
Absolute graphic design internship experience
I had a graphic design two week internship with the studio Absolute in Truro, Cornwall. The internship was a part of the second year placement scheme at Falmouth University.
Projects
I worked on a number of projects with Absolute while interning there. This post is about the work I did with Caterlink whom supply packaging and tools to ice cream vendors in England and I think around the world.
Of course my placement only being two weeks I didn’t get to go on the full design journey with Absolute. Furthermore, the designs have changed quite a bit from the first initial concepts I worked on. However, I can see elements that Lauren, the junior designer and I were working towards.
Absolute had already produced the design for the current Caterlink tubs (pictured top right.) However the client wanted something new.







The brief
The client wanted 3 new stock designs with 2 options each.
- Needs to take inspiration from but an updated version of the delicious design tubs Absolute created previously for Caterlink.
- The three key words for this design are sophisticated, clean, identity. An extremely modern idea to be sold over UK, NO, Fl, DK, DE, NL (the whole NIC group).
- Traditional design, a combination of the tubs are sister companies have (pictured second).
Workings
In the sketches above you can see my initial ideas. I tend to work initially with words that come to mind when I think of that object, in this case ice cream. I then move onto paper and pen and draw initial sketched that come to mind.
Mood boards
I then move to mood board to further express my ideas and help me get a clearer understand. It also allows me to see what is already on the market and other maybe external influences that can inspire ideas. (These are pictured opposite.)
CONCEPTS
Then finally I move onto concepts. I always digitally mock up three different concepts. I always do a ‘safe’ concept option which is not too far from what the client already has. (This is picture opposite.)
Next I really target the brief in the second concept. In this case I went 1920’s art deco inspire patterns to get across the sophisticated, clean, identity the client was looking for. I played with colours and produced a blue, seaside colour palette as ice cream is seen to be associated with the beach. Also I kept a classic 1920’s monochromatic version.
Finally the third concept is the ‘wild card’. This is where I really push the brief and come up with hopefully something creative and different for the field. This is where I played on the idea that an ice cream cup is a gluten free cone, so I designed it to look like one. I think this reflected the clients need for something extremely modern yet traditional.
Summary
Although the client didn’t go for any of my concepts it was great to work on a real life brief and gain some valuable experience and connections that should help in the future. I also have some work to show for it and can use it in my blog to show you my creative process.
Other posts
Lots of love, Melissa x



