Preparing students for creative careers through mentorship, events, and real-world experience.
Career preparation is embedded into your experience as a Design and Illustration student. From hands-on workshops and dedicated coursework to networking events, visiting professionals, and internship support, you’ll graduate with the tools, confidence, and connections to take the next step in your creative career.
Our signature end-of-year event gives graduating students the chance to showcase their work, meet with industry professionals, and receive valuable feedback. It’s all about building those first professional connections and stepping confidently into the field.
CONNECT is our annual networking event that brings together graduating students and alumni across the fields of design and illustration. Held alongside the Illustration Show—which features student, alumni, and faculty work—this celebratory evening gives students the opportunity to grow their network and share their work in a vibrant, supportive setting.
This annual event features alumni and professionals who have taken creative degrees in unexpected directions. Panelists share how their education helped them thrive in industries beyond traditional creative roles. After the panel, students can meet one-on-one with speakers for resume feedback, conversation, and networking.
Throughout the year, students benefit from a wide range of visiting artist lectures, featuring working professionals from across the fields of design and illustration. These talks offer insight into various creative career paths and provide meaningful opportunities for students to engage with and learn from practitioners actively shaping the industry.
Each of our degree programs combines hands-on learning, mentorship, and professional preparation
Professional development is a core part of your senior-year Portfolio class, designed to help you confidently navigate your next steps after graduation.
This course goes far beyond compiling your work—it’s a comprehensive career prep experience built into your final year. This course ensures that by the time you graduate, you’re not just prepared—you’re confident, strategic, and ready to take the leap.
Through hands-on sessions, guest speakers, and real-time feedback, students:
Learn to curate your strongest work, reflect on your creative process, and present your skills and ideas clearly to potential employers and clients.
Explore how to define and communicate your unique identity as a creative. In our Branding & Promotion workshop, you’ll learn how storytelling, values, and visual identity combine to help you stand out.
In our Resume workshop, we break down how to tailor your resume for different roles and industries, highlight your strengths, and avoid common mistakes that get in the way of job opportunities.
Learn how to navigate job offers, freelance contracts, and project pricing through our Negotiation workshop—an interactive session that covers everything from assertiveness and empathy to real-world role-play scenarios.
In the Social Media & Networking workshop, we explore how to create a strong digital presence and use platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram to open doors to collaborations and job opportunities.
Career panels featuring professionals in UX, design, and illustration offer insights into industry expectations, trends, and the many paths available to you. These sessions include open Q&As and real-world advice on breaking into the field.
The Design and Illustration department offers robust support to help students prepare for and secure internships that align with their goals and interests. Faculty and advisors are available to offer guidance, review materials, and help students connect with potential internship sites—whether you're looking for hands-on studio experience, agency work, or in-house design roles.
Each year, we also host a comprehensive Internship Preparation Workshop where students gain the tools, strategies, and confidence needed to:
Students in our programs have the opportunity to work directly with real-world clients—bringing classroom learning into professional practice. These hands-on projects challenge students to meet deadlines, present their ideas professionally, and deliver polished work to clients in and beyond Philadelphia.
In addition to strengthening portfolios, these experiences build confidence, communication skills, and a deeper understanding of the creative process. Many students form lasting industry connections through this work, and the projects often become standout moments in their education. Some of the clients our students have recently worked with include:
The Design and Illustration Studio is our in-house creative team, led by a graduate assistant in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Each semester, a small group of student designers and illustrators are hired to take on real communication projects—building their professional skills while contributing to work that represents our department and university.
The studio functions like a professional design team, helping students strengthen their collaboration, gain confidence working with clients, and produce high-quality work for a range of audiences across Temple. Recent student-led projects from the studio include:
Take a closer look at everything the Design and Illustration department has to offer.
