Last summer when Erin Moore ’26 boarded her flight to Dublin, Ireland, she knew she was beginning a journey that would shape her creative career. Moore, an art major from Cleveland, OH, spent eight weeks interning at DesignWorks Ireland, a graphic design agency that helps businesses grow and build meaningful visual identities.
Moore is one of the first recipients of the Theodore William Eckels International Practicum for Art and Art History, a newly established internship awarded annually to outstanding sophomore or junior art or art history students. The program, coordinated by the Department of Art and Art History and the Center for Career and Professional Development, fully funds students to work abroad for eight weeks. The Eckels Practicum is an opportunity for students to experience an invaluable opportunity to see how creative work operates in an international context and learn how art and design can connect communities across cultures.
At DesignWorks, Moore collaborated with professionals on client projects and received one-on-one mentorship from senior designers. “I worked with businesses that strive to make a positive impact and got to see many different areas of graphic design firsthand,” Moore says. “This helped me gain a better understanding of the area of design I want to pursue.”
Outside of work, Moore explored Ireland’s rich culture—visiting local markets, watching rugby matches, and traveling through the countryside. “Finding a good work-life balance gave me plenty of time to explore Ireland,” she says. “This experience taught me more about who I am, what I want to do in the future, and gave me a sense of independence much stronger than I had while studying abroad.”
While Moore was in Ireland, Mika Colina ’26, an art major from Atoka, TN, spent the summer in Tokyo, Japan, interning with Mobal Communications Ltd. Through this experience, Colina learned the fast-paced and highly collaborative nature of Japanese design and marketing.
At Mobal, Colina created promotional graphics and presentations, collaborating closely with the company’s international team. They also found opportunities to connect cross-culturally by contributing feedback in multiple languages for one of Mobal’s largest consumer bases. “Trying new experiences was my favorite thing about this whole process. Trying new foods, making new friends, and learning the language made this experience unlike any other,” Colina says.
Outside the office, Colina explored Tokyo’s diverse neighborhoods, visited museums, and found inspiration in the city’s design and architecture. “I would just hop on a train, and anywhere I got off there was a new experience that awaited.”
Both students say that their international internships gave them new perspectives on art and design. “I will forever be grateful for this opportunity,” Moore says. “It showed me how design can connect people across borders and helped me grow as both an artist and a person.”
By Jeb Mathis ’27