That summer, the marketing director and I learned through fire together. They were new to COCA, and I was new to the professional design world. But that combination created space for trust, experimentation, and real responsibility. I was given the opportunity to develop visual identity materials for a nationally recognized arts organization while still working toward my degree. COCA quickly became more than an internship; they kept me on through the rest of college and beyond, allowing me to keep growing with an organization I had admired since childhood.

During my years with COCA, I worked across a wide range of print and visual design projects: annual playbills, booklets, show posters, brochures, fundraising materials, merchandise, wayfinding systems, and full campaign assets. It was hands-on, community-centered, and creatively formative. My experience there shaped my approach to design, blending clarity, storytelling, and emotion, and affirmed my belief in the power of art to connect people and to the spaces where creativity can thrive.