My Jumbos4Jumbos Experience
Over the summer, I had an incredible opportunity to work with a non-profit through The Herd, an online networking space for Tufts students and alumni. At the end of May, I received an email notifying me that the Tufts Career Center was launching “Jumbos4Jumbos” again, a program that connects undergraduate students to short-term, remote projects created by alumni. Internship opportunities ranged from data analyst to graphic designer roles. Through The Herd, I learned about a project hosted by a non-profit, Stamp of Sunshine.
Stamp of Sunshine is a non-profit founded to help people engage with their community through letter-writing pop-ups. They provide free postcards, stamps, and other writing materials. After researching the organization, I applied right away. I submitted my resume, a business card design mock-up, and a letter of interest. Two weeks later, I received my internship offer!
I met the two founders, Alexandra and Nina, and started planning out the assets I would be creating throughout the summer. This included business cards, a brand style guide, and their annual report. It was my first time working with a real organization, as most of my experience with design came from school clubs. They assured me that it would be a learning experience for all of us, since they hadn’t worked with a designer before either. They were both incredibly understanding and communicative.
The most important thing I took away from this experience was the importance of communication. Beyond the basic specifications of dimensions and font that each project required, it was important for all of us to be on the same page about the visual style of each asset. I started to ask more questions for clarification and reached out to them if I needed any assistance. Overall, it has led me to become a better communicator and listener.
If “Jumbo4Jumbos” launches again this summer, I highly recommend everyone check it out! It was a highlight of my break and provided me with an incredible experience.
Photo credits to Nick Young