How did you feel your experience at Thomas Jefferson University prepared you to take on and understand the tasks you were given this summer?
My computer skills and experience with textile design process helped me to create a mood, color palette, and exciting print collection for my project. In the print design graduate program, hands on and experimental image making is emphasized. Most of my designs are painted, drawn, or assembled by hand at first, and then scanned into the computer. Everyone at Target responded positively to this way of working when I shared my process during my final presentation.
What new skills did you learn throughout your internship that you might not have learned in the classroom?
I was able to experience and understand the role of the textile designer in an apparel design setting for a discount retailer. Often, there are printing constraints that the textile designer needs to anticipate when coming up with a repeat or color way so that it is cost effective and aesthetically pleasing. It is also important for the textile designer to be aware of the customer and how she responds to different design motifs and colors. Having access to that information and talking with other designers was the best way to learn how decisions are made when designing clothing in this type of company. In school there is more freedom during the design process.
What was your favorite part of the job or working at the company?
My favorite part of the job was the fast pace of designing because I surprised myself at how much I was able to accomplish over the summer. I also loved the how inspiring my manager, mentor, and other team members were throughout the process.