Learning the Rhythm of a Real Design Workplace

Learning & Observations  | Week 1

As part of my final semester of post-graduation at École Intuit Lab, Mumbai , I have started working with the in-house design team at Anchor Consumer Products as an Executive Graphic Designer. The environment is structured, organized, and strongly guided by timelines, which has helped me understand how design functions as part of a larger system. Coming from freelancing and college projects, and a more free-flowing way of working this first week marked an important shift in the way I approach work.

The initial days were mainly about settling in and understanding how things work. I spent time getting to know the team, learning about the company, and understanding how design supports different departments. Going through brand guidelines, previous artworks, and the brand’s presence across platforms helped me see how consistency plays a crucial role when working at scale. Every visual decision connects back to the brand, and that awareness was one of my first key takeaways.

One of the biggest learnings this week was understanding how work is prioritised. Tasks are planned based on timelines, platform requirements, and urgency. This pushed me to be more organised in my approach, creating to-do lists, breaking tasks down, and structuring my day around deliverables. It was a practical lesson in managing time and responsibilities within a professional setup.

As the week progressed, I began working on hands-on design tasks, mainly focused on adaptations. This included resizing creatives, working on end slides for ads and videos, and adapting posters for different SKUs and countries. Through this process, I learned how designs need to remain visually consistent even when the language, region, or context changes. I also explored AI-generated elements for certain tasks, which gave me insight into how newer tools are integrated within structured workflows.

This week also encouraged me to grow technically. I started using Photoshop more actively, which isn’t my strongest tool yet, but I’m genuinely open and willing to learn. With guidance from the team, the learning process felt manageable and motivating rather than overwhelming.

Beyond work tasks, there were small but meaningful everyday learnings as well. Navigating the daily commute and figuring out the most efficient travel route helped me build a routine and understand how much planning goes into office life. These adjustments, though subtle, played a role in helping me settle into this new rhythm.

To stay connected to my creative side, I usually sketch during my lunch breaks. It’s a small habit, but it helps me keep my illustration and artistic instincts alive while adapting to a structured work environment.

Overall, this week wasn’t about big creative outputs. It was about understanding structure, timelines, and prioritisation, and learning how design functions within a real-world professional setting. It feels like the beginning of a steady learning curve one step at a time.

For Future Interns

Working in a structured design environment requires clarity, organisation, and the ability to prioritise tasks effectively. Creating simple to-do lists, understanding timelines, and observing how teams collaborate can make the transition into professional work much smoother.