Fresh Eyes on the Studio: A Conversation With Jordyn Wolf
If you've been following our studio's work for a while, you know we're endlessly curious about what design looks like through fresh eyes, beyond what a new designer makes. What they notice, what surprises them, what they assumed going in that turns out to be different once they're actually in the room. This summer, Jordyn Wolf, a recent DePaul University graduate, joined us as part of the relaunch of our internship program, which we're bringing back after a nearly five-year hiatus.
One of the throughlines for Jordyn this summer was seeing how collaboration works on real client projects. Her time at One Design gave her a new perspective on what a design team looks like—it’s strategists, writers, and designers all working the same problem from different angles, with everyone clear on their role but genuinely building on each other's thinking.
If you've ever wondered what design school might be leaving out about working in a studio, or you're just curious what a summer here looks like from the inside, read on.
Jordyn, thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions about your time at One Design.
On the impact of the internship on you and your design process
What's something that challenged you to think in a new way?
Every day, I was challenged to think in new ways. From conceptual thinking and developing photo styles to art direction and creating a wireframe that successfully articulates the client's story while making it visually captivating. As well as learning about each client and their company, understanding their language as if it were my own to produce thoughtful, articulate work.
Additionally, before this internship, I didn't have much experience or focus in web design. Getting the chance to help wireframe and test websites really deepened my understanding of the discipline, and helped me see how closely it connects to visual identity.
What's a moment you had to trust the process even when you couldn't see the end result?
While working on a visual expression project for a client, I went through so many iterations of the logo and wordmark that nothing felt quite right, and I got stuck. I knew I had to trust the process and keep moving. I could have spent days refining, but instead I got comfortable moving forward with a design that wasn't 100% polished yet. Shifting my attention to the visual expression work actually helped; the concepts I explored there ended up informing decisions for the logo. It was tough not knowing exactly where I'd land, since the logo wasn't finalized and I was still exploring color, but the project had strong conceptual roots, and that gave me confidence that the work was headed in the right direction, even with a few loose ends still open.
What's something you were taught to do previously that you now approach differently?
Before this internship, I was taught to generate as many concepts as possible before narrowing in; the more options, the better. At One Design, I learned to approach it differently: doing focused research first, like benchmarking competitors or auditing existing patterns, so that by the time I start designing, I'm working from a clear point of view rather than trying to cover every possible direction. It's made my process more intentional.
On the internship and the design industry at large
What’s an aspect of the work that surprised you?
One project that turned out to be more nuanced than I expected was designing a system for the company's internal slide decks. I started by benchmarking as many decks made across the company as I could find, paying close attention to the variations and styles already in use. Once I had the big picture, I ran type studies and eventually landed on type styles and settings the team could easily plug into Figma Slides. There were a lot of small details to work through, including making sure type sizes held up across different screen sizes and building templates that were structured enough to be consistent yet flexible enough to stay visually interesting.
What’s something you believed about working in a design studio/the industry before interning that turned out to be different from what you expected?
Before interning, I assumed I'd be expected to know and use AI throughout my design work. It was refreshing to see how a studio actually leverages AI in its workflow without leaning on it in the creative process itself. I was also struck by how collaborative every team was—everyone has a clear role, but they genuinely work together. There's a strong sense of mutual support and shared passion for design, and it shows not just in the quality of the work but in the relationships built through it.
You get to swap jobs with one person in the studio for a day—who, and why them specifically?
This is tough, but if I had to pick one person to swap jobs with for a day, it would be Melinda (Benoit, ACD). From the moment I met her, I was blown away by her writing. I wish I had her vocabulary and craft for finding the exact right words to tell a brand's story. She has this ability to understand a client so well that the writing feels like it was pulled straight out of your own head, even though the words were never there; she captures the feeling so precisely you think, "I couldn't have said it better myself." Before interning at ODC, a dedicated writer wasn't a role I'd really thought about; now I can't imagine a project without one.
If you could go back in time and give your past self one piece of advice, what would you tell pre-internship Jordyn?
I'd tell pre-internship Jordyn to spend more time just playing around, trying different software, exploring different design styles, and watching tutorials. But most importantly, trust yourself and your work. If you have an idea, document it, sketch it, and mess with it, even if it doesn't go anywhere.
Looking forward
What's one thing you're taking with you that has nothing to do with project work?
Gratitude for the trust the team put in me to contribute real ideas from day one, and for how much I learned simply by being in the studio, on client calls, design reviews, and everyday conversations. I also learned the value of using the resources and network around me, setting up time with people, making the effort to connect, and asking questions outside of my own project work. This internship shaped how I think about design far more than I expected going in.
What are you most looking forward to as you move forward with your career? What’s next for Jordyn?
My next steps are still unknown, and I find that exciting. I'm looking forward to continuing my journey in design, trying different roles, learning more about myself as a designer, and figuring out the kind of work I want to do. This internship exposed me to so many new areas and sectors of design, and I'm eager to keep exploring and learning.
What piece of advice would you give other students starting an internship?
Don't be afraid to share your work, ask for feedback, and collaborate. Communication is key in design, talking with peers, learning from the people around you, and pushing your work conceptually will help you grow. Design isn't meant to be kept to yourself; trust your gut and share it. Intern or not, your ideas and sketches are assets to the creative process.
Be curious and try areas of work you have no experience in. Ask to see files, documents, and past or current projects that get shared with you, even if you're not on that project's team or it's already finished—it's one of the best ways to see other types of design, other processes, the range of work happening around you, and to better learn and understand how the studio operates. And don't be afraid to ask for help or speak up about your workload; it's okay to say you don't have the bandwidth for something. Learning to manage multiple client projects at once is hard, so don't hesitate to say when you're feeling overwhelmed.
We can’t wait to see what’s next in store for Jordyn (she’s quite the rockstar). To connect, check out Jordyn’s website or hit her up on LinkedIn.
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