15 Design Internships for College Students
- Stephen Turban
- Jan 13
- 10 min read
If you’re studying design in college and want to see how the field functions outside the classroom, applying for a design internship is a useful step. Design roles exist across many industries, and internships give you exposure to the routines, tools, and expectations used by professional teams. You may work on user research, layout design, wireframing, branding tasks, digital prototypes, or simple production work that supports larger projects.
Why should I participate in a design internship in college?
A design internship helps you see how design interacts with business goals, technology, and communication. Doing an internship during the academic year or summer can also support your long-term plans. You will develop portfolio pieces and gain professional references that strengthen your applications for future roles or graduate programs.
To help with your search, we’ve gathered 15 design internships for college students! If you're looking for more prestigious internships, check out this set of blogs!
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost: Varies by the program. Financial aid is available
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10 – 20 hours/week for 8 – 12 weeks. Open to undergraduates and gap year students!
Ladder’s University Internship Program is an eight-week, remote experience that connects college students and young professionals with fast-growing startups for real project work. You’re matched with a company based on your interests, and your weekly schedule stays light enough, about five to ten hours, to fit alongside classes or other commitments. Depending on your placement, you might build a machine learning model, conduct market research, design a product prototype, or contribute to a go-to-market plan. The work is structured to give you material you can use later on your resume or portfolio. You will work closely with your manager at the startup. Apply now!
Location: San Diego, CA
Stipend: Base pay of $38.25 - $49.04, plus equity (when applicable)
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Opens early October
Eligibility: Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in design-related degrees, graduating in December of the same year or later
ServiceNow’s EX Product Design Internship gives you the chance to work on UX, visual design, and content design projects inside the Experience Organization. You’ll work with product teams on areas such as Platform UI, Agent Workspace, Service Portal, and the ServiceNow mobile app. Your work may include creating wireframes, producing high-fidelity mockups, writing product documentation, and evaluating existing designs. The internship provides exposure to how large product teams operate and gives you opportunities to work with designers and engineers across the company.
Location: Santa Monica, CA or Seattle, WA
Stipend: $38 per hour; select benefits provided
Dates: May/June - August/September (12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Not specified on the website
Eligibility: Students enrolled in an accredited college/university pursuing a degree, taking at least one class in the semester/quarter (spring/fall) before participation in the internship program, and returning to school the semester/quarter following the internship
Disney’s Product Design Internship immerses you in the creative and strategic processes behind ground-breaking entertainment apps and experiences. You will work across teams responsible for user interfaces, platform integrations, and animation, contributing to high-visibility design projects. The role includes active participation in brainstorming sessions, research, prototyping, and the crafting of interactive frameworks that enhance user experiences. You will regularly consult with senior designers and engineers, learning about motion design, analytics, front-end implementation, and product launch cycles. You will also receive professional insight and improve your design thinking through weekly learning seminars and portfolio reviews.
Location: Trumbull, CT
Stipend: $22 - $27 per hour
Dates: Jan–Aug (full or part-time; varies by the posting)
Application Deadline: Until the slots are filled
Eligibility: Undergraduate students (current sophomore, junior, or senior) pursuing a degree in Industrial Design. Experience with SolidWorks or other solid modeling software (e.g., Fusion 360, Pro-E, Siemens NX) is necessary.
At Henkel, you’ll join the industrial design team working on packaging and product solutions for a global consumer brand. You’ll generate structural packaging concepts, sketch and CAD model 2D/3D ideas, and collaborate with manufacturing, consumer insights, and engineering teams. This internship gives you both design and business exposure in a large multinational, which adds weight to your professional credentials. You’ll gain experience in end-to-end design for products in the real consumer market.
Location: Warren, MI
Stipend: $5,300 - $5,900 per month
Dates: Starts in May or June
Application Deadline: Not specified on the website
Eligibility: Students pursuing a Bachelor’s or BFA degree in Graphic Design and graduating within the next 2 years
General Motors offers the Industrial Design Graphics Internship, which gives you the chance to be part of the creative process behind new vehicles and automotive products. You’ll work alongside professional GM designers, helping with sketching, concept development, and rendering to bring ideas to life. Your projects might include creating visuals for product presentations, assisting with CAD modeling, and keeping design elements consistent across both interiors and exteriors. You’ll also take part in group projects that push you to solve real design challenges faced by the automotive industry. Throughout the internship, you’ll get regular feedback from design leaders, helping you grow. You’ll attend workshops on topics like new materials, user research, and digital visualization tools.
Location: Various U.S. locations (e.g., New York, NY; Columbus, OH; hybrid)
Stipend: Competitive hourly rate (varies by location)
Dates: Summer; exact dates not specified
Application Deadline: November 30
Eligibility: Students pursuing a bachelor's degree in a relevant design discipline (e.g., Interaction Design, HCI, User Experience Design) in a related field (e.g., Business Administration, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Engineering, Communications, etc.) and expecting graduation date of December of the current year - June next year
JPMorgan Chase’s Design Development Program places interns on Experience Design or Experience Research teams, where you contribute to product design, user research, and usability testing. You’ll work with senior designers and researchers, develop prototypes, and refine features for products used across the firm. The internship includes mentorship, networking events, and training sessions focused on professional development. You’ll also take part in group projects and shadow teams across the company, giving you exposure to how design functions inside a large financial-technology environment.
Location: Round Rock, TX
Stipend: Specific figure not listed publicly
Dates: As posted (internship term during academic break); details vary by year
Application Deadline: Depends on posting; apply when the role opens
Eligibility: Students working towards a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Industrial/Product Design from an accredited Industrial Design program, or who have recently graduated
In this internship, you’ll contribute to concept generation, 2D sketching, 3D CAD modeling, and prototyping for client product projects. You’ll work on design problems and support project teams from ideation through prototyping. The hands-on nature gives you direct experience in product design workflows and a chance to build your technical skills. You’ll also interact with clients, designers, and engineers, which strengthens your communication and professional abilities.
Location: Various cities across the world (New York, Tokyo, Bangkok, London, and a few more)
Stipend: Paid or stipend-supported, depending on placement; details vary by country/location
Dates: Varies by program location and term
Application Deadline: Varies by program location and term
Eligibility: Undergraduates (and recent graduates) interested in graphic design, UX design, digital media, or design research
The Intern Group places you in a remote or international design internship with agencies, tech companies, or nonprofits. You may work on graphic design, UX design, interface layouts, or research tasks, depending on your host organization. The program gives you exposure to design practices across different countries and offers structured mentorship and networking opportunities with global teams. Because you collaborate on real projects, you build portfolio pieces and gain practical experience in professional design environments.
Location: Redwood City, CA, and Seattle, WA
Stipend: Paid, but exact amount not specified
Dates: 12 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified on the website
Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students currently enrolled who are expected to graduate in May/June of the next year or later, with a minimum GPA of 3.0
As part of Oracle’s UX Design internship, you’ll join Oracle’s Design team and contribute to UX projects, including user research, interface design, prototyping, and collaboration with product and engineering teams. Because Oracle is a global leader in enterprise tech, you’ll gain exposure to large-scale design systems and professional design workflows. The internship offers structured mentorship, opportunities to present your work, and networking with senior designers. You’ll build meaningful portfolio pieces and get a strong sense of how UX design works in a high-impact commercial environment.
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Dates: 3-6 months in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies by region and role
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in fashion design, textile design, or related fields
In this internship, you’ll work with one of the world’s leading fashion brands on product design, material and print selection, and collection development. You’ll join design teams, learn how global fashion products are created, and work with software, trims, fabrics, and visuals. The brand’s reputation adds considerable prestige to your resume and gives you access to a wide professional network in fashion. The internship exposes you to real industry workflows, from ideation to production, and helps you build a portfolio of meaningful work.
Location: Columbus, OH
Stipend: $9,000 stipend + $8,000 in placement and relocation bonuses, merchandise discounts at all our brands, use of the A&F gym, industry-leading healthcare coverage, and company matching savings and retirement programs
Dates: Summer (typically 8–10 weeks; includes up to 6-week training)
Application Deadline: Not specified on the website
Eligibility: Students with a Bachelor’s degree or junior status working towards a bachelor’s degree
If you join the Design Leadership Development Internship at Abercrombie & Fitch, you’ll be part of a team that shapes creative strategies for one of the largest clothing retailers in the country. You will work with professionals on everything from mood boards and prints to the final product lines sold worldwide. You’ll participate in brainstorming sessions, team critiques, and design reviews, getting constructive feedback while expanding your portfolio. Throughout the program, you’ll interact with industry leaders and network with interns from other departments. Seminars on market analysis and digital trend forecasting will help you understand the wider design ecosystem.
Location: Remote
Stipend: Not specified on the website
Dates: Spring
Application Deadline: Not specified on the website
Eligibility: Participants must be working towards a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field and/or training
As a Graphic Design UWEP Intern with the United Soccer League, you’ll play a direct role in shaping the visual branding for professional soccer teams and their outreach campaigns. You get to craft graphics for web, social media, and print, and you’ll help analyze how your work impacts fan engagement across multiple platforms. Collaboration is a big part of the role, so you’ll work closely with marketing managers and communications teams to meet real-world design needs. The remote format gives you flexibility while still keeping you connected through weekly calls and mentorship sessions. You can also develop a portfolio of finished, published work, which will be useful for future job searches.
Location: Nike World Headquarters, Beaverton, OR
Stipend: Not specified on the website
Dates: Not specified on the website
Application Deadline: Not specified on the website
Eligibility: Students in the final year of school with a graduation date between Spring and Winter of the next year, with a focus on Apparel Design, Technical Design, or a related field
Nike’s Apparel Design Internship places you on teams that create seasonal products across major sport categories. You’ll work with 2D and 3D design tools, contribute to product sketches and concepts, and collaborate with engineers, product developers, and senior designers. The role gives you exposure to large design systems and the full apparel creation process, from early ideas to refinement. Interns also take part in mentorship sessions, team networking, and cross-functional meetings that show how design fits into Nike’s broader product pipeline.
Location: San Francisco, CA; Austin, TX; San Jose, CA; Lehi, UT; Seattle, WA; New York, NY
Stipend: $38 - $51 per hour
Dates: Not specified on the website
Application Deadline: Rolling applications
Eligibility: Undergraduate students pursuing design, UX, or related creative/technical fields with a portfolio
At the Adobe Experience Design Internship, you’ll tackle real experience design projects, collaborating with product and design teams to shape user interfaces and experiences. You’ll work with industry-leading tools, receive mentorship from designers, and get exposure to how a major creative tech company operates. Because Adobe is a highly respected brand, this internship adds prestige to your resume. You’ll build portfolio-worthy work and make connections with design professionals. If you’re serious about UX/UI and want a rigorous design role, this is a top-tier option.
Location: Sunnyvale, CA; Redmond, WA; Seattle, WA
Stipend: $6,688/month to $11,467/month + benefits
Dates: 12 to 16 weeks; exact dates not specified
Application Deadline: Varies by year; check the Meta careers site
Eligibility: Students in the process of obtaining a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in design-focused programs like Product Design, UX, or related creative/technical fields, or a related field
In this internship, you’ll join Meta’s design team working on big user-facing products, which means you’ll experience design at scale and high impact. You will brainstorm and design innovative concepts for consumer hardware, balancing performance, function, ergonomics, and aesthetics. You will develop and refine 3D CAD models and 2D drawings using NX. You'll get to see how design influences major digital experiences used by millions. If you want serious UX/UI exposure in a high-stakes environment, this is a compelling choice.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source - Disney logo