KCAD Innovation Hub

The KCAD Innovation Hub is collaborating with the MI STEM Network and the Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa ISD’s to develop a regional design competition for elementary and middle school students. The competition will kick off on September 16, 2024 during GR Tech Week, run the length of the academic year, and conclude on February 28, 2025 with a celebration event at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. The educational experience will connect K-8 students with advisors from local businesses and college students as they develop a solution to the proposed design problem. The KCAD Innovation Hub intern will develop a branded communications strategy and materials to support the competition. Communications materials will include a visual brand (logo mark, etc.), infographics, one-page informational handout, slide template, poster template, competition awards, and signage for the event spaces. The intern will also help support the kickoff and celebration events in support of the facilitation team.

The project will require one student intern with a background in graphic design. The student will work under the mentorship of the project coordinator. The KCAD Communications team will also provide support and input throughout the process. The student intern will work in a hybridized work flow that will include some in-person meetings, remote work, and participation on-site at the event locations in Grand Rapids.

This is a short-term position that will coincide with a project timeline. Phase 1 will start on July 8, 2024 and end on September 21, 2024, with two weeks off for the start of the fall semester. After a four-month break, phase 2 will start on February 2, 2025 and end on March 1, 2025. The student intern will work an average of 10 hours per week during active project weeks. Completion of all project activity will not exceed a total of 120 hours (including both phases).

• Students applying for the positions should be at least junior status entering the Fall 2024 semester
• Students applying for the position should have experience developing brand strategies and visual brand identities (i.e. logo mark, fonts, colors, etc.)
• Students applying for the position should have experience developing visual graphics and/or infographics
• Students applying for the position should have experience using Adobe Creative Suite software to create digital and print layout communication materials (brochures, slide templates, etc.)
• Students should have strong visual communication skills
• Students should have strong skills in communication, teamwork, collaboration, and creativity
• Ability to travel to event sites around Grand Rapids

• Student interns will apply many of the skills, capabilities, and processes learned through their coursework at a level consistent with what is expected and practiced in a professional internship
• Student interns will participate in weekly, in-person or virtual design reviews between the project team and the sponsor
• Student interns will meet weekly, in-person or virtually, with the project lead to conduct critiques and gather feedback on project deliverables on a weekly basis
• Student interns will communicate with the project team to coordinate work on project deliverables and collaborate with the project lead to develop and submit all project deliverables
• Student interns will have the ability to self-manage work done remotely for the project
• Student interns will track their time and submit a weekly timecard to the project coordinator

Please include a letter of interest that indicates which academic program you are studying at FSU/KCAD, why you are interested in the position, which skills/abilities/experiences you have that will make you a good candidate for the project team, and how this project will help support your education.

For the portfolio, please include five work samples that demonstrate your ability to design a visual brand, print documents, and digital graphics. The work samples should include the specific skills/abilities you will utilize on the project. Work samples can include projects, presentations, reports, documentation, etc. you created for your courses (you can submit the same material you submitted for the course). Please submit as one document.