Ten graphic design students have landed internships with Naples International Film Festival (NIFF), where they are assisting the organization in launching its inaugural event November 5-9. The interns, all top-design students at Southwest Florida College, are beneficiaries of the college’s proactive Career Services department, where professional career counselors facilitate real-life training and hands-on opportunities as an integral part of all SWFC diploma and degree programs.
“I love the atmosphere,” said Lindsey Phillips, of her experience interning at NIFF. Phillips recently graduated from Southwest Florida College with an associate's degree in graphic design. She is currently working on designing posters and advertisements for NIFF, one of which has been used in Gulf Shore Life Magazine. “I appreciate the opportunity of them giving me the offer to do this in their first year,” she said.
Phillips said that the internship gives her and all the interns first-hand access to the nuts-and-bolts of how a professional team carries out all the design elements for a specific market.
“Our interns/students are a great group of young cultured and inspired artist. We have been very fortunate to have these talented individuals among our NIFF family,” said Daniel Herrera, Director of Outreach for Naples International Film Festival and Director/Producer for La Razza Films.
“It takes institutions like SW Florida College to offer the curriculum's to refine the incubated talents of its students,” Herrera said. “I am glad to see, that distinct artistic personalities do exist in such a conservative community. I personally feel that there is no need to have to recruit from other cities like New York, Miami and or LA, when there is great talent pool here.”
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