From Concepts to Campaigns: My Internship at Steve Madden
Hello, my name is Gabrielle Geftman! I am a rising senior at Temple majoring in Advertising with a concentration in Art Direction. This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Steve Madden in New York City as their Art Direction Intern. This experience has been a dream come true, combining my passions for fashion, art direction, and marketing under the guidance of incredibly talented professionals.
Moving to New York City and working at Steve Madden has been surreal. Under the mentorship of Art Director Tina Bearden and Stylist Lydia Binford, I’ve been immersed in the creative process that brings Steve Madden’s iconic brand to life. My responsibilities are diverse and hands-on, ranging from assisting in photoshoots to contributing to marketing campaigns.
One of my primary tasks is assisting in and attending photoshoots. This involves organizing clothes and shoes, preparing sets, and supporting the team to ensure everything runs smoothly. Working with and observing Tina and Lydia has been incredibly inspiring. Their ability to transform creative concepts into captivating visual content has taught me so much about art direction, styling, and the fashion marketing industry.
Participating in the creation of mood boards and visual brainstorming sessions has been another highlight. Collaborating with the team to develop the visual direction for campaigns has sharpened my creative thinking and planning skills. Each session is a dynamic blend of creativity and strategy, focusing on how to best represent the brand’s image and engage our target audience.
Through this internship, I’ve gained invaluable experience and skills directly relevant to my concentration in Art Direction. The practical knowledge and mentorship from Tina and Lydia have been crucial in shaping my understanding of the industry. Their guidance has boosted my confidence and prepared me for future roles in the fashion and marketing sectors.
Interning at Steve Madden has solidified my career aspirations. The experience has provided a perfect bridge between my academic learning and practical application, paving the way for my future in creative marketing. I’ve had the opportunity to start building a strong network of creatives in my field through this internship, and I’m so grateful for this experience.
As I look forward to my senior year at Temple, I’m confident that the skills and connections I’ve gained this summer will serve as a strong foundation for my career. Whether at Steve Madden or another fashion company, I’m eager to continue my journey in the art direction industry.
Hi Gabrielle,
What an amazing opportunity! It’s super inspiring to hear such an amazing experience from a fellow Temple student in the Art Direction concentration. The amount of time and dedication you put into assisting photoshoots is amazing! From how you prepare sets, create mood boards, and take part in brainstorming sessions, your experience inspires me to strive forward with my creative side and not be afraid to explore all the possibilities art direction as a career has to offer. I never even considered tapping into the fashion industry with my art direction knowledge, and your story definitely has got me interested in it now!
It’s awesome to hear that interning at Steve Madden has solidified your career goals. Art Direction in the advertising world is super fascinating and is always evolving. The career path has so many layers to it and it’s great to hear you got to participate in many hands-on projects that allowed you to explore your passion. Good luck with all you do in the future!
Hi Gabrielle,
Your blog talking about your experience working at Steve Madden as an Art Direction Intern opened my eyes to how incredible this opportunity is. I remember you talked about this during orientation last month, and I remember thinking how amazing that was. Working in something you’re passionate about not only helps you gain access to fields you’re interested in but also makes your experience enjoyable. The ability to work a photo shoot and spread your creative ideas with an iconic brand is astonishing. From the skills and learning experience you described, I see outstanding opportunities coming your way in the near future!
Hi Gabrielle,
Reading your post showed how passionate you are for art direction and fashion. The hands on experience that you’ve been able to receive at Steve Madden sounds amazing and how colleagues are able to help shape your skills and confidence within the industry. The skills you’ve gained here sound very crucial for this industry and I’m excited to see where this experience takes you and your career!
Hi Gabrielle!
This sounds like such an amazing opportunity! It’s so cool that you were able to work in New York doing what you’re passionate about is truly inspiring. It sounds like working at Steve Madden has been a great experience for you and would be amazing for others who are passionate about fashion as well as Art Direction. You’ve done a lot of things that I wouldn’t think of to be a part of Art Direction, but it all sounds really cool. I feel inspired to keep working towards doing things on the creative side, despite also being in the Brand Strategy concentration. I hope something comes from this in the future, you definitely seem like you’re ready to jump in and help the Steve Madden team at any time.