Print / Brand Design
AlphaGraphics Internship
Real-world design experience in a fast-paced print production environment, creating marketing materials and managing client projects.
Role
Graphic Design Intern
Start Date
March 2024
End Date
May 2024
Client
AlphaGraphics Northern Colorado
01
The Problem
Print production has no margin for design that ignores the press.
Internships often hand the intern conceptual work and shield them from production realities. The AlphaGraphics role flipped that: every comp had to clear pre-press, hit a deadline, and ship a physical artifact, which is where most design educations leave a gap.
Tight production deadlines
Meeting fast turnarounds in a multi-client production environment without breaking quality.
Pre-press accuracy
Ensuring precise file preparation (bleed, trim, color, fonts) for varied print processes.
Multiple parallel projects
Managing several client jobs simultaneously without dropping handoffs.
Adapting to finishing techniques
Reworking designs for different media and finishing: substrates, coatings, large-format constraints.
02
The Approach
Treat every job as a production-first design problem. The most beautiful comp loses if it can't survive pre-press, vendor handoff, and a tight deadline. The work was scoped from the printed result backwards.
- 01
Client-ready print assets
Produced final files in InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop with bleed, trim, and color specs locked in.
- 02
Trade show graphics
Designed promotional materials sized and produced for booths, banners, and large-format formats.
- 03
Wayfinding and interior signage
Built interior signage systems mindful of substrate, finishing, and human scale.
- 04
Social media content
Managed content creation and scheduling alongside the print workload.
- 05
Corporate identity collateral
Collaborated on brand guideline materials to keep client identities consistent across applications.
Brief
Design
Pre-Press
Delivered
_TODO: Short tagline below the diagram.
03
The System / Deliverables
04
Outcome
The role provided comprehensive exposure to the full print production workflow, from initial client consultations through final delivery. I learned to bridge the gap between digital design and physical production while maintaining brand consistency and print accuracy across various media types.
Let's collaborate
Have A Project In Mind?
I help brands and businesses build strong identities, campaigns, and digital experiences that make an impact.