Graphic Design and User Experience Research Internships: A Reflection

Abstract

In the present paper, I discuss the design related internships I completed during the Summer of 2021, what I learned from them, how these experiences relate to my career, and how these internships relate to what I have been learning about as a psychology major at Kalamazoo College. I learned about myself and how I work on projects, as well as my design process. I also learned that I enjoy using my creative abilities more than my research abilities, and I discuss how this affects my career outlook. Overall, I am glad I challenged myself this past summer and completed three separate internship positions, two of which were through the University of Michigan, and the other through a close connection. Moving forward, I know that it will be useful to pull from these experiences whether I choose to attend graduate school or join the design workforce.