Ramp Festival internship gives Wintec student real world experience and creative connections
Third-year Wintec design student Courtney Cavanagh was selected to be an intern at Area Design to work on Wintec’s Ramp Festival campaign and rebrand under the guidance of the design agency.
What has been valuable from this experience, what have you learnt, what have been the highlights?
This placement has been really valuable as I have been able to experience and design for a complete rebrand of Spark Festival to Ramp Festival, implementing different and new design elements across different collateral – including but not limited to the programme design, signage and animations.
I’ve learnt lots of different aspects and techniques, from how efficient file structures and short keys are, to working on a project in a team environment with real life clients.
There has been many highlights during this internship, but I have mostly enjoyed working in a creative environment and being able to receive advice and feedback from other designers in the industry. I have also enjoyed being able to see the projects they are working on for other brands, projects and companies that I admire – it’s really inspiring!
How long is your internship and how many hours a week does it involve?
As part of the internship paper I am taking through Wintec, I am expected to intern for 120 hours (or more) total, and I have been willing to put in more hours as required before Ramp Festival begins near the end of July.
During the study semester, I was interning from 9am to 5pm on my one available day due to my study timetable and work schedule. During the semester breaks, I have been working on the Ramp Festival design from 9am to 5pm (sometimes longer), four days a week.
Why did you want to do this role? What was the appeal?
I had heard about this particular internship opportunity in previous years of my studies, I had looked up to those who had previously been given this opportunity. I was really impressed by Area Design’s reputation and their consistent support of Spark/ Ramp Festival.
This experience has been extremely valuable to me. The Area Design team have been truly supportive, and have taught me a lot that I will implement into my future graphic design career.
Lastly, what are you personally looking forward to experiencing during the festival?
I’m super excited to be able to attend events like the Design Industry Breakfast and Women in Design evening, along with being able to listen to multiple speakers and taking part in their workshops. I love note-taking during these events as well, and have often found myself looking back on these as reference in previous years!
About Ramp Festival
Wintec’s Ramp Festival of Music, Media, Arts & Design was formerly known as Spark International Festival and promises a dynamic experience of creative visionaries from New Zealand and around the globe. Launching under the new brand this four-day creative festival from 23 to 26 July is free and open to all students, Wintec alumni and the public.
Attendees are encouraged to listen to a variety of industry speakers chosen for their work in multidisciplinary areas, ask questions, experiment and put their learnings into practice in a series of hands-on workshops.
With a solid reputation for bringing creative activation to Hamilton city, Wintec’s annual arts festival has been a cherished part of the calendar each year for both students and the wider art community alike.
Ramp Festival Director, Megan Lyon says this eagerly anticipated annual event curated by Wintec’s School of Media Arts has now been stimulating curiosity for 21 years.
Our programmes are all about creativity, getting students problem solving, connecting with industry specialists and mentors, and tailoring learning through real-life projects. Courtney’s internship fits this kaupapa perfectly Megan says.
The festival is free and open to all. Registration is essential for workshops on Ramp Festival’s website.
