From the desk of a design intern: 7 Weeks at 7 Layer Studio

by Catherine Gore

I created a series of playing cards titled “7 Weeks at 7 Layer Studio,” each representing a week of my internship at 7 Layer Studio. Drawing inspiration from abstract graphics, I used this project as an opportunity to strengthen my vector-based design skills, which became my primary medium.

Each card is built around a distinct color palette inspired by the original 7 Layer Studio brand system, along with a central form that captures the essence of that particular week. Together, the series functions as both a visual timeline and a personal reflection on my growth, challenges, and creative development throughout the experience.

Week 1: Growth & Discovery

During my first week at 7 Layer Studio, I was learning the foundations of my role, including understanding workflows, familiarizing myself with projects, and navigating different brand systems. This period was defined by growth and discovery.

To reflect this, I created a composition centered around a blooming flower with extending vines.

The organic forms symbolize both personal growth and the process of branching out into new ideas, skills, and responsibilities.

Week 2: Progress & Friction

In my second week, I developed a stronger understanding of the branding systems I was working within and completed my first client-facing project. This marked a shift from learning to actively contributing.

I represented this transition through paper airplanes, symbolizing the act of sending my work out.

Sparks at the tips of the planes reference both the progress I made and the technical challenges I encountered. The overlapping forms and sharp angles create a sense of movement and direction, reflecting a week that felt both productive and slightly unpredictable.

Week 3: Flow & Direction

By week three, I felt more settled and comfortable in my role. My workflow became more fluid, and I was able to approach projects with greater confidence and independence.

I translated this energy into an abstract composition composed of dynamic shapes, bursts, and layered color.

The imagery represents both progress and direction, acknowledging my progress while still working toward a larger goal.

Week 4: Curiosity & Creativity

During week four, I was introduced to a wider range of projects that sparked new levels of creativity and experimentation. This period pushed me to explore unfamiliar tools and techniques.

To capture this sense of momentum, I created a landscape composition featuring a distant sun as a focal point.

The visuals reflect the excitement and creative expansion I experienced, as well as the risks I took to push my work further.

Week 5: Experimentation & Refinement

During week five, I continued working on projects I had started the week prior. I encountered a few roadblocks that required me to take a step back and rethink my approach, but ultimately, these challenges became opportunities to learn and grow.

To represent this, I stacked rectangles and squares in various colors to represent the roadblocks I encountered, as well as the layers of learning and experience that built toward the final product.

The overlapping forms reflect how each challenge added to my process and shaped the work I produced.

Week 6: Process & Momentum

During week six, I continued working on the projects from weeks four and five, beginning to wrap up some of them. For the most part, I did not encounter major roadblocks and was able to work through problems more efficiently.

To represent this, I created a geometric pattern that shares similarities with the previous week, reflecting the continuation of these projects.

I changed the underlying shape from a square to a rectangle to represent the differences in progress between the two weeks.

Week 7: Reflection & Milestones

For week seven, I wanted to represent the end of my internship with a design that circled back to my first card. I created a similar flower design using seven flowers, one for each week, and brought back the same color palette from the first card.

I added squares around specific parts of the flowers to highlight memorable moments from my time at 7 Layer Studio, like hanging out with Rocky, getting cookies at Three Daughters, and having the opportunity to learn from everyone on the team.

Together, moments like these capture the people, experiences, and growth that made my time at 7 Layer Studio so meaningful.

Catherine Gore, Design Intern
Meet the team