Digit’s Strategy department had the pleasure of hosting WPP Microfellow, Mesky Loane for a week last week. Frankly, it flew by far too quickly. Here are her thoughts on her time with us — NM
Despite thorough Google searches (‘What is business casual? Mistakes not to make on your first day, Advertising for Dummies’) looking for any way possible to create some sense of familiarity, the world I was entering was still unknown. Had Google, my most reliable supporter, really failed me? Or had I, like most other Millennials, just expected too much of the search engine? I was truly conscious for, maybe, the first time, that I effectively had no real tangible skills and limited work experience. Knowing how to find the second differential of an exponential equation was going to be of absolutely no use to me. Design company with technology at its core. Last time I took an art class, the Razor was THE phone to have. Yet, among the bubbling insecurity was a palpable sense of excitement. These were my thoughts precisely at 10:46 on Monday morning- just as I started my brief weeklong internship at Digit.
An open and friendly atmosphere, however, immediately eased my nerves. That initial impression would be proven right time and time again over the week. From the CD (Creative Director) taking all of us interns out for lunch on the first day (which included a brief stop at an Art Gallery- in true Shoreditch style) to the inductions offered by each department, to my mentor who always found ways to allow me to play a meaningful role on interesting projects, a week that could have gone in many directions went in the right one: enjoyable, challenging, educational and truly an insight into the design world.
On Monday I was set my biggest project: auditing Digit’s online presence. A challenge in and of itself, it also made me question how to present criticism in a constructive manner. Tuesday saw me attend the Future’s Company breakfast brief (nicely summed up below) and do an independent audit of an Oxford Street shop.
I also had the opportunity (along with all the other WPP Microfellows) to listen to Jeremy Bullmore reflect on the nature of a message in Communications. Is it that which the sender transmits? Or is it that which the receiver receives? His commanding presence, quick tongue and sharp wit as well as his obvious insight drew widespread admiration from the Microfellows. By Friday, as I was getting used to the hustle and bustle of Old Spitalfields Market, I was ready to present my findings and engage in a dialogue about Digit’s presence online to some members of the management team (yet another testament of Digit’s generosity!).
As the week winds to a close, I can’t help feel a twinge about it being over so soon, but I leave knowing it has certainly been a privilege. A privilege, even my good friend Google couldn’t do justice.
Ps. I would like to extend a BIG thanks to the whole Digit team and more specifically to my mentor, Nomfundo Msomi, for what has been an amazing week!
