Reflection: Social Media Internship with the Architecture Department
This experience gave me much more than just exposure to social media content creation. It helped me understand how collaboration, communication, and organisation work within a real professional department, and how much care goes into representing a creative field effectively.
One of the most valuable parts of the internship was working alongside Nicola Crowson, Head Associate Professor, and Jamie Howard from the University of Portsmouth Architecture marketing team. Being trusted to contribute ideas and content within that environment was both motivating and challenging. Their feedback helped me understand the level of detail and intention required when producing content for a professional audience, even on fast-moving platforms like social media.
A key part of my role involved creating TikTok content, which then went through review and refinement. One of the main challenges I faced was initially not fully understanding how structured the content needed to be. After sharing my first drafts, I received feedback to adjust elements such as pacing, clarity, and messaging. This helped me realise that even short-form content needs careful planning and purpose, rather than just creativity.
Another challenge was uncertainty around what we were allowed to post and how far creative ideas could be developed. To address this, I asked for guidance when needed, which helped me feel more confident in my decisions. I also regularly referred to the main University of Portsmouth architecture page to understand the existing tone, style, and structure, which became an important reference point when developing content.
As an architecture student, it was particularly interesting to explore a side of the field outside of studio work and design submissions. The internship showed me how architecture can also be communicated through digital storytelling and audience engagement. It highlighted the importance of presentation and communication in shaping how a discipline is understood beyond the university environment.
This experience also helped me grow in confidence and professionalism. Working to a brief, responding to feedback, and adapting my work throughout the process pushed me to be more reflective and intentional in how I approached tasks. It wasn’t just about producing content, but understanding the reasoning behind design and communication choices.
Although the internship was relatively short, it gave me valuable insight into a different area of the industry and helped me develop skills I may not have otherwise explored. It was such a rewarding experience that encouraged me to continue developing both my creative thinking and professional approach moving forward.
