Written by May Soares
The first steps. The first challenges. The internships. Being a student means gaining knowledge through trial and error. Being an intern means taking that knowledge across the bridge into the real world with someone guiding the way.
With that in mind, HatchMark Studio (HMS) created The Hatchery. A unique experience that immerses students in agency life and gives them the chance to work as professionals under supervision. Because, as Savannah Coates, Social Media Manager at HMS, put it, working on real client projects teaches lessons you simply can’t replicate in a classroom.
In 2026, The Hatchery kicked off its second year, carried forward with HatchMark Studio’s energy — excitement, inspiration, and professionalism. The goal was to find a graphic designer, a copywriter, and a social media specialist; interns who, together, would form a strong team ready to take on a full-scale rebranding project for a local nonprofit selected by HMS. After reviewing an exceptional applicant pool, the chosen three were Seth Mitchell (Graphic Design), May Soares (Copywriting), and Kendal Weston (Social Media).
Together, the three arrived at HatchMark. Quiet, keeping to themselves. An attitude that quickly revealed itself to be professional and meaningful. They were simply heads down and ready to work, said Liz Dupaw, Creative Director at HMS. They took the client work seriously, treating this like a real job rather than just an internship. That attitude made me proud, and it reinforced that this program carries real weight.
The Client
The nonprofit chosen for the rebrand project was Sunday’s Child, a member-powered philanthropic organization that promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion throughout the Pensacola Bay Area. After more than a decade of growth, the organization was ready for a brand that more clearly reflected who it had become and where it hoped to go next. The interns were entrusted with helping Sunday’s Child shape that next chapter, from its visual identity and messaging to the way it would show up on social media.
The Designer
A Business Administration student with a focus on Graphic Design, Seth is a senior at Pensacola State College and wanted the chance to experience what it’s like to work as a graphic designer inside a real agency. He was responsible for Sunday’s Child’s entire visual identity: the new logo, color palette, typography, and full visual system the brand would carry forward. Under the supervision of Liz Dupaw, he spent weeks developing concepts, presenting ideas, and returning to the drawing board whenever feedback called for a new direction.
That constant cycle of revision was the most challenging part of the internship for him. But it was by repeating that process that Seth learned to trust himself more and be patient with his own creative process, understanding that every return to the drawing board wasn’t a setback, but a natural part of the path toward the right design for the client. He showed real growth in speed, iteration, and client communication… With each client interaction, his confidence and clarity improved noticeably, said Liz.
After coming to understand that every stumble was part of the process, Seth says that if he could go back in time, he’d remind himself not to doubt himself so much. He was there for a reason. For him, The Hatchery was the beginning of something that’s still hard to put into words: his future.
The Copywriter
A senior communications major at the University of West Florida with a certificate in social media, May wanted an internship that would challenge her. As the team’s copywriter, she was responsible for understanding who Sunday’s Child truly was and translating that into its new brand message. Under the supervision of Logan Singleton, Marketing Director at HMS, she worked on shaping the organization’s personality and building its North Star, which included the brand’s mission, vision, and tagline.
Gaining such a deep understanding of the organization, the most challenging part of the internship for May became summarizing who the client was into one short sentence to create the new tagline. It took days of moving words around like puzzle pieces, brainstorming with the team, and listening to feedback until landing on something that felt right. But that process taught her the value of staying calm and enjoying the moment. Along the way, she discovered how much she loves working closely with a team.
If she could go back in time, May says she’d remind herself to breathe and relax, because everything would turn out fine. On her growth, Logan stated, Although she was capable from day one, her confidence compounded week over week as she became more independent and polished in her work. For her, The Hatchery was the start of her professional journey and a beautiful chapter in her life.
The Social Media Strategist
Kendal— a senior communications major at the University of West Florida with a focus on advertising and social media—wanted to learn and gain hands-on experience managing social accounts. As the social media intern, she was responsible for relaunching the brand’s new presence across social platforms. Her work, however, couldn’t begin until Seth and May had finished building the brand’s core identity. Under Savannah’s supervision, she spent that waiting period gaining hands-on experience with the agency’s day-to-day clients, helping produce and edit Reels, researching trends, and planning social calendars.
For someone without much prior experience in the field, understanding what each client wanted in terms of content was Kendal’s biggest challenge during the internship. But it was precisely that variety of clients that taught her the importance of adaptability and flexibility in this line of work. With the support of her supervisor, who pushed her to be better, she learned to trust herself and to reach beyond what she believed she was capable of. Kendal grew tremendously in both the quality of her work and her attention to detail… I watched her learn the pace of client work, better understand client needs, and apply feedback with each project, said Savannah.
Today, Kendal knows that a creative career where she can collaborate with a team across different projects is exactly what she wants for herself. For her, The Hatchery was the start of finding her footing for her future career.
Coming Together
As the weeks went on, the three grew as professionals and came to understand just how much each other’s work mattered to the final project. It isn’t a one-person job. Everyone works together to create a brand that speaks to a vast majority of people, said Kendal.
The group that arrived quiet and observant met every goal set before them. They dove into it, learned through the challenges, and helped bring Sunday’s Child’s new brand to life. As Logan put it: This is a talented group… I know they’re up to the task, and I’m sure we’ll see them all achieve great things.
What lies ahead for them remains unknown, but one thing is certain: they are moving forward with new knowledge, real experience, and the confidence that comes from facing real challenges, collaborating with a team, and watching their work come to life within an agency. They’ve crossed the bridge into the real world, and for anyone thinking about crossing that same bridge one day, The Hatchery shows that the first steps of a career don’t have to be taken alone. With guidance, responsibility, and a willingness to learn, an internship can become so much more than a summer experience; it can be the beginning of everything that comes next.
