As my three-month internship has ended, it’s nice to take a moment to reflect and look back at my time at Chukster Studio. These past months have been full of creative challenges, learning new skills and getting better insights into the world of designers. 

When I first started searching for internships, I knew I wanted to challenge myself and try something slightly different from my education in digital design and development. It was therefore a no brainer when I came across Chukster Studio, with their quirky and fun personality, a passion for storytelling and their openness to explore a different range of creative projects.

Digital Design vs Graphic Design

One thing I have noticed is how often people confuse digital design with graphic design. And I get it, they sound similar, but they’re not exactly the same. Graphic design is all about creating visual assets, for example logos, packaging, posters or print materials. It focuses on aesthetics and how to communicate visually.

Although many digital designers create visual content similarly to graphic designers, they often go beyond visuals to include functionality and user interaction. These are known as User Experience (UX) designers and User Interface (UI) designers.

In this case, digital design is not just about how things look, but rather how they work. It’s about crafting interfaces and experiences that people can actually interact with, like websites, apps and other digital platforms. 

Do digital designers matter?

You might be wondering why there is a specific need for digital designers. Why not just use graphic designers for digital platforms? 
Well, here is the thing.. you could create the most visually stunning website, but if users find it confusing or clunky, it’s a fail. That’s why understanding how people think and behave is crucial, you’ve got to meet users where they are!

Accessibility plays a big role too. Creating designs that work for everyone, whether it’s through readable fonts, proper contrast for visually impaired users or alt text for screen readers. When it comes to digital platforms, good design should feel effortless, easily guiding users without them even realising how much thought went into it.

During my time at Chukster, I had plenty of opportunities to explore different areas of design. One of my main projects was building a website from scratch. It was the perfect opportunity to combine my UX/UI skills with Framer, a platform that lets designers build websites without coding. For someone who loves testing out new tools, I found it a very nice experience.

Beyond that, I got introduced to how magazine and lookbook layouts are done, assist on photoshoots, create illustrations and social media content. 

But what really set this internship apart wasn’t just the work, it was the people. From day one, the team at Chukster made me feel like I belonged. Whether it was eating lunch together, laughing during movie nights or finding inspiration in museum trips, it was a space where creativity thrived.
For anyone thinking about stepping into the world of design, my advice is simple: stay curious. Try new things, embrace the challenges, and be open to learning. Every project, no matter how big or small, is a chance to grow and sharpen your skills.