09/02/2026
Every summer, a growing number of CWU graphic design students step out of the classroom and into real jobs, working alongside professionals in departments across campus.
Through the ART 490 internship course, led by Art + Design Professor David Bieloh, students log between 200 and 400 work hours placed in offices like the Publicity Center, Marketing and Communications, Athletics, and University Advancement. About a dozen students are interning on campus this summer alone, with others placed at organizations across Washington.
For graduating senior Laura Allen, that meant running client meetings and coordinating vendor estimates in the Publicity Center. "I'm working with real-world clients across the university's departments, and I'm actively communicating with them to realize their vision," she said. For classmate Alex Littman, an internship with Auxiliary Marketing turned early nerves into real confidence: "It has made me gain confidence, not only in my own design abilities but also in my communication skills."
In Athletics, interns Daniel Walton and Ethan Magnaghi discovered new specializations entirely, sports design and motion graphics, that weren't part of their regular coursework.
Professor Bieloh sees the shift in his students every year. "I do see confidence levels improve all the time," he said. "They realize somebody values their work, and somebody needs their creativity."
Read the full story at the link below.
https://www.cwu.edu/about/media-resources/news/2026/08/graphic-design-interns-build-portfolios-while-helping-cwu-departments.php
