Cherlene Chen is a star
Cherlene Xinxin Chen will begin her professional career this December as associate designer with The Estée Lauder Companies in Melville, New York. The multinational manufacturer and marketer, home to brands including MAC and Clinique, has sought her services since she interned there earlier this year.
Chen (M.F.A., motion media design) thrived during a 12-week summer internship in the company’s R&D program, alongside some three dozen students from around the U.S., predominantly majors in engineering, chemistry, and biological sciences. As a designer, Chen was something of an outlier.
Fortunately, she embraces difference as distinction. Originally from Guangzhou, China, Chen exemplifies the best of the SCAD international graduate student experience. As she says, “It makes a difference to keep the conversation going.”
Cherlene Chen:
During spring quarter 2021, I was looking for an internship. On the job portal I came across a post from professor Meloney Moore, associate chair of the business of beauty and fragrance, announcing that Estée Lauder was looking for a graphic design and motion media student intern. Even though I’d never taken a class with her, professor Moore wound up being a great resource, since she was previously Estée Lauder’s executive marketing director. I sent in my resume and she helped me secure the interview. It wound up being the best internship I ever had.
It wasn’t a typical design internship. I was working in their scientific communication department, creating animations to convey the science of probiotic technology to customers about how the products work. My role was to communicate skin physiology through motion graphics. I produced short animations for Estée Lauder makeup products, for their website, social media, and retail store displays.
My team manager at Estée Lauder was a PhD scientist, not a designer. They’d always hired an outside agency to do that work before. I was able to show what I’ve learned at SCAD: how to plan and execute my entire process from storyboard to animatic to final product. It’s one thing to do the work, but at SCAD I’ve become a better communicator, capable of explaining what I do.
Prior to my summer internship, I was taking 3D Design and Methodologies in Motion Media (MOME 758) with professor James Gladman, and I made an animation for the MAC lipstick Luscious Fruit Collection. When I arrived at Estée Lauder, I showed it to my new colleagues to ask their opinion, as an icebreaker, to show my skills and that I loved the product. It was all about being prepared in a proactive way.
Halfway through my internship, Estée Lauder expressed interest in wanting me to stay. Now here I am looking forward to starting at Estée Lauder in my new job as associate designer. I love the culture of Estee Lauder, and their respect for diversity. If you see an opportunity you like, catch it.
I believe my experience will be helpful to other international students at SCAD. Not being a native speaker takes a lot of courage. You wonder if people will laugh at your accent. SCAD has events and workshops that are wonderful, plentiful opportunities for you to practice English. Because there are a significant number of Chinese students at SCAD, you can stay in a bubble. It’s up to you to leave your comfort zone. Be the one to step out and utilize the incredible resources SCAD offers.
Written by Peter Relic.
