The Hoffman Agency – Design Intern

A visual designer's job may involve managing more than one design brief at a time and allocating the relevant amount of time according to the value of the job. Typical activities include:

• meeting clients or account managers to discuss the business objectives and requirements of the job;

• interpreting the client's business needs and developing a concept to suit their purpose;

• estimating the time required to complete the work and providing quotes for clients;

• developing design briefs by gathering information and data through research;

• thinking creatively to produce new ideas and concepts;

• using innovation to redefine a design brief within the constraints of cost and time;

• presenting finalised ideas and concepts to clients or account managers;

• working with a wide range of media, including photography and computer-aided design (CAD);

• proofreading to produce accurate and high-quality work;

• contributing ideas and design artwork to the overall brief;

• demonstrating illustrative skills with rough sketches;

• working on layouts and artworking pages ready for print;

• keeping abreast of emerging technologies in new media, particularly design programs such as QuarkXPress, FreeHand, Illustrator, Photoshop, 3ds Max, Acrobat, Director, Dreamweaver and Flash;

• developing interactive design;

• commissioning illustrators and photographers;

• a good understanding of Social media, and optimizing content for social media;

• working as part of a team with printers, copywriters, photographers, stylists, illustrators, other designers, account executives, web developers and marketing specialists.

The HA designer has to be proactive in presenting or 'pitching' their ideas and designs to the agency lead and/or prospective clients.