Practical Career Experiences

The art & design department provides students opportunities for practical experience through internships, externships, department newsletters and various activities within Kappa Pi, the National Art Education Association and AIGA/The Professional Association for Design. Students should take advantage of extra-curricular activities on campus to build practical skills, a portfolio and experience. Most of the following examples can be taken for credit:

Graphic Design Production Workshop
The workshop is the department’s in-house design and project-management class. The workshop engages students in individual and collaborative problem-solving assignments for University and non-profit clients in a professional setting. Students work directly with clients on a wide range of projects including: identity systems, brochures, publications, posters, signage systems, book design and illustration.

Department and University Publications
Polar Droppings: participation in writing, designing and producing of the department’s student newsletter. Published weekly (Fridays).

The Manutius Circle: activities in writing, designing and producing the department’s alumni newsletter.

The Journal of Personal Letter Writing: experience for design majors in technical, layout and production skills of a professional journal. Edited by Dr. Steven Iseman (communication arts department). Published quarterly.

The Northern: participation in design, photography, writing and producing the ONU yearbook.

E-Zine: publication activities on the ONU electronic culture magazine.

Northern Review: journalism activities in writing, editing, design, photography and producing the student newspaper.

Polaris: participation in design, production and editing of the literary-art magazine.

Theatre/Scene Shop: Opportunities to engage in technical and artist work for musicals, plays, dance, etc.

Department Employment
A variety of jobs—including special skills jobs—are available in the department for students eligible for work study funds. These work assignments are important to the operation of the department, and we expect that students hired for these duties treat them with the same regard.

A listing of departmental jobs is on file in the art & design office as well in the financial office. Available times for work as gallery attendants and department office clerks are arranged through the department secretary. The computer lab monitors are hired through the design program. Other department jobs include studio assistants, gallery director assistant, slide librarian, student designers, among others.