March:
Tuesday, March 3 | 3 hours | 36 Hours Total
Today, I worked in Photoshop to design and produce the staff name badges for the Shorebirds’ summer staff. I first created the badge template which included the Shorebirds branding and overall layout for the badges. After completing the design, I was given a list of all summer staff members and began creating an individual badge for each person. For every badge, I entered the staff member’s name into the template, adjusted the text to ensure proper formatting, and exported the finished file. I repeated this process for each staff member on the list. This project required careful attention to detail to ensure consistency across all badges and that each name was formatted correctly.
Reflection:
This task helped me improve my skills in Photoshop and reinforced the importance of attention to detail when creating materials that will be used by an entire staff. Although the work was repetitive, it taught me how to stay organized and consistent when producing multiple versions of the same design. I also learned how important it is to double-check formatting and spelling when working with names and official materials. This experience helped me become more comfortable using Photoshop for practical workplace projects rather than just creative designs.
Thursday March 5 | 3 hours | 39 Hours Total
Today, my director and I reviewed all the staff name badge files I created earlier in the week. We carefully checked each badge to ensure that all staff names were spelled correctly and that the formatting remained consistent across every file. After confirming that the badges were accurate, I printed all of the finalized badge designs. Once printed, I cut each badge to the correct size and laminated them to make them durable for staff to use throughout the season.
Reflection:
Reviewing the badge files with my director showed me how important quality control is in a professional setting. Even small spelling errors could create issues for staff members, so taking the time to carefully check each file was necessary. The printing, cutting, and laminating process also showed me that marketing and operations often involve hands-on tasks behind the scenes that help the organization run smoothly.
Friday March 6 | 4 hours | 43 Hours Total
At the beginning of my day, I finished preparing the staff name badges by punching a hole in each laminated badge so they could be attached to staff lanyards. Once the badges were fully completed, my director had me come up with a complete list of ideas for the upcoming Shorebirds Media Day. I brainstormed several video concepts that could be filmed with players during media day to create engaging social media content. Some of the ideas I developed included creative transition videos between players, a behind-the-scenes “day in the life” style video showing the media day process, and a video filmed from the perspective of the team photographer. This task allowed me to think creatively about content that would be entertaining for fans while showcasing the players and the team’s behind-the-scenes aspects.
Reflection:
Brainstorming media day video ideas allowed me to shift into a more creative mindset. I enjoyed thinking of ways to create engaging content that fans would enjoy and that would highlight the players’ personalities. This activity helped me practice creative thinking for social media and reminded me that content creation is a big part of sports marketing. It was exciting to contribute ideas that could potentially be used for the team’s media day coverage.
Tuesday, March 10 | 3 hours | 46 Hours Total
This morning at the Shorebirds, I worked on social media content related to the 30-day countdown to Opening Day that I had created a few weeks earlier. I selected two ideas from that calendar and designed them into actual posts using Canva. The first design was a “Save the Date” style graphic reminding fans that Opening Day is April 7. The goal was to present the reminder in a visually engaging way that would grab attention on social media. My director really liked the design and ended up posting it on the Shorebirds’ Instagram and Facebook accounts. The second graphic I designed was based on the idea “If the Stadium Could Text Us.” This post featured a humorous fake iMessage conversation with Perdue Stadium saying something like, “um hey… you coming back soon?” The concept was meant to create a fun and relatable way to remind fans that baseball season is approaching while also highlighting the stadium as part of the Shorebirds experience.
Reflection:
Today was good practice on turning my brainstorms into actual designs. I was able to make my ideas come to life. It was especially rewarding to see one of my designs get approved and posted on the teams social media accounts, which made me feel like my I was making a real contribution to the Shorebirds.
Thursday, March 12 | 3 hours | 49 Hours Total
I spent the first part of the morning creating an “Almost Friday” social media post for the Shorebirds’ accounts. The goal of the post was to create a fun and engaging piece of content that would build excitement heading into the weekend. My director really liked the idea and mentioned that this was the first time a post like this had been used for the Shorebirds. He ended up posting it that same day in anticipation of Friday. After completing the social media graphic, I worked on editing the text for the Little Athlete promotion on the Shorebirds website. I reviewed the wording and made adjustments to ensure the information was correct for fans who might want to participate in the promotion.
Reflection:
Today allowed me to contribute creatively to the Shorebirds’ social media while also working on written content for the team’s website. It was exciting to see my idea for the “Almost Friday” post get approved and used, especially since it was a new concept for the team’s social media. Editing the website promotion also helped me practice writing clearly for a specific audience.
Tuesday, March 24 | 3 hours | 52 Hours Total
Today, I spent the day shadowing my director to learn more about how he creates animated graphics for the Shorebirds. I observed him working in Adobe Photoshop to design visuals that will be displayed on the big screen at Perdue Stadium during games. One of the graphics he created was a “Welcome to Perdue Stadium” design, which he first built in Photoshop and then imported into another application to animate it. He also created a matchup graphic featuring the Shorebirds on one side and the Chesapeake Baysox on the other for an upcoming game. Like the first design, he developed the graphic in Photoshop and then used the animation software to bring it to life. Watching this process gave me a better understanding of how static designs are turned into engaging in-game visuals.
Reflection:
This experience helped me learn how Photoshop is used in a more advanced and professional setting, especially when paired with animation software. It was valuable to see the full creative process from design to animation, and it gave me insight into how game-day graphics are produced. Shadowing my director also helped me pick up new techniques and better understand the workflow behind creating content for the stadium.
Thursday, March 26 | 3 hours | 55 Hours Total
Today, I helped with the Shorebirds’ Media Day and was put in charge of conducting individual player interviews. I created a mix of fun and engaging questions to ask the players. Some were lighthearted, such as “Who has the best hair on the team?” and “Who is the best at video games?” while others were more interactive and required players to think, like “Name as many birds as you can in 30 seconds,” “What is the Maryland state bird and flower?” and “What animal lives on Assateague Island?”
My director gave me the opportunity to take the lead on this task independently. I used a professional camera to record each interview as players came through one at a time. Although I was nervous at the beginning, I became more comfortable as I continued and was able to carry out the interviews smoothly.
Reflection:
This experience helped me build confidence in a professional setting, especially when communicating and interacting with players. Taking the lead on interviews pushed me out of my comfort zone, but I was able to improve as I went. It also gave me experience with on-camera work and showed me the importance of being prepared and adaptable during live interactions.
Friday, March 27 | 4 hours | 59 Hours Total
Today, I started by working in the press box on one of the computers to create buttons for the big screen. My task was to upload each player’s new media day headshot into the system, which then generated the rest of the graphic automatically. While the process itself was not difficult, it required careful attention to detail to ensure each player’s image was placed correctly. I took my time with this task to make sure everything was accurate. After completing the graphics work, my director and I worked together to inflate various games and activities that are used during breaks at Shorebirds games.
Reflection:
Today showed me how even simple tasks require attention to detail to ensure everything runs smoothly on game day. Working in the press box also gave me insight into the behind-the-scenes preparation for in-game entertainment. Helping set up the inflatable games reminded me that every role contributes to the overall fan experience.
Tuesday, March 31 | 3 hours | 62 Hours Total
Today, I worked in Adobe Photoshop to help create graphics for the Shorebirds website. I focused on designing visuals that would be clear, professional, and consistent with the team’s branding. After working on graphics, I also assisted in drafting a press release. This involved helping organize information and wording it in a way that would effectively communicate the message to the public.
Reflection:
This experience helped me develop both my design and writing skills. Working on website graphics reinforced the importance of visual consistency, while drafting a press release gave me practice in professional communication. It showed me how both visuals and written content play a role in promoting the organization.