Major: Graphic Design
Alexandra Zardetto took advantage of internship opportunities while at College of DuPage, and the experience proved to be invaluable.
Her first internship came through the College’s popular Disney College program.
“Ever since I was little, I have always been a huge Disney fan. I was the kid who would pick up her cat while standing on the couch and hoist it in the air like Simba from ‘The Lion King,’” she said. “So when I found out that College of DuPage offered students an opportunity to work at Walt Disney World through the Disney College Program, I immediately jumped at the chance. Not only did I receive vast new knowledge on guest service, but I was able to network and learn the Disney polices.”
Internship Opportunities at COD
After returning from the Disney program, Zardetto was offered an internship through CMO Graphics in Chicago. As a graphic design major, she utilized her skills and worked on advertising products for Kraft Foods and Mondelez International.
“If I hadn’t attended COD, I don’t think I would have had these internship opportunities,” she said. “By working for Disney, I was able to see how the thought and detail put into their design work led to incredible outcomes for guest experiences. And with CMO, I learned what day-to-day life as a corporate designer looked like, and it instilled best practices for production and organization that I still use today.”
Zardetto transferred to the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and earned her bachelor’s degree in communication design (graphic design) in 2016. She is still grateful for the internships at COD that provided invaluable experiences, which allowed her skillset to develop and helped her land positions in a variety of major industries, such as travel, sports, transportation, food, fitness, retail, government/nonprofits and technology. Currently, Zardetto lives in the Orlando area, overseeing and designing projects at a major tech company.
Zardetto is still grateful for the internships she had while attending COD.
“I learned first-hand how a business runs and what the expectations are for graphic designers in a corporate setting,” she said. “If you are lucky enough to get an internship opportunity, take it!"
Learn more about the Graphic Design program at College of DuPage