Meet Sarah Aday, TBH Creative’s summer design intern

Hi, I’m Sarah, TBH Creative’s new summer design intern! As a marketing design intern, I am excited to work alongside the creative team, gain professional experience, and continue developing my skills in graphic design and visual communication.

Studying graphic design at TCU

I am from Forney, Texas, and an incoming senior at Texas Christian University, where I am pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design with a minor in studio art. I have also completed a minor in music through my experience as a clarinet player. My background across multiple artistic disciplines has helped shape the creative perspective I bring to design.

How creativity led me to graphic design

I’ve always been drawn to creative and expressive pursuits, which ultimately led me to graphic design. One of the most rewarding aspects of studying design has been discovering how artistic creativity intersects with strategy, structure, and problem-solving. Combining creative thinking with intentional design decisions is what I consider one of my greatest strengths as an emerging designer.

Exploring different areas of design

I thrive in collaborative environments that encourage creativity, exploration, and growth. Throughout my studies, I’ve enjoyed working across many areas of design, including branding, UX/UI design, motion graphics, advertising, iconography, typography, and publication design. However, illustration remains especially meaningful to me because of my lifelong passion for creating art.

Why I chose a design internship at TBH Creative

From my first interview, TBH Creative stood out because of its welcoming and supportive culture. As an agency design intern, I appreciate having opportunities to challenge myself while learning from experienced professionals. During my first few weeks, I’ve already gained valuable insights into agency life, creative collaboration, and the design process.

Looking ahead

My goal is to become a dependable design professional who never stops learning. In the future, I hope to contribute to large-scale projects that make a meaningful impact while collaborating with talented teams. While I plan to continue pursuing opportunities in graphic design, I am also open to exploring other areas of design or furthering my education through graduate studies.

What inspires my creative work

I draw inspiration from a variety of sources, including:

• Patterns, motifs, and ideas found in nature
• The work of designers and artists online and in person
• Books, television, music, and films
• Packaging and product design
• Posters and merchandise
• Feedback from mentors and peers
• Personal experiences
• And much more

Life outside of design

Outside of work and school, I continue to pursue my creative interests through drawing and music. At TCU, I have participated in the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, and Clarinet Choir. In my free time, I enjoy creating digital illustrations and exploring character design projects. These creative outlets help me develop new perspectives that influence my work as a designer.

My first professional design experience

My design internship at TBH Creative has already provided valuable insight into what it’s like to work in a professional creative environment. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from such a talented team and excited to continue growing throughout the summer. I am excited to see what the rest of the summer brings and where my design journey takes me after this experience at TBH Creative.

---

Interested in pursuing a design internship? Here are a few common questions students often ask about marketing agency internships and creative careers.

FAQs about marketing agency design internships

What does a marketing design intern do?

A marketing design intern supports a variety of creative projects while learning how agency work comes together behind the scenes. Responsibilities may include creating graphics, resizing and adapting designs for different formats, recreating icons or illustrations, preparing files for production, and building on approved creative concepts and brand standards.

At TBH Creative, we also try to tailor each internship to the student’s interests and career goals. Interns may have opportunities to explore areas such as branding, web design, illustration, UX/UI, motion graphics, or digital marketing while gaining exposure to the full creative process.

Beyond design skills, interns learn how agency teams collaborate, manage deadlines, incorporate client feedback, work within project scope, and balance creativity with business objectives. The goal is to provide meaningful hands-on experience that reflects what working in a professional agency environment is really like.

What’s the difference between a marketing internship and a design internship?

While there can be overlap, marketing and design internships typically have different primary areas of focus.

A marketing internship often provides more exposure to strategy, content planning, campaign execution, reporting, and measuring results. Students may work with a variety of marketing tools and gain experience understanding how organizations attract, engage, and communicate with their audiences.

A design internship is typically more focused on the creative process and visual execution. Responsibilities may include creating graphics, adapting designs for different formats, preparing files for production, building on approved creative concepts, and supporting branding, web, or marketing-related design projects.

Why choose an internship at a marketing agency?

A marketing agency internship gives students the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real projects and real business challenges. While classes teach important concepts and skills, an internship helps students see how those skills are used in a professional setting.

One of the biggest advantages of an agency internship is variety. Instead of working with just one company, interns may be exposed to multiple clients, industries, brands, and types of projects. One day might involve a healthcare organization, while the next could focus on a manufacturer, nonprofit, or professional services firm. This variety can help students discover what they enjoy most and build experience more quickly.

Agency internships also provide opportunities to learn from experienced professionals across different disciplines. Interns often collaborate with designers, marketers, developers, project managers, and strategists while gaining a better understanding of how successful projects come together.

For students who are curious and willing to jump in, an agency internship can be a great way to build confidence, gain real-world experience, and learn what day-to-day work in the industry is actually like.

Related

Careers Team