Core77

Over at Coroflot's Creative Seeds blog, Carl Alviani posted a great article on interns and internships, and how to make (both) work for you. There's a ton there to take away, but some of the juiciest bits are about the paid versus unpaid debate. Here's a nibble:

In a broader philosophical context, there's a long-range reason to create a paid internship that might be more compelling. Many critics of "design eliteism" have pointed out that the paucity of good design for the lower-income masses is partly a result of the middle- to upper-class backgrounds of most designers--frequently, those who were able to work wage-free in an expensive major city for several months as part of their education. While there's a strong argument that working for no money is just another part of investing in a good education, students relying on financial aid to fund their way often have no choice but to earn money over the summer or immediately after graduation. If nothing in their field can pay some part of the rent, a summer at Barnes and Noble will at least net some cash and discounted Taschen books. Providing no pay eliminates a large and potentially valuable batch of students from the running: talent-rich, highly motivated, and cash-poor.

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