Timeline
10 weeks
Role
Brand Design Intern
Software
Adobe Illustrator + Adobe Photoshop + Adobe InDesign
Heart at Work
I had the of interning as a Brand Design Intern as a part of CVS’s 2022 Corporate Summer Internship Program. I worked with the internal brand design team, Heart Haus, as well as my fellow interns.
I worked on a variety of projects, ranging from branding and logo design to research and presentations.
I worked on a variety of projects, ranging from branding and logo design to research and presentations.
Goal-setting
To make the most of my time at CVS, I worked alongside my mentors to set goals that I would work on for the duration of my internship.
Become an active member of the brand team
This meant joining as many brand team meetings as possible and being an actively participant. I would also aim to set up meet and greets with the members of the brand team to learn about their careers and how they contributed to the overall team.
Learn about the CVS identity and enterprise
I aimed to develop a broad understanding of the CVS design system, as well as develop a general understanding of best-in-class identity systems. This also extended beyond the creative - I wanted to learn how CVS functioned and excelled as an enterprise by researching its impact and talking to professionals both within and outside of the creative team. Last but certainly not least, design!
Naturally, as a brand design intern, I also was eager to design! My final goal was to design stellar graphics using the CVS identity. This involved using project briefs and input from project stakeholders to inform research and design exploration, iterating based on feedback from design peers to hone in on solutions, and presenting my work in a clear and effective way. 
Projects
In order for a huge company like CVS to keep consistent branding, we had to create high-quality and eye catching graphic while staying within the guidelines of the brand. This meant I had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, seen by thousands across the enterprise.
Heart Art
I worked alongside the brand team to create a variety of logos and graphics using the iconic CVS heart symbol. During this process, we would go over the project briefs as a team and then ideate, revising based on feedback until we could hone in on the best solution.
One of the projects I’m proudest of is my design for the CapAbilities Colleague Resource Group. The goal of the group is to empower all individuals with different abilities and their allies, so the logo needed to reflect the diversity of differently abled people. I chose a Bauhaus inspired direction, made up of different shapes that came together to form one cohesive heart. This conveyed how people of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds could come together to form a team, and I’m proud to say that my design was chosen as the final heart art for CapAbilities!
It was an enlightening exercise in how to distill something very abstract like community into a graphic without falling into cliches. Though my internship has since concluded, my design work lives on at CVS and will continue to have impact on everyone in the enterprise.
Intern Summit and Presentation
The crowning moment of my internship was the intern summit, where all of my fellow interns traveled to Hartford, CT to meet each other and learn together. I attended development workshops, talks about accessibility, discussions of the future of design and the Metaverse, and more.
Nearing the end of my internship, I also had the amazing opportunity to present my work to CVS’s chief marketing officers alongside my fellow marketing interns. These were both incredible experiences, filled with leadership and innovation.
Takeaways
This internship was an exhilarating look at how big players handle their brand. During my time at CVS, I truly felt like I was a valued part of the team, not just an intern. Working with the design team was an absolute delight. All in all, I’d say I achieved my goals and then some!
I learned way more that can be listed in one little case study, but here’s what had the most impact on me:
- How to work with a well-established and robust brand
I learned way more that can be listed in one little case study, but here’s what had the most impact on me:
- How to work with a well-established and robust brand
- The intricacies of how a brand presents itself
- The importance of iteration, and pushing concepts to the very peak
- How communicate design effectively through presentation
I am so grateful for all the support I received during my time at CVS, and for having the opportunity to work with amazing people and an amazing brand. If you have any questions about my time at CVS, send me an email and we can discuss!
I am so grateful for all the support I received during my time at CVS, and for having the opportunity to work with amazing people and an amazing brand. If you have any questions about my time at CVS, send me an email and we can discuss!
"I really enjoyed the excitement and enthusiasm [Kelly] brought to the team."
"I was so impressed with [Kelly's] presence and work. Hope we get to work with [her] again."
"I was so impressed with [Kelly's] presence and work. Hope we get to work with [her] again."
"[Kelly] did some beautiful work for CVS this summer."
"I've been working with Kelly the whole way and I still get excited hearing her stories and seeing the work."
"I've been working with Kelly the whole way and I still get excited hearing her stories and seeing the work."
Want to chat more about this project? Shoot me an email at kellyjincreative@gmail.com!
