Gannon Allen
About
I am a senior at DePaul University studying Film, with a focus on cinematography and creative development. Alongside that, I have built a strong foundation in advertising and strategy through hands on campaign work and national competitions.
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I started creating early. In elementary school I was teaching myself iMovie and Photoshop, experimenting with pacing, sound, and simple graphics before I understood what any of it meant professionally. That curiosity never left. It just became more disciplined.
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Over the past few years, my focus has shifted from simply making visuals to building ideas. I have developed campaign concepts, brand films, and strategic platforms that blend cinematic craft with cultural insight. My work has been recognized on the Young Ones ADC Shortlist and the AAF Strategy Competition Shortlist, experiences that pushed me to think beyond aesthetics and toward impact.
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I am interested in long term creative growth. I want to work at the intersection of film and advertising, contributing not just execution but thinking. My goal is simple: build work that earns attention because it deserves it.
A Day in the Life: Creative Marketing Intern at Intrado
This semester, I have been working as a Creative Marketing Intern at Intrado, a life and safety technology company focused on transforming emergency response systems through next-generation, data-driven software. Intrado operates nationally and supports public safety agencies, enterprises, and telecommunications providers. While many people may not immediately recognize the name, the work the company does directly impacts 911 response systems and emergency communications infrastructure across the country. Being part of a company whose mission centers around saving lives adds a real sense of responsibility to even the smallest creative decisions.
Intrado is a large organization with teams distributed across the United States. The marketing department functions as both a strategic and creative engine within the company, supporting product launches, brand messaging, enterprise communications, and digital campaigns. My role as a Creative Marketing Intern places me directly within that team, where I contribute to brand development, content creation, and long-term marketing infrastructure projects.
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A typical day begins with reviewing current design priorities and aligning with the marketing team on ongoing initiatives. Some days are meeting-heavy, especially when we are discussing new campaign directions, asset needs for events, or product messaging updates. Other days are deeply focused and production-oriented. I spend a significant portion of my time designing visual assets, refining layouts, selecting and editing photography, and ensuring brand consistency across digital materials such as email campaigns, social posts, and promotional graphics.
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One of my primary responsibilities has been leading the creation of a centralized brand asset library. This project requires both strategic thinking and creative execution. I audit existing assets, categorize materials, develop standardized templates, and build scalable systems that allow other team members to easily access and deploy brand-consistent visuals. This has taught me that marketing is not only about creating compelling content, but also about building systems that make consistent execution possible.
My internship is primarily remote, though I regularly collaborate with team members across departments through virtual meetings and internal communication platforms. Working online has strengthened my ability to communicate clearly, manage deadlines independently, and present work confidently in a digital setting. Despite not being physically in the same space, the marketing team maintains a collaborative culture that encourages feedback, mentorship, and open idea sharing.
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What has stood out most during this experience is how much strategy informs creative decisions. Every visual, headline, and campaign element ties back to a broader business objective. I am learning to think beyond aesthetics and consider audience segmentation, brand positioning, and long-term growth impact. I am also gaining practical experience in balancing creative ambition with real-world constraints such as timelines, compliance considerations, and cross-department alignment.
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This internship has reinforced my interest in working at the intersection of strategy and creative direction. I have developed stronger technical skills in Adobe Creative Suite while also improving my ability to think critically about brand identity and messaging. More importantly, I am beginning to understand how creative work functions within a larger business ecosystem.
Each day looks slightly different, but the consistent theme is ownership. I am not simply observing marketing in action. I am contributing to projects that will remain in use beyond my internship. That responsibility has pushed me to operate with greater intention, precision, and professionalism.
