Welcoming our 2025 (add)prentices

“They remind us why we love what we do”

These students bring curiosity, fresh energy and fearless ideas. In return, we immerse them in real client work across branding, marketing, content creation and video production. It’s not just an internship. It’s a deep dive into our NICE culture, where learning is hands-on and creativity is always a team sport.

This year’s (add)prentices join us from schools across the country, including RISD, Carnegie Mellon University, Colby College, Marist College and Catholic University. They bring diverse passions, from graphic design and writing to government and business, and will spend the next nine weeks learning how an independent strategic and creative consultancy works.

Learning by doing, and collaborating

From day one, our interns dive into cross-disciplinary experiences. Whether they’re drafting social copy, editing motion graphics, researching audience insights or designing within a brand system, they’re part of real projects with real impact.

Beyond the tasks, it’s the process that matters. Our (add)prentices sit in on client meetings, contribute to creative briefs and shadow teammates across disciplines, from content and design to marketing and multicultural strategy. Along the way, they learn to ask smarter questions, think more strategically and collaborate more creatively. As one intern shared, “I’m really looking forward to gaining hands-on experience with the marketing team at (add)ventures and learning from the creative, real-world projects that will help me grow both professionally and personally.” They leave with more than portfolio pieces—they leave with confidence and clarity.

Group of six interns smiling in a conference room, with one team member joining virtually on a laptop screen.

Mentorship that goes both ways

Each (add)prentice is matched with an (add)mentor, a seasoned pro who’s there to guide, coach and support them throughout the summer. And even before day one, our mentors go through training to prepare for the role, because showing up for our interns is part of how we live our values. As one (add)prentice put it, “I’m excited to intern at (add)ventures this summer because of the NICE culture and the opportunities to grow my skills serving clients, have fun with my fellow interns and learn as much as I can!” It’s mentorship with meaning, powered by purpose and a shared commitment to learning.

But mentorship at (add)ventures is never a one-way street. Our mentors often say they gain just as much as they give. Interns bring new ideas, cultural trends and fresh curiosity that reinvigorates the work and challenges us to articulate our thinking with new clarity. It’s common to hear a mentor say, “They remind me why I love what I do.”

A broader commitment to education

Our (add)prentice program is just one expression of a year-round commitment to education. Throughout the year, (add)ventures opens its doors to high school students, welcomes groups like Leadership Rhode Island and hosts events such as workshops with Design Week RI. We also mentor young creatives and emerging strategists to help them explore potential paths in branding, storytelling and marketing.

Beyond our walls, we contribute to thought leadership by sharing what we know through publications, speaking engagements and stories on our website. Our Brand Slam podcast platform is another way we empower experts across industries to share insights that inspire others.

Whether we’re guiding a student tour, mentoring an intern or helping an industry peer level up, we believe that sharing knowledge is one of the best ways to strengthen both people and brands.