Meet Annalise Cook: Summer 2026 Develomark Cohort Spotlight

Most graphic design graduates wait years before leading a client project. A few weeks into the Develomark Cohort, Annalise Cook is the lead designer on a full website build for a local business.

Annalise is 22, from Southington, Connecticut, and a recent graduate of High Point University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design. She is part of the Summer 2026 Develomark Cohort, our 12-week paid digital marketing internship in Connecticut.

Why a Graphic Designer Joined a Marketing Cohort

"As a graphic designer, I don't get a lot of client-facing work," Annalise says. "In this program, I'm able to work with clients a lot more face to face — meet with them, talk about their vision and everything they want — which I think is really important in the design world."

Design school builds the craft. The cohort adds the client side: sitting in discovery meetings, asking the right questions, and turning what a business owner says into work they love. "I'm gaining a lot of that hands-on experience," she says.

What Does AEO Have to Do With Design?

"Coming into this program, I didn't really know anything about AI or AEO," Annalise admits. AEO — answer engine optimization — is the practice of structuring a website so AI platforms can understand it and recommend the business behind it. For a designer, that means layout, hierarchy, and content structure are not just visual choices; they shape how a site performs.

"We've really dove into how to optimize AEO in everything that we do," she says. "It helps our clients reach more customers, which I think is really important."

Lead Designer on the Lion's Den Website Build

Annalise's big project this summer is a brand-new website for Lion's Den, a local coffee shop — and she is the lead designer, with the rest of the cohort team supporting her to bring the site to life.

"We met with the client and asked them a whole bunch of questions that would help truly bring their design to life," she says. Along the way she is learning to build wireframes — a core design skill — and using Claude, an AI assistant, to optimize the workflow and shape a site built to reach the most customers possible.

Menus, Business Cards, and Brand Work

Alongside the website build, Annalise works with Lauren, Develomark's web designer, on menu design — including a new takeout menu — plus additional brand elements. She is also teaming up with Lauren and Kevin on business cards and other materials for NHV Painting.

"Every project is fun, and I get to truly be creative with everything," she says.

"So far in this program, I've learned how to take a client's vision and bring it to life." That is the skill the cohort is built around — for designers, marketers, and everyone in between. Read our Summer Cohort program overview to see how it works, and if you are ready to build real client experience in Connecticut, apply to the Develomark Cohort today.