Intership︎
Keep it short. Your email is your cover letter now, and it should be about 150 words: three short paragraphs and a signature. A creative director should be able to read it in under a minute without scrolling. If it's longer, cut it.
Think about the order. The person you're writing to will usually see your email first, then your portfolio link, then your resume. Unless you have met them, the email is your first impression. Its only job is to get them to click your portfolio.
Write a clear subject line. Put yourself in their shoes: what would get you to open an email if you were a creative director? Be specific and short.
Make it about them. Be direct, and write to one person. Say how you found them or their work, and why it resonates with you. Mention one specific project, not “your work.”. And be very careful not to mix up firms or designers.
Find the right person. A general hello@studio.com address rarely gets a reply, so find a specific person to write to. A junior or mid-level designer is often a better first contact than the creative director or CEO, who are the busiest people in the studio.
Don’t copy and paste. Never send the same email to everyone. One generic email can’t fit every person you write to or every reason you’re writing. Copying and pasting also shows: swapped-in names and pasted text often end up in a different font, size or spacing from the rest of the email. A few personal, well-researched emails will get more replies than one generic email sent to 50 people.
Show one thing. Don’t repeat your resume. Pick one or two projects that relate to what they do, and link to them. If they do branding, show a branding project. If they’re a digital agency looking for UX/UI designers, don’t lead with print andpackaging. The more specific you are, the more likely they are to click.
Ask for something clear. End with a call to action: applying to a posted internship, asking for a 15-minute Zoom chat at a time that suits them, or asking a specific question. Don’t end with ‘I look forward to hearing from you.” You have to make the first move.
Build a connection. You are starting a relationship, not just asking for a job. Even if they don’t have an opening, a good email and strong work can lead to a conversation, feedback, or a referral.
Paragraph 1: Who you are and why you are writing. One or two sentences. Don’t start with "My name is ___ and I go to KU." Start with how you know them: a referral, a job listing, a talk, an article, a project you admired.
Paragraph 2: Make it personal, then connect it to you. Tell them why you chose to write to them specifically. Be genuine and specific, not flattering. Did you love a project they made? Has their work changed how a brand or magazine you follow looks? Tell them what it is and why it stuck with you. Then connect it to one project of yours, with a link.
Paragraph 3: Your call to action. One clear ask, and thank them for their time.
Salutation,
Your Name
Portfolio link
LinkedIn link
Don’t attach a PDF portfolio unless they ask for one; send the link instead.
TIPS
Online Resources
Coverletter
Keep it short. Your email is your cover letter now, and it should be about 150 words: three short paragraphs and a signature. A creative director should be able to read it in under a minute without scrolling. If it's longer, cut it.
Think about the order. The person you're writing to will usually see your email first, then your portfolio link, then your resume. Unless you have met them, the email is your first impression. Its only job is to get them to click your portfolio.
Write a clear subject line. Put yourself in their shoes: what would get you to open an email if you were a creative director? Be specific and short.
- Summer Design Internship: Jane Smith, KU Graphic Design
- Referred by Sam Lee: KU design student, branding portfolio
- Question about your Riverline packaging project
Make it about them. Be direct, and write to one person. Say how you found them or their work, and why it resonates with you. Mention one specific project, not “your work.”. And be very careful not to mix up firms or designers.
Find the right person. A general hello@studio.com address rarely gets a reply, so find a specific person to write to. A junior or mid-level designer is often a better first contact than the creative director or CEO, who are the busiest people in the studio.
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Studio website: Check the About, Team or Contact pages for names and emails. Some studios list a separate email for jobs or internships. If you can't find a name, it's fine to email or call the studio and ask who handles internships.
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LinkedIn: Search the studio's name, then click People to see who works there and what they do. If someone's email isn't listed, send a connection request with a short note.
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Instagram: If you still can't find an email, you can message a designer and politely ask for the best address to reach them. Say why you're asking, and check their bio first; some people ask for no DMs.
Don’t copy and paste. Never send the same email to everyone. One generic email can’t fit every person you write to or every reason you’re writing. Copying and pasting also shows: swapped-in names and pasted text often end up in a different font, size or spacing from the rest of the email. A few personal, well-researched emails will get more replies than one generic email sent to 50 people.
Show one thing. Don’t repeat your resume. Pick one or two projects that relate to what they do, and link to them. If they do branding, show a branding project. If they’re a digital agency looking for UX/UI designers, don’t lead with print andpackaging. The more specific you are, the more likely they are to click.
Ask for something clear. End with a call to action: applying to a posted internship, asking for a 15-minute Zoom chat at a time that suits them, or asking a specific question. Don’t end with ‘I look forward to hearing from you.” You have to make the first move.
Build a connection. You are starting a relationship, not just asking for a job. Even if they don’t have an opening, a good email and strong work can lead to a conversation, feedback, or a referral.
HOW TO
Writing your first one is hard. Write a couple of drafts and get feedback before you send.Paragraph 1: Who you are and why you are writing. One or two sentences. Don’t start with "My name is ___ and I go to KU." Start with how you know them: a referral, a job listing, a talk, an article, a project you admired.
A referral: Professor Lee suggested I reach out after I told her how much I admired Northfield Studio’s identity for the Prairie Arts Festival. I’m a junior in Graphic Design at KU, and I’m writing about your summer design internship.
A job listing: I saw your summer design internship posted on AIGA Design Jobs, and I applied right away because Northfield Studio’s wayfinding work is the reason I got interested in environmental design. I’m a junior studying Graphic Design at KU.
A talk or article: I heard Maria Chen speak about Northfield Studio’s rebrand of the Kansas City Public Library at this fall’s AIGA Kansas City event, and her point about designing for every reader has stayed with me. I’m a junior in Graphic Design at KU, and I’d love to learn more about how your studio works.
Following them on Instagram: I’ve followed Northfield Studio on Instagram since your type posters for the Lawrence Jazz Festival, and your behind-the-scenes posts on the hand-lettering process are a big part of why I started drawing letters myself. I’m a junior in Graphic Design at KU, and I’m writing to ask about summer internships.
A list from faculty: My KU Professors shared a list of studios they recommend, and Northfield Studio stood out right away because of your packaging for Prairie Moon Farm. I’m a junior in Graphic Design, and I’m writing to ask whether you take summer interns.
Paragraph 2: Make it personal, then connect it to you. Tell them why you chose to write to them specifically. Be genuine and specific, not flattering. Did you love a project they made? Has their work changed how a brand or magazine you follow looks? Tell them what it is and why it stuck with you. Then connect it to one project of yours, with a link.
Paragraph 3: Your call to action. One clear ask, and thank them for their time.
Salutation,
Your Name
Portfolio link
LinkedIn link
Don’t attach a PDF portfolio unless they ask for one; send the link instead.
Jane Smith
janesmith.myportfolio.com
linkedin.com/in/janesmith
TIPS
- Keep it to about 150 words. Shorter is better.
- Be formal. Designers are casual, but your first email shouldn’t be.
- Address it “Dear First Last.” Check the spelling, and skip Mr. and Ms.
- Name the company. Never write “your company.”
- Be specific about one or two things they’ve done, and one project of yours (link to it).
- Don’t tell them you’re qualified. Let your work show it.
- Don’t list software unless the posting asks.
- Don’t list your phone number in the body of the email.
- Add the recipient’s address last, right before you send. That way you can’t send it early or to the wrong person, and the name in the greeting always matches the address.
- No typos. Read it out loud, then have someone else read it.
Online Resources
- A guide to writing and sending cold emails (Creative Lives in Progress)
- How to Write a Good Cold Email for Job Applications (Designlab)
- The Graphic Design Cover Letter Guide (Dribbble)
- Designer cover letter mistakes (Millo).
- 10 Mistakes Designers Make When Applying for Jobs (Go Media).
- Please Avoid Making These Mistakes We Often See on Design Resumes (Go Media).
- Six common portfolio mistakes, and how to fix them (Creative Lives in Progress).
- Most Common Mistakes