As a designer, I want to interweave representation and environmental issues into my work.
My Open Internship experience at Fiasco has been amazing and a real eye-opener for me. It has made me more determined to just go for it.
Huge thanks to both Dominic and Kaitlyn, we wish you the best of luck with your future careers. We hope to open up applications to our Open Internship programme again soon.
Let us know more. We’d love to have a chat to see how we could help.
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