Graphic Designer and Illustrator Intern
SAVE THE WATER™, INC.
About Us
Save the Water™ (STW™) is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to solving the world water crisis through excellence in water science research and public awareness of water contamination issues.
We have a passion for water. STW™ associates must understand the value of water and the role that water plays in the quality of life of all living things.
What will your workplace look like?
Interning with STW™ differs from other volunteer experiences because we work in a 100% virtual environment. This means we use only online connection platforms in several ways:
- frequent communications via email and/or Slack
- meetings via Google Meets
- collaboration via Google Drive and Slack
At Save the Water™, we operate through remote collaboration as we adopt an agile, virtual ecosystem. Our proven success in cultivating a collaborative workplace culture doesn’t depend on the physical proximity of team members. Although we interact in a virtual space, our groups are highly active through weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly meetings, brainstorming and working sessions, conferences, and/or quarterly town halls.
Why Consider STW™ Internships?
Save the Water™ (STW™) will provide professional reference letters to interns, students, and professionals who showcase outstanding performance for school/university credit.
We offer fantastic opportunities to learn and to build your portfolio in water educational content for the nonprofit sector. You will work with a highly engaged team of professionals in education, environmental science, public health, and management. We hold all of our volunteers and interns to high standards.
The Role
Save the Water™ (STW™) is providing internships for post-secondary students or recent graduates who have a passion for the environment and the drive to make a global difference. The selected intern will collaborate with our Education Content team in every stage of our projects using project management tools and applications. To succeed, you are a creative individual who can turn concepts into artistic, marketable images for different media using different technologies.
As a Graphic Designer and Illustrator intern, you will report to an assigned mentor who will supervise and guide you throughout your experience at STW™. This internship will create high-quality graphics and illustrations for our education content projects to increase public awareness about water issues. You will work closely with the Education Content and Curriculum Development teams to develop inspiring artwork that will attract our target audience.
To be successful, you should be a highly artistic person with a passion for creative technologies. You should be able to draw and to work on digital software in a variety of styles and mediums. In essence, you are a creative individual who can turn concepts into artistic, marketable images. You will work closely with the Education Content and Curriculum Development teams, and other stakeholders to identify opportunities, resolve roadblocks/issues and grow STW™’s Water Education Materials (WEM) Education Programs.
What will you be responsible for?
- Brainstorming with the Education Content team to come up with image ideas and concepts.
- Preparing and designing rough draft illustrations according to client specifications.
- Identifying and defining constraints and timelines in relation to your activities.
- Creating complete illustrations by using digitally created images.
- Refining image design using illustration software.
- Enhancing design concepts using a wide range of colors and graphics.
- Formatting final illustrations using CAD software.
- Ensuring that printed illustrations meet specified color and quality standards.
- Assisting the Education Content Manager in brainstorming content ideas and developing strategies to execute them.
- Delivering project updates at Education Group meetings.
- Supporting the program development progress that aligns with Save the Water™’s mission in educating the public about water pollution issues.
- Working collaboratively with the team members in the Water Education Materials (WEM) team.
- Increasing the search engine optimization (SEO) of our website using keywords as developed by our Web Analysts.
- Being willing to attend virtual meetings in EST timezone (GMT -4:00) and to respond to emails within 1 business day or as agreed.
About you
- Comfortable working in a virtual team environment incorporating group problem-solving, sharing information, and sharing responsibility.
- Committed to water and environmental causes.
- Willing to learn and take on challenging tasks.
- Inquisitive, outgoing, persistent and energetic demeanor.
- Ability to handle requests and complaints in a professional, non-confrontational manner.
- Enjoy taking initiative, thinking “outside of the box”, and solving problems creatively.
Education
- Completing or recently completed diploma in graphic design, illustration, or visual arts.
- Equivalent education and experience may also be considered.
Requirements
Technical
- Portfolio of completed illustrations, graphic design projects, and other multimedia-related works of art.
- Work experience using computer-aided design (CAD) software, such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.
- Drawing, painting, and digital drawing skills.
- Proficiency with required desktop publishing tools, including Photoshop, InDesign, Quark, Illustrator, etc.
- Experience using Google product applications or G-Suite.
Soft Skills (interpersonal, personal professional brand, etc.)
- Strong attention to detail.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Ability to self-motivate, to multitask, and to prioritize effectively.
- Ability to give and receive constructive criticism.
- Ability to manage projects and tasks efficiently.
- Strong conceptual and artistic skills.
- Strong relationship-building skills, both internally and externally.
- Demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects and details simultaneously.
- Effective oral communication skills and ability to work cooperatively with staff.
- Strong written and oral communication skills to provide and to receive accurate information clearly and concisely.
- Innovative thinker who is passionate about our cause.
Knowledge-base
- Understanding of marketing, production, website design, corporate identity, product packaging, advertisements, and multimedia design.
- Familiarity with current graphic design trends and best practices.
Preferred Skills
- Experience planning and designing storyboards as well as developing animations.
We commit to supporting your development and these learning outcomes:
- Explore career alternatives prior to graduation and after, if graduated.
- Integrate theory and practice.
- Assess interests and abilities in your field of study.
- Learn to appreciate work and its function in the economy.
- Develop work habits and attitudes necessary for job success.
- Develop communication, interpersonal and other critical skills during the course of the internship.
- Build a record of work experience.
If interested, we welcome you to apply. We would love to hear from you!
