Become a “pro-fessional” designer.

A five-week course designed for emerging creative professionals to better prepare them for a career in graphic design and related fields.

When: Tuesday nights June 16–July 14, 6:30pm–8:30pm

Where: Virtual Zoom Webinar

Applications due: June 5, 2020

AIGA Detroit will host a five-week course for emerging graphic designers, UX/UI designers, illustrators, and related creatives (college-level students or designers working in the field for less than three years) in Spring/Summer 2020.

The course will be limited to 12 participants. The cohort will learn from and connect with a panel of industry professionals in an intimate setting to better prepare them for a career in graphic design and related fields. Sessions will cover working for others and working for self. Participants are required to attend all 5 meetings and breakout work-sessions. 

Class sessions will cover:

• Resume building 
• Portfolio building
• Job interviews (virtual and in-person)/industry hiring practices
• Getting freelance work/writing proposals
• Goals & actionable steps for achieving those goals

Upon completion of the program, participants will be able to:

• discuss current industry hiring practices and trends
• prepare a resume, portfolio, and other materials needed to apply for a junior position in the design field according to current industry standards
• prepare for a job interview in the field of design
• prepare a proposal and contract for freelance design work
• discuss their future goals within the design field and the action steps needed to achieve these goals
• connect with a network of industry professionals and their fellow cohort members for continued support
• share knowledge from the program with peers in their community

Class Schedule:

June 16

Resume Building
with Maria Bologna, Freelance Designer & Educator

June 23

Setting Goals & Actionable Steps for Achieving Them
with Hien Lam, Chief Prophecy Fulfiller at Huck Finch Branding

June 30

Portfolio Building
with Jon Elsinger, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at DO:BETTER

July 7

Getting Freelance Work & Writing Proposals
with Meaghan Barry and Lilian Crum, Co-Founders of Unsold Studio

July 14

Job Interviews & Industry Hiring Practices
with Katie Slovan, Creative Manager at Avfuel Corporation

Application Requirements:

Required: Application Google Form (name, email, phone, age, race, pronoun, school/work info (optional), availability for dates (consent checkbox)

Required: A personal statement (maximum 500 words) describing why they want to participate in the program and what makes them a good fit for the program. 

Required: A letter of recommendation (can be from a professor, a mentor, a colleague, a boss, a pastor, etc…does not need to be a design professional) speaking to the applicant’s character and professionalism.

Optional: A link to a portfolio or an uploaded design portfolio (as PDF)

Optional: Scholarship link: 150 words about why you should be considered to have fee waiver 

Program fee (if accepted): Free AIGA member / $50 Non-AIGA

Need-based scholarships and reduced rates are available, please contact mentorship@aiga.detroit.org for more information

Applications are now closed

Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by June 10

For any questions, please email: mentorship@aiga.detroit.org