Practicum Week 2: The Highlights Reel

Amelia Bouman Practicum: Brainchild on Location Feedback

Yelizaveta Borissova Practicum: Cossette Outside the Studio

Ananya Suresh Kumar Practicum: Porchlight Press Hot Off the Press

Week 2 of Practicum brought confidence, challenges, and growth. From mastering workflows to tackling tight deadlines, students embraced collaboration, client interactions, and industry realities. Surprise wins, office culture, and personal breakthroughs highlighted the week, proving they’re no longer newbies but impactful contributors. The momentum is real—keep pushing!

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One week down, and the momentum is real. Week 2 brought a wave of confidence, bigger challenges, and a deeper understanding of your roles. From finding your groove within your teams to tackling unexpected tasks like pros, this week was all about growth, collaboration, and a few surprises along the way. Let’s dive into the highlights.

Settling In & Hitting Stride

The first-week jitters? Officially in the rearview. This week, many of you started to feel a shift—settling into a comfortable rhythm and owning your place on the team. Tasks that once felt overwhelming are now second nature, and for some, your responsibilities have already expanded beyond expectations. Whether stepping up to new challenges, adapting to a faster workflow, or simply embracing the unexpected, you’re proving you belong.

This week started with a sense of momentum—I feel like I’m settling into my role, getting more comfortable with the team, and finally understanding the workflow. It’s all starting to click.
— Tolan Greyhaven

Lily Rosen Practicum: Onbox Creative Office Dog

Angelica Blanch Practicum: Glasfurd and Walker Creative Office Dog

Ava Shahres Practicum: Definitely Real Creative Office Dog

Deepening Your Industry Understanding

This week, the realities of the industry hit hard—deadlines are tighter, collaboration is non-negotiable, and the pace is relentless. Some of you faced your first client reviews or turned around projects in hours instead of days. Seeing your work go live? A major milestone that made it all feel real.

I had my first real deadline this week, and I wasn’t sure if I could make it. But I did. Seeing my work actually go out into the world made it feel real.
— Samantha Yeung

Katarina Yaremkewich Practicum: Origin Whistler Creative Space

Ananya Suresh Kumar Practicum: Porchlight Press Top-Down View

Amelia Bouman Practicum: Brainchild in Production

Collaboration was a recurring theme. Watching designers, writers, developers, and account managers come together to create something bigger than the sum of its parts was eye-opening. Client interactions also ramped up, with some of you presenting your work directly to clients for the first time—a nerve-wracking but rewarding experience.

I’ve noticed that the way I think about design is shifting. I’m realizing that the best ideas come from collaboration, and feedback is just part of making something great.
— Katarina Yaremkewich

Carmen Huang Practicum: Engine Digital Creative Team in Gastown

Makayla Crenshaw Practicum: The Tyee Creative Brief

Big Lessons This Week

Iteration is the name of the game: What felt like “final” work in school is now just the first draft. Feedback, revisions, and refining ideas are all part of the process—and you’re starting to embrace it.

Time management is your new best friend: Balancing full-time work with creativity is a skill, and the fast pace is both challenging and weirdly exhilarating.

It’s weird, but I think I’m starting to like the fast-paced nature of this job. I thought deadlines would stress me out, but they actually make me feel more engaged.
— Emma Do
At first, I was hesitant to speak up in meetings, but I pushed myself to ask a question—and it led to a whole conversation where I got to contribute ideas. That felt really good.
— Karen Unnsteinsdottir

Karen Unnsteinsdottir Practicum: Hanger 18 Studio Lunch

Nathan Aguilar Practicum: Tidepool Games Week 2 Announcements

Surprise Wins & Fun Moments

Beyond the grind, you’re starting to soak up the culture of your workplaces. Office rituals like soup clubs, team outings, and group design challenges added a layer of fun and camaraderie to the experience. Unexpected opportunities also came your way—some of you got pulled into bigger projects, contributed to rebrands, or even started designing for real-world products. Personal breakthroughs were another highlight, with many of you sharing that you felt genuinely proud of the work you did this week—something you didn’t expect to feel so soon.

Emma Do Practicum: Raglans In-House Design Characters for Socials

Yohahnah Loker Practicum: North Shore Neighbourhood House Creative Workspace

The Takeaway?

Week 2 wasn’t just about getting comfortable—it was about stepping up. You’re no longer the newbies; you’re contributors. Your ideas, skills, and voices are starting to shine, and it’s clear you’re making an impact. If this much growth has happened in just two weeks, imagine where you’ll be by the end of this practicum. Keep pushing, keep learning, and keep owning it. The best is yet to come.

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