Shaping the Future – Inspiring Internship Insights

Hello, my name is Piers Foster, and I completed a Graphic Design internship at TPSquared last year. I graduated from the University of Wolverhampton last September with a first-class degree in Graphic Design. I applied for the internship at TPSquared to gain practical experience and learn from a respected award-winning agency where I could refine and develop new skills, while also gaining insight into the professional world of branding and design.

During my time at TPSquared, I gained valuable industry knowledge. Shadowing the team gave me a solid understanding of a Graphic Designer’s daily workflow and how projects are managed from start to finish.

One of my main projects was working on new outreach material within TPSquared’s brand guidelines. This process involved brainstorming creative concepts, researching promotional materials and designing polished materials for future partnerships. The broader marketing campaign allowed me to further apply my skills with software such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and After Effects, which I had used during my time at university but have now applied the skills in a professional setting. This has helped me to feel more confident within a live design environment.

I love problem-solving in design, so I’ve enjoyed collaborating with the team, applying feedback, and adapting my designs to meet each project’s unique needs.

One challenge at first was adapting to TPSquared’s detailed filing system. It was my first time working with a professional filing system, but I quickly recognised its benefits, such as ensuring that other team members can easily locate and work with shared files. Inspired by this system, I’ve even started using a similar approach on my personal computer for better organisation of my projects.

I’ve always known how important feedback is, but during my time at TPSquared, I’ve learned to use it more effectively. Now, I make it a habit to fully engage with feedback, capturing every piece of input. I’ve found this approach sparks new ideas and helps refine my designs. My process often involves jotting down notes on paper to start, then elaborating on them in a Word document to think through potential solutions in detail.

The TPSquared team were incredibly welcoming, supportive and open to new ideas. They encouraged me to use my design process, often asking about my approach and offering their own insights to help me grow as a creative. Each team member has been incredibly helpful, whether it’s getting input from Carolyn on copy and overall direction or seeking more detailed design advice from Claire, Harriet and Phoebe. The office atmosphere is vibrant and relaxed, even during busy times, with Harriet’s DJ skills keeping the energy up and making the workspace feel lively and fun.

I started at TPSquared feeling confident in my design skills, but my internship has helped me develop ways to respond to feedback right away, which has sharpened my ability to adjust and improve designs quickly.

Looking ahead, I’m eager to work in a design agency, focusing on branding and advertising campaigns. I’m passionate about shaping brand identities and developing creative, impactful campaigns.

One of my first experiences with developing a marketing campaign was during university, where I worked on a project that involved creating over 200 3D ducks. While that project was a great introduction, my time at TPSquared allowed me to take what I learned and apply it in an agency setting, where I received more feedback and had the opportunity to develop my skills further. Working on similar campaigns at TPSquared has made me realise just how much I enjoy creating them. I’m excited to continue pursuing this aspect of design in the future.