Written & Edited by Lindsey Lawrence

What does it take to complete a fast-paced, 12-week internship at a leading marketing and branding agency in one of Florida’s most vibrant small towns? Welcome to your crash course in creativity, communication, and real-world collaboration. 

Internships are inherently daunting. The pressure to impress industry professionals while simultaneously absorbing everything and learning as much as you can be intense. But from the first day we walked in and met the team, it was clear we had stepped into a welcoming, rewarding opportunity in a supportive, growth-focused environment. We were ready for 12 weeks of exposure to the inner workings of a leading branding agency. 

Sterling joined HatchMark’s social media team, assisting with content creation. His day-to-day work included planning, filming, and editing social posts and short-form videos for clients like BEAM Minerals, DeLuna Coffee, and Tap The Coast, as well as internally for HatchMark Studio. 

Sam and I dove right into a branding project for a real client, Vista TechWerx, who was selected from a competitive pool of applicants. They launched their company with just enough light branding to get started and wanted to circle back for a makeover to better stand out in the federal contracting space.

Guided by the HatchMark team, we collaborated closely with the client to understand their mission and vision for their brand. I crafted a comprehensive messaging system to lay the foundation for Vista TechWerx’s brand identity. Sam built a strong logo and immersive visual system, developing a full suite of graphic elements and assets to accompany it. The result was a dynamic brand identity that balanced the clarity, confidence, and innovation at Vista TechWerx’s core. Read more about our creative process and see our final product here.

Meet the Interns & What We Learned

When I started to approach this reflection on my summer experience, I knew I wanted to hear the most valuable lessons straight from the sources. I asked everyone to share the most valuable lessons they learned and any advice for future interns. Here’s a little bit about each of us and what we’re taking with us moving forward. 

I’ll start with an easy one. I’m currently the copywriting intern for the 2025 Hatchery Program. This fall, I’ll be a sophomore at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where I’m majoring in Public Relations with a Business minor. Outside of school and work, I enjoy baking, reading, and going on walks. The Hatchery Internship has been my first foray into the marketing world, giving me valuable insight into agency life and the marketing industry. Here’s a few of the lessons I learned here: 

1. Writing demands constant growth. There’s always more to learn about writing: which tones resonate with different audiences? Why did certain messaging fall flat for a particular client? What makes copy effective for various marketing goals? How does AI digest and utilize your words? If you recognize that there’s always room to improve, you’ll position yourself for lasting success and meaningful improvement. 
2. Hands-on experience > everything. Internships may start as resume-boosters, but the real value lies in the work itself. There’s only so much you can learn in a classroom; working with real clients and observing how an agency operates is a fundamentally valuable experience for any student. Although I’ll be back in classes again very soon, I’m walking away from this internship with knowledge I could have only gained by getting my hands dirty. 
3. Take advantage of your most valuable resource: people. I’m not one to typically ask for help, but reaching out for a quick review of an article or a brief look-over of headline ideas became second nature. Industry professionals, especially those at HatchMark, want to see you grow and succeed. In addition to their valuable insights, I learned just as much from observing their process as I did from doing the work myself. 

Sterling White is the content creation intern this summer. He just graduated from the University of West Florida with a Communications degree, concentrated in advertising and public relations, and he’ll be heading to Florida Tech in the fall to pursue his master’s in Business Administration and play collegiate basketball. In his free time, he enjoys photography and video editing, chess, and (of course) basketball. Here are some lessons he learned during his time with HatchMark’s social media team: 

1. Time management is key. When working in a team, being mindful of both your own responsibilities and your teammates’ helps everyone work more efficiently. I learned to map out my day with purpose, making it easy to shift gears between working individually and collaborating with the social team without losing momentum. It also helped my individual work stay intentional, focused, and efficient. 
2. Quality over speed. There’s no point in rushing through a project if you’ll just have to circle back and fix mistakes. Taking the time to get it right the first time saves more time in the long run and leads to better results. It’s about working smarter, not faster. 
3. Work feels easier in a positive environment. One of the biggest takeaways from my internship at HatchMark Studio is the importance of a non-toxic work environment. When you’re genuinely excited to show up, collaborate, and be around your team, the days are easier and more rewarding. This kind of culture doesn’t just boost morale; it brings out the best in everyone. 

Sam McKean is this summer’s graphic design intern. He’s entering his senior year at Tulane University in New Orleans, finishing out a degree in Design. Sam also serves as the merchandise chair for Tulane’s water polo team, and enjoys films, illustrations, and beach days. Here are a few of the most impactful lessons he learned from working with HatchMark’s graphic designers: 

1. The best ideas don’t arrive fully formed. It takes a lot to refine your concepts into the best versions of themselves. The logo development process taught me that my strongest result would start with fifty simple sketches in my sketchbook. It often takes multiple tries, iterations, and edits to fully elevate your ideas into polished products. 
2. Collaboration fosters creativity. I had the opportunity to sit in on “creative connects,” where the creatives would share their work and gather feedback from the team. Watching them bounce ideas off of each other and share in their creative processes demonstrated to me the importance of teamwork in creative spaces. Seeing their work also pushed me to challenge myself and grow every single day. 
3. The design industry is changing. Fast. Trends and technology are constantly reshaping the world of graphic design. What’s current today might feel outdated by next month, and you don’t want to be left steps behind in a fast-moving industry. To stay ahead of the curve, it’s essential to keep learning outside of the classroom.

Final Thoughts on the Hatchery Internship

Looking back, this internship was more than just a resume builder. It was a deep dive into the pace and pressure of agency life. We were entrusted with meaningful work, creative decisions, and client collaboration from day one to foster real growth. This experience taught us how to handle constructive criticism and be confident in our work, facing new challenges with ease. Now, at the end of this program, we each have a stronger grasp of what it takes to be notable and successful in this industry, and a portfolio of real, impactful work to show for it. 

One of the best parts about this internship was the unique, welcoming team environment. Working with people who are both coworkers and friends made every day in the office feel relaxed and fun. Between team lunches and monthly cheese boards, we had the opportunity to truly get to know the HatchMark team and feel like a part of it. The sense of camaraderie and encouragement made even the busiest days enjoyable, and proved how a strong team culture can make all the difference in how you thrive at work. 

As we wrap up the summer, we’re each walking away with more than just new skills; we’ve gained insight into our strengths, clarity on our interests, and a deeper understanding of how creatives can work together to bring brands to life. The roles we each played shaped our takeaways, and every task added a layer to our growth as young professionals. Working at HatchMark gave us the space to learn by doing, ask questions, and grow in an environment that felt equal parts professional and personal. 

More than anything, this internship showed us the value of being creative, curious, and collaborative. No matter where we go from here, we’ll carry with us the lessons we’ve learned and gratitude for a summer that challenged us, inspired us, and reminded us why we chose this field in the first place.