Recent Posts

Sandstorm Design, a Chicago marketing and interactive web design agency, has been awarded WBE certification by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). The WBENC is the nation's leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America's corporations and the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States. 

To qualify for WBE certification, businesses must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women. The one or more women owners must control daily operations and management of the business as well. All applicants undergo a rigorous approval process to ensure the legitimacy of the business and maintain the integrity of the council.

Sandstorm Design, in business over ten years providing marketing strategy, rebranding initiatives, interactive web design work and usability services, was awarded the prestigious certification in November of 2008. "We are proud and honored to be a certified WBE business and be part of such an inspiring organization," principal Sandy Marsico said in regards to attaining WBE status. 

Visit Women's Business Enterprise National Council for more information. 

JamesHardieColorPlus.com, a site Sandstorm Design was fully responsible building through their user-centered design methodology, is today's webpick on CommArts.com. Sandstorm Design conducted user research, usability testing, designed, wrote, and developed the site. Innovative interactive applications including the Find your Shade Quiz, Product Comparison Tool, and Sample Color Swatches contributed to the editor's webpick.

"We are so proud to be recognized by Communication Arts Magazine for our user-centered web site work," said Sandy Marsico, Principal of Sandstorm Design, "We built the site from the user's perspective and learned directly from homeowners what types of assistance they were looking for to make the best siding decision for their home."

James Hardie Building Products come from a world leader in fiber-cement technology. James Hardie invests heavily in research and development, with a special emphasis on product quality and production efficiency to develop durable and low maintenance siding products, backerboard and pipe. 
 

Marketing and usability experts at Sandstorm Design have recently moved to accommodate their growing team.

Committed to providing a creative and comfortable workspace, Sandy Marsico, principal of Sandstorm Design, knew the move was imminent during their rush last year. "I am so excited about our new space and growth as a company. This past year has been wonderful for us."

The new space is located at 4619 N. Ravenswood, Suite 300, just down the street from their previous office. The building is a recent renovation, and Sandstorm got involved at the forefront to ensure their desired space. 

The office is nearly twice the size of their previous facility, equipped with a larger conference room, a usability lab and a secluded office for the boss. "The space allows me to have the privacy that's occasionally required both professionally and personally," says principal, Sandy Marsico. Director of Usability and Research, Mark Jodlowski, anxiously anticipates the possibilities afforded with the usability lab. "We have been winning such a variety of work lately, it will be exciting to see how versatile we can be with the space."

Since the move, core employees Janna Fiester and Alma Meshes have returned from maternity leave and an on-site IA consulting gig, respectively. With their added presence and Sandstorm's latest hire, senior designer Lisa Janunas, it will be interesting to see how long the space will accommodate this growing company.

So you are on your hunt for a web design or graphic design internship at an innovative design firm, with a great client base, award-winning design work, steller G5's, and nice hourly pay? You are not alone. You are in a crowd of student graphic designers the size of the crowds from the Taste of Chicago. In this economy, a graphic design internship like the example above, with pay, is extremely difficult to find. Not impossible, but difficult.

First ask yourself, would you work without getting paid? Are you truly looking for design experience or are you looking for a part-time job? If you are willing to work unpaid, mention this in your cover letter (and always send a cover letter please). Some companies assume that you want pay with your design internship and don't have it in their budget.

Second, consider all options. Are you looking ONLY for design firms, ad agencies, and web development companies? What about in-house marketing or creative departments at Fortune 1000 companies? Or newspapers? Magazine companies? Many multi-million dollar organizations have superb in-house creative departments and potentially more opportunities. There are many large companies in the Chicagoland area: AllState, Sears, Boeing, McDonalds, Chicago Tribune, etc.

Third, consider local printers. Is there a Minuteman Press or AlphaGraphics near you? Small printers offer design services to their clients since many of their clients cannot afford the design studio prices. Maybe you could walk in and introduce yourself to the owner and offer your services for the summer? This could become YOUR graphic design internship.

Finally, make your own graphic design internship. Okay, so it's not exactly an internship, but you could offer your services pro-bono (free) to your favorite charity or not-for-profit organization. Get involved in your community, practice networking, and build your design portfolio, while at the same time building your community. After all is said and done, a design internship will not guarantee you a design job when you graduate. An internship helps give you some real world experience and keeps you ahead of the competition. There are many excellent designers out there, and in order to compete, look at the best student in your class and realize that he/she is your competition, and the beginning of your networking base.