Thank You and Farewell: Celebrating Our 2024 Animation Interns

Yazhi Zheng

1. What did you enjoy most about your internship at Compadre?

It's always rewarding to be brought into different projects and work with talents! I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with these designers, producers, and art directors, who have given me help and guidance, not only allowing me to fully understand the process of each project in the agency from acceptance to completion but also giving me a lot of experience working in live-action advertising.

2. What was your favorite project, and how did you contribute?

I loved the NFL Christmas week commercial I was involved in! I was involved in everything from design to animation, and it was so exciting to see the final video actually go live at a sports bar near my home! I'm glad to be part of this project and gain more experience and understanding in the production of live-action sports commercials. I'm also happy to have more results in typography animation, which I hope to study the most.

I also love the internal promotions I made for Compadre! Whether it is for Compadre's logo, Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas... There are so many celebrations at the end of the year! I am also very happy that I have been involved in every promotion, which makes me feel very satisfied!

3. What was the most important or helpful thing you learned during your internship?

I think it is two things: First, understand the actual workflow of the project. From concept to design, testing to final. And how to organize decks and files and give customers positive feedback in time. These processes have helped me understand and improve my professionalism.

Second: the importance of deadlines. I understand that passion and ambition for a project are important, but understanding the preferences of customers and mastering deadlines is more important. Always provide the most efficient design and solution that can be completed before the deadline. From the perspective of the customer, give the style and effect they may like so that the cooperation between the two parties can be smoother and satisfactory results can be given.

4. What one piece of advice would you give to future interns?

I think interns are rising stars in the industry. Every project will allow us to learn and gain something. As newcomers in the industry, we will inevitably encounter difficulties and make mistakes. Don't be discouraged, and don't be afraid to ask for help! When we start solving the problems we encounter, that’s when we start making progress. Don’t be stingy about showing your creativity! At the same time, actively seek feedback and guidance, which will allow us to gain more!

Ruchen Shang

1. What did you enjoy most about your internship at Compadre?

Every day, I get the chance to chat with our mentor and learn so much from everyone on the team. They’re all incredibly kind and supportive—huge shoutout to them! 🙌

What was your favorite project, and how did you contribute?

Working on the NFL Christmas game project was an incredible experience! I followed the entire process closely, gaining a deep understanding of how everything comes together. I could ask other designers questions in real time and learn from their approaches. 😄It was also an exciting opportunity to see the TV spot I contributed to play on live TV!🤯

What was the most important or helpful thing you learned during your internship?

Efficiency is key when working in an agency environment. It’s essential to have the ability to identify priorities and focus on the most critical tasks first.😌

What one piece of advice would you give to future interns?

The coworkers here are incredibly friendly, so don’t hesitate to ask questions! Sometimes you’ll receive valuable professional insights, and other times you might even pick up great life advice!🫶