Photography: Alexis Finch
Vervegirl’s #1 Design and Editorial InternAs told to Sara Graham
I have always loved magazines. From the way they look and feel, to the buzz I get when I spot a new issue on newsstands. Little did I know that one day I would be part of creating these wonderful little indulgences. Two years out of university, I was itching for the chance to return to the student life. When I came across a program that could turn my passion into a career, I packed up my glossies, hauled out my binders and headed back to school.
After six months of classes, it came time for the final (and much anticipated) portion of the program: the internship. I knew I belonged at a fun, flirty magazine and, lucky for me, that’s exactly where I ended up. After sending out résumé after résumé, a classmate passed on a contact she had at Vervegirl. I sent an email describing my skills and the program I was enrolled in, and asked if they needed an intern. They did. I met with the editor-in-chief as well as the graphic designer who looked over my portfolio and decided that I was a good fit for the magazine’s style and tone.
I am primarily a design intern as my dream is to be a magazine designer, and eventually an art director or a creative director.
On a typical day I assist the designers with the print and online editions. The first week on the job I was responsible for uploading articles to Vervegirl.com and it wasn’t long before I was designing web buttons for an online contests. So exciting! I’m happy to report that since then I’ve been given more responsibilities and more creative freedom. I got to design an online magazine cover, and I re-designed the Rogers Exam Guide for the June issues of Vervegirl and FUEL. I’m also involved in a few editorial tasks such as copy editing, researching for upcoming interviews (you’ll see my interview with Girlicious in the September issue!) and reviewing products.
I got lucky. Vervegirl is located in a beautiful, lofty building in the heart of downtown Toronto. I learn new things every day about what makes a good magazine and I look forward to a future of creating them.
