From agency internships to campus leadership roles, Madi Lock has made the most of her time at The University of Kansas, building professional experience while exploring where a career in design could take her.

 

Sometimes the most meaningful college experiences begin with an unexpected decision. 

What started as an unplanned visit to KU became the beginning of a journey that would help Madi discover her passion for design, build professional connections and find a community of friends and peers within KU’s School of Architecture & Design.

Along the way, she balanced coursework with internships, leadership opportunities and creative projects that helped prepare her for a career after graduation. 

In this Jayhawk POV story, Madi reflects on the experiences that have shaped her time at KU and what she’s learned along the way.

UX/UI Design at the University of Kansas 

My first visit to KU wasn't exactly planned. I was touring K-State when my mom and I decided to stop in Lawrence, mostly as a joke. Coming from Missouri and a family of Mizzou fans, I wasn't expecting much, but the design program ended up changing my mind.

We stopped in the design school's main office, where one of the women working there took time out of her day to give me a full tour. By the end of the visit, I could see myself at KU.

Now, as a senior studying UX/UI Design with a minor in journalism, I've had the chance to explore different areas of design, gain experience in the creative industry, and find a community along the way.

Exploring design at KU 

When I started college, I knew I enjoyed art and making things, but I didn't necessarily have my entire career mapped out. One of the things I appreciate about studying design at KU is the opportunity to explore different areas of the field before deciding where I want to focus.

Through introductory design courses and later UX/UI coursework, I've been able to develop different skills and discover what kinds of creative problems I enjoy solving. 

Getting involved in the design community has been just as important as what I've learned in class. Talking with professors, working alongside other students, and participating in opportunities outside the classroom have helped me better understand the industry and where I might fit into it. 

That exploration has continued through two summer internships at advertising agencies, first in St. Louis and then in Kansas City. Each experience taught me something different about design and the kind of environment I want to work in after graduation. 

Two summers in advertising 

In summer 2025, I interned remotely at OBP Agency in St. Louis. I contributed to digital campaigns, and magazine placements for Visit Missouri Tourism and worked on a mock campaign with the interns for Silver Dollar City. It was my first opportunity to experience agency work and see how design fits into larger campaigns. 

The following summer, I joined Bernstein-Rein Advertising in Kansas City as an Art Director Intern. This experience gave me a different perspective on agency life. While my first internship was fully remote, Bernstein-Rein worked primarily in person, with remote Fridays. 

Experiencing both environments helped me realize that I enjoy the flexibility of a hybrid workplace, but also really value the connections that come from working alongside a team. 

The people you work with have a huge impact on your experience. My fellow interns at Bernstein-Rein became a close-knit group, and even three months after the internship ended, we are still texting and planning meetups for when we are all back in the Kansas City area. 

That sense of community made the summer especially memorable and reinforced how important company culture is when thinking about a future career. 

My internships also helped me clarify my career goals. Studying UX/UI has expanded how I think about design, but my time at Bernstein-Rein reminded me how much I enjoy graphic design and art direction, too. I don't want to limit myself to one kind of design when I can bring different skills and perspectives to the same creative team. 

Taking ownership of a rebrand 

One of my biggest projects at Bernstein-Rein was a rebrand for Coldwater of Lee's Summit, a nonprofit focused on supporting its community through food assistance and other resources. Our team of five interns worked like a small agency, contributing to the strategy and creative development behind the campaign. 

I was the only designer on the team, and I led the visual rebrand, working with Bernstein-Rein's creative team throughout the process. Before developing the visual identity, I also contributed to the strategy behind the campaign. 

This was an opportunity to bring in what I'd learned through my UX/UI coursework, particularly when thinking about the audience. Looking at demographics and psychographics helped me consider not just who we were trying to reach, but also what mattered to them and how the campaign could connect with them. 

I then developed the campaign's new visual identity, including the logo, and worked through multiple rounds of iteration before arriving at the final direction. 

I had never experienced that much iteration in my design process before. At times, it was frustrating to revisit ideas and keep refining the work, especially when I wanted to move forward. But seeing how those rounds of feedback and revision improved the final result changed how I think about the process. Sometimes the first idea isn't the strongest one, and taking the time to question it can make the finished work much better. 

The project also gave me confidence in the skills I'd been developing at KU. After spending a year focused on UX/UI, I was glad to see that I could still approach a project with a graphic designer's perspective. I enjoyed being involved in the strategy while also having the opportunity to shape the visual direction of the campaign. 

As I'm writing this in October, Coldwater has officially launched the rebrand. It's exciting to see the work out in the world, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it supports the organization's future. 

Finding community beyond the classroom 

My experiences at KU have taught me how connected the design community can be. I recently attended a Kansas City Ad Club event and struck up a conversation with a group of people I hadn't met before, only to discover they were all KU alumni from the design or journalism schools. 

It's a reminder that the connections you make at KU can extend well beyond campus.

I also work as a graphic designer for KU Memorial Unions, creating work for the KU Bookstore, KU Dining, and Student Union Activities. Projects like these let me apply what I'm learning in class to real campus communications. 

One project I'm especially excited about is the work I created for UnionFest. Sharing it on LinkedIn helped connect me with KU Admissions and led to this opportunity to share my experience with prospective students. 

Outside of my campus job, this spring I helped organize KU Design Week, coordinating events that connected students with agencies and industry professionals through studio visits, portfolio reviews, and an alumni panel. 

Seeing students take advantage of multiple events made the planning worthwhile. This spring, I also served as a teaching assistant for an Interaction Design course, giving me another opportunity to contribute to the design community. 

Together, these experiences have shown me that growing as a designer means more than developing technical skills. It's also about getting involved, meeting people, and creating opportunities for yourself and others. 

Advice for future Jayhawks 

If you're interested in design but aren't sure which direction you want to pursue, I'd encourage you to give yourself room to explore. KU's introductory design courses expose students to different kinds of projects and areas of the field, which can help you discover interests you didn't know you had. Talk to your professors, get involved in your major, and take advantage of opportunities to learn from people working in the industry. 

You don't have to know exactly what you want to do when you start college. I'm still learning what kind of designer I want to be, and my internships have helped me narrow that down in ways I couldn't have predicted when I first arrived at KU. 

Most importantly, put yourself out there, even when it feels uncomfortable. Apply for the internship, attend the event, introduce yourself to someone new, or volunteer for the project that seems a little intimidating. You get zero of the opportunities you don't take, and some of the most valuable experiences can come from the things you almost talked yourself out of doing. 

I certainly didn't expect a stop in Lawrence to change my plans, but I'm glad I gave it a chance. Looking back, that willingness to explore has shaped my experience here, from discovering my place in design to finding a community and building a foundation for my career.