🚀 go-pugleaf

Hi Patty,
To quote the old saying--"Fast, good, cheap: choose any two of the three." In other words, be sure to build enough turnaround time into the project so that you don't run into any "express service" markups from your printer or service bureau. This can be especially difficult if this is a pro-bono project for a non-profit--some groups are driven by a divided board and can take forever to come to a decision, while others are so busy in their daily crisis mode, they ignore the upcoming deadlines for your project. (Yes, for-profits have the same issues. Non-profits just seem to be more extreme vis-a-vis herding cats on deadlines.)

Just remember, most conventional printers take about a week's turnaround from the day you hand off the files. Add another week for mail-processing. If this is a one-time mass-audience mailout, my guess is you want it hitting the doorsteps 1 1/2-2 weeks before the event (not much more than that though.) If it's a formal event, or being sent to members or deluxe-level members of the group, it will need to go out earlier (those social-pages types need to plug it into their Palms). Or you can do 2 mailings, one early, one right before the event day. Just remember to count backward from D-day.

      That said, pro bono is a great way for a beginning designer to get production
      experience that is ALSO creative! If you pursue an internship as a production
      artist (and you should), any portfolio-worthy pieces will be understood
      to be only an example of your knowledge of the software and the printing
      process--pro bono pieces show off your creative thinking ability. (Especially
      if you get feedback from the group saying "Wow! 45% response rate!" or
      some such endorsement). Do make sure that you will directly present your
      designs to the board of the non-profit--big-time networking opportunity.




Internships: Forget the cookies and lunch bribe. If you're trying to create a new intern position start off with at least minimum wage. That way you can negotiate down to free if necessary. :-) Check out the Websites for your local branch of the American Advertising Federation and the local Art Directors Club. They will nearly always list internships on the job-wanted page. A lot of these groups have printers and service bureaus as members or support members; I am sure you will have good luck. Also, call up your local newspaper, business journal, alternative weekly and any magazine publishers in your area to find out if they have some production internships open. Believe me, you will get plenty of 4-c print experience with one of these. And the big print factories they use insist you get all the files just right for RIPping, because they don't have time to play around with them on the tight pub deadlines. Find out if your school offers a co-op program, where upper level students can get course credit by working in the industry part time. Also, don't write off the marketing department of large corporations in your targeted client industry. You may spend a lot of time doing PowerPoint, but you will also get an opportunity to work on prepress and project bids for newsletters, handbooks, etc. And, they will all look just like the things your future clients and employers will want you to create for them! :-)

Good luck!
Wren Allen