My Summer in Communications and Design at GARCIA

By Paulina Perez (Summer ‘26)

When I was applying for summer internships, I was looking for a chance to pursue both graphic design and marketing. I have always been drawn to community engagement, and I wanted to strengthen my marketing skills while continuing to build up my design portfolio through real-world projects. What made GARCIA especially appealing to me was that the internship let me do both. I wanted to understand how the two could work together in a professional setting, and this internship ended up giving me exactly that.

On my first day, I was already researching local elected officials, creating social media graphics, sending out email invitations, and helping coordinate for an upcoming event. Then, on my second day, I attended my first event, Strike Out Steube, with the team. I helped with photography and worked with event materials and transcription. I got a chance to see very quickly, firsthand how much preparation goes into an event and the communications surrounding it.

Being given that level of responsibility so early in the internship was something I really appreciated. I was doing many things for the first time, but I was trusted to take ownership of projects, communicate directly with stakeholders, and contribute to work that was already moving quickly. Looking back, I was surprised by how much I had already been able to contribute within my first two days. 

It was also a great introduction to the team. Getting to know everyone early on and seeing how everyone worked together made the internship feel collaborative from the beginning.

One of my biggest surprises of the internship was discovering just how broad marketing and communications can be. Throughout the summer, I worked across many different areas. I created designs across different digital and print formats, edited content, researched media contacts, helped with media outreach, coordinated meetings, supported event logistics, and worked with campaign reports and analytics. On the design side, I worked on everything from social media graphics and educational carousels to postcards, rack cards, flyers, yard signs, and newspaper advertisements.

I enjoyed working on different print formats. It taught me to think beyond how a design looks on my screen and consider how it will actually be presented when printed and distributed. Adjusting layout, incorporating necessary information, and working through revisions were things that gave me a better understanding of the practical side of graphic design. At the same time, I was learning that effective communications involves much more than creating something visually appealing. A design has to communicate the right message to the right audience, and that message has to work alongside the campaign’s larger goals.

Much of my work during the internship involved political campaigns, which was a completely new area of design and communications for me. I had never worked in that environment before, so it was interesting to see how quickly messaging, content, and design all have to come together. While I don't see myself specifically pursuing politics, it showed me how design and marketing can be used in fast-moving environments where the timing and purpose behind every piece of content matter.

Perhaps my biggest takeaway from the internship was realizing that I was capable of more than I had initially given myself credit for. When I started, I was still exploring marketing as a field but I hadn't had much hands-on experience with what work actually looked like for a client. Over the course of the internship, I learned that I can adapt quickly, work in a fast-paced environment, and take ownership of a project from beginning to end. I also became more comfortable communicating directly with people and organizations, managing multiple responsibilities, and figuring things out independently. Most importantly, the experience gave me a better understanding of what successful marketing and communications work requires. This internship gave me the hands-on experience I was hoping for, and it also gave more confidence in my ability to contribute in a professional environment.

I especially appreciate the GARCIA team for the trust they placed in me throughout the internship. I felt I was genuinely part of the process, and I'm thankful for everything I learned over the summer about the many different sides of marketing, communications, and design. 

About Paulina Perez

Paulina Perez is a Graphic Design student with a focus on visual storytelling, branding, and concept-driven design. Her creative interests lie in editorial design and social media. She finds herself especially inspired when she travels. Her experience so far includes designing for medical clinics, small businesses, and political campaigns.

Fluent in English and Spanish, with conversational Japanese.

Certified in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.