Student Success Story: Emmanuel Sainville

Emmanuel Sainville is a senior on the Stamford Campus majoring in Digital Media & Design. He has interned with Digital Media Connecticut, worked with Veeder Root, and been a documentary intern at UConn. Hear Emmanuel’s story and how he took advantage of the location and resources of the UConn Stamford campus to get to where he is today.

Ayane Reis: Please introduce yourself: major, class year, and current career aspirations.

Emmanuel Sainville: I am a senior studying Digital Media & Design with a concentration in motion design. During my time at UConn Stamford, I have had three internships and one actual job experience with different companies, including Synchrony and most recently I worked with Veeder Root. Ever since I was little, I have wanted to get into design, but some people told me I would not make money from it. I told myself I was going to succeed with my designs and I have been stuck with that ever since.

AR: What is your current career goal?

ES: I still have one semester left at UConn and the plan is to continue to improve my skills as a designer. After graduation, I hope to get a job within my field to financially support myself. But, I will not stop trying to grow professionally. I want to keep pushing myself to do more and eventually build my own studio to have other designers working along with me.

AR: In what ways have you been involved on campus? How have those experiences contributed to your professional development?

ES: I was a part of the African Student Association (ASA). Before the pandemic, we hosted a fashion show and I was responsible for filming it and assisting with the editing of the footage. Being able to have hands-on experience outside of the classroom is essential. Although UConn has a great DMD program with lots of opportunities for students to work on projects, being in the classroom and working on class related projects will only get you so far. For me to get where I wanted to be, I knew it would require a lot of practicing and that was through watching online tutorials, staying late on YouTube, and participating in on-campus activities. ASA really gave me that opportunity.

AR: Tell us about a previous internship experience. What advice do you have for students who are looking to land their first internship?

ES: Over the past summer I had the opportunity to work at Veeder Root as a Digital Communications Marketer. I rebranded and ran their YouTube channel, getting their reach back up to a 60-70% range. I worked along with the rest of the team to create marketing collateral product data sheets and other supporting materials. I also had the chance to assist them with the ideation and creation for some marketing campaigns and helped them with the animation part. I really enjoyed it!

The advice I would give to students is always make sure you are trying to go above and beyond. I know as students we tend to focus on getting a passing grade. From my personal experience, during my first year at UConn, I thought I was doing the most by following the class assignments. Looking back now, I know that was not my best work. It did not take me long until I realized I wanted to get a job and showing what I was producing would not be enough to make it happen. So, I made sure I started working and progressing on my designs a lot more, with the purpose of producing something other people would want to watch. So, try to get involved on campus and expose yourself to opportunities you otherwise would not be able to find. Try to learn something new each day. Keep trying to advance your skills. Finally, continue to nurture your curiosity.

AR: What skills and professional qualities have been essential for your internship positions?

ES: First, be respectful towards people and be respectful of people’s time and that goes with being able to communicate well. As designers, we spend a lot of time behind screens but being able to communicate properly with others plays a significant role in which experiences you will get, on campus and outside.

Not being stuck in my ways was also essential for me to progress. Being open and willing to change has helped me through my learning process and getting familiar with the multiple software programs available on the market for designers.

Being fast and effective is extremely important as well. That does not mean that you need to produce in the smallest time period possible, but as long as you are dedicated to your own work and to improving, it will reflect on whatever it is that you produce. A lot of work goes beyond the classroom and school assignments, so always trying to be the best I can really makes a difference.

AR: What groups, organizations, and resources at UConn do you feel have helped to contribute to your success so far?

ES: Right now, I am working with the UConn Stamford Center of Career Development through the Agency course on ideas for their marketing and media reach. I have been coming to the Career Center since day one when I stepped my foot on campus and I have found a place that really supports my professional endeavors. I always email Tara Malone whenever I need help with something. I reach out to her every time I needed to make any updates on my resume or work on a cover letter.

During my four years here, I’ve also worked closely with a lot of people in the DMD department. I have worked with Matthew Worwood, Associate Director of the DMD Department in Stamford, and with Professor Christopher Passehl. Both of them showed me a lot and encouraged me to express myself through my design.

AR: What advice would you give to current UConn students who are looking to follow a similar career path?

ES: Try to connect with as many people as possible. Be open to having conversations, even if it’s not just work related. Think outside the box and keep an open mind to new techniques and ways of doing your work. Take every chance you can to improve your skills. Also, try to find different internships. Become familiar with different companies, their cultures, and compare how they work on similar things so you can have a better sense of what you really enjoy and where you feel most welcome. Lastly, definitely go to the Center for Career Development!

By Ayane Reis Da Conceicao
Ayane Reis Da Conceicao