We didn’t know of a better way to peek into the Phenomblue internship experience than, well, asking our interns to tell you about it. Here’s what our summer 2009 interns had to say: Laurin generalist intern marketing major Creighton University Phenomblue’s internship philosophy is unlike the ordinary; I am not filing folders or doing “chores”.  I’m learning and getting actual experience in a fun and positive environment. I actually participate in real life situations that Phenomblue deals with. I knew I was going to like it here and I knew I was going to learn, but I had no idea I would like it this much, learn this much, and be treated so well. From day one I was already learning stuff and doing things — real stuff and real things — not files, not vacuuming, not filling up coffee cups. In such a complex industry, I needed to get real life experience, and that is exactly what I am getting. To start, I have already sat in multiple meetings and conference calls. I get exposed to some of the industry’s most favored clients and to all the work that goes behind production. My internship enables me to create contacts, discover various connections between people and companies, and it provides me with sample career paths and resumes. I am realizing the opportunities and paths I can take once I graduate. I don’t want the summer to come to an end… and for a reason that I have never experienced before.

Kelsey art intern digital design major University of Cincinnati I am quite surprised by this laid-back yet extremely productive atmosphere. I expected a bunch of really uptight, serious people (only because I figured the only way to produce this level of work required really serious, no messing around people) and was honestly surprised to have met the complete opposite. That’s what I really like about this place: they know how to do what they need to do, yet they go about it in the way that is most productive specifically for them. In my opinion, for Phenomblue, that means working hard and playing hard. Because I am a design major, school teaches me a really in-depth range of design methods, but I don’t learn how to promote or sell my designs. That’s where experiencing the work environment is beneficial. Though Phenomblue isn’t a “design firm,” I’ve learned how important design is in every situation. I’ve also gotten more exposure working directly with clients than I expected. Whether it has been sitting in on conference calls, or the fact that I’m copied on pretty much every Basecamp project, I feel as though I have a much better idea of what it takes to work for clients. Being the fact that this is my first experience in a professional atmosphere, it has definitely set the bar for my future work experience. It has opened my eyes to the opportunity of software development and technology. I now realize that my future isn’t just picking colors and fonts for websites, it’s much more than that.