Insights into student co-ops: Mia Katarina Borjanović McGuire conducts co-op at Školska Knjiga

Mia Katarina Borjanović McGuire is a New Media Design student, who recently completed her co-op at the Croatian bookstore Školska Knjiga. One of the most interesting projects she had worked on for her co-op was creating captivating book cover illustrations and film commercials! Besides that, Mia Katarina shared insights into the new skills she picked up and the advantages of experiential learning.

Q: What new skills did you pick up during your co-op that will be most helpful for your remaining studies and future career?

Mia Katarina: While working at Školska Knjiga, I had the opportunity to learn from many talented designers who worked on major projects. The design department included experts in areas such as book cover and poster design, photography, video editing, and animation. I primarily collaborated with Vanja Perković, the Art Director for Lumen, and learned a lot about the design process for book covers and posters. He emphasized the importance of sketching and idea exchange to enhance design appeal and helped me improve my skills in Photoshop and Illustrator. Additionally, I learned about video editing and animation from Dorotea Škrabo, acquiring new skills in After Effects and participating in filming commercials for social media.

Q: What are the advantages of experiential learning?

Mia Katarina: The advantage of experiential learning is that it exposes you to real-life problems that need solving. It also helps you identify the areas of expertise you enjoy the most, allowing you to focus on those areas and address any skills gaps. RIT Croatia provided me with a foundational knowledge of the programs that designers use daily.

Q: Have you worked on any interesting projects that you can share?

Mia Katarina: I primarily contributed ideas and illustrations. I had the opportunity to create illustrations for a book cover, film commercials, and edit posters that were featured on their social media and in bookstore windows!

Q: What does your day look like while on a co-op?

Mia Katarina: My day would start with brainstorming ideas with the video editor for the day's project. After deciding on our approach, we would film and then edit and animate the clips. After lunch, I would meet with the art director to brainstorm ideas for a book, exchanging sketches based on guidelines from the author and chief editor. We would then work in Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign to find the best solution.