Graphic design is a creative and versatile field that involves creating visual solutions for communication problems. Graphic designers use typography, images, colors, and layouts to convey messages and ideas across various media, such as websites, logos, posters, flyers, and more.
Graphic design internships can help students who are interested in this field develop their artistic skills, learn from professionals, and build their portfolios. Moreover, some graphic design internships are paid, which can help students earn money and support their education.
In this article, we will present the top 15 paid graphic design internships that students can apply for. These internships are offered by reputable companies and organizations in different industries and locations around the world.
#1 Agency Habitat Design Internship
Agency Habitat is a next-generation brand agency that provides brand, content, and media services to various clients in a dynamic and inclusive work environment. Interns will shadow and learn from multiple departments in the agency; attend brainstorming sessions, kickoff meetings, client reviews, presentations, client status calls, etc.; learn about, understand, and apply different principles of design; work closely with creative team members on various client and internal tasks ranging from concept to completion (for digital and traditional media); attend and present during internal creative meetings as needed; work for 20-29.5 hours per week, for 9 weeks, and receive a $12 per hour wage.
Eligibility: Applicants must be working towards or have obtained a Bachelor’s Degree (Design, Communication Arts, or similar program); have solid proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite; have the ability to conceptualize and brainstorm with a team; have an online portfolio showcasing their creative work; have strong attention to detail; have excellent communication and time management skills; have willingness and ability to push creative boundaries; have an open mind and a positive attitude.
#2 Infinity Marketing Graphic Design Internship
Infinity Marketing is a full-service marketing agency that provides strategic, creative, and digital solutions for a variety of clients. The internship is based in Greenville, SC, and is part of the graphic design team that creates and designs print, digital, and social assets for marketing campaigns. Interns will assist the Infinity team with creating and designing a wide range of marketing materials, including print, digital, and social assets; create layouts for digital and print collateral; perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned; work for a flexible work schedule, for 9 weeks (part-time), and receive a $7.25 per hour wage.
Eligibility: Applicants must be proficient in Adobe Creative Suite-InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop as well as Microsoft Office; have excellent organizational skills; have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively internally; have the ability to work well with others.
#3 Grafik Digital Design Internship
Grafik is a creative agency that specializes in digital design work, especially for social and motion design. The internship is fully remote and is part of the digital design team that works closely with both Art Directors and Strategists. Interns will work alongside Creative Directors, Art Directors, and Strategists to develop exceptional work; craft and strategize on monthly social content calendars; execute sets of digital display ads that are aligned with strategy and vendor requirements; work for 40 hours per week (hours are negotiable), for 3 – 6 months, and receive a $20 per hour wage.
Eligibility: Applicants must have a strong portfolio of work; have an interest in digital design work, especially designing engaging work for social and motion design; have proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat); have basic knowledge of After Effects and/or Premiere Pro or willingness to learn/be trained; have strong typographic and layout skills; have completed and passed a background check.
#4 U.S. Figure Skating Creative Department Internship
U.S. Figure Skating, the National Governing Body for the sport of figure skating, and a member of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the International Skating Union. Interns will perform various duties such as: designing print and digital materials, including but not limited to flyers, logos, social media posts, and publications; adhering to U.S. Figure Skating brand guidelines and completing projects in a timely manner; retouching and manipulating images; using graphic design software and working with a wide variety of media; brainstorming with Creative team on projects, generating ideas and providing feedback; and other duties as assigned. Interns will receive $15-17 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must have recently graduated or enrolled at a State or Private University, Graphic Design major preferred; have basic knowledge of layouts, typography, line composition, color, and other graphic design fundamentals; have experience with Adobe Creative Suite: Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator; have experience with Microsoft Office: Word, Excel and PowerPoint; have strong creative and analytical skills; have compelling portfolio of graphic design work.
#5 PSECU Graphic Design Production Internship
PSECU is a high-tech progressive financial institution with more than $8 billion in assets, and the largest credit union in Pennsylvania. Interns will perform various duties such as: fulfilling production workload as assigned by the Director, Integrated Marketing, Digital and Creative accurately and on time; conceptualizing, designing, and developing appropriate layouts and graphics within brand standards and to meet the needs of the credit union; coordinating production activities to meet deadlines and turn over accurate files, accompanied by complete production information. Interns will receive $17 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be college students pursuing a degree in graphic design, digital design or similar; have experience with Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator; have experience with MAC and PC; have knowledge of HTML5, CSS3 and UX/UI principles (a plus); have creativity, attention to detail, accuracy, the ability to meet deadlines and follow marketing/creative processes.
#6 Fresh Tape Media Graphic Design Internship
Fresh Tape Media is a creative production company that works with brands, sports properties and media companies to produce unique made-for-social video content. Interns will perform various duties such as: creating and delivering graphic designs for various media; developing branding assets for clients including mood board development, logo design, and typeface research; supporting the creative team with photo editing, illustration, and graphic design. Interns will receive $20 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must have proficient understanding of Photoshop and Illustrator; have strong conceptual skills and foundational knowledge of layout, color, and typography; have basic photography and photo editing skills; have strong time management skills and attention to detail; have positive attitude, flexibility, and problem-solving abilities; and have a bit of humor.
#7 Major League Baseball Graphic Design, Social Design Internship
Major League Baseball is the professional baseball organization that oversees the sport in the United States and Canada. Interns will perform various duties such as: coordinating digital design production of daily graphics for all digital and social platforms and ensuring the look and feel remains on brand; supporting the creation of graphics and design templates for daily and featured concepts; maintaining current knowledge of design and social trends and sharing best practices with other team members and colleagues. Interns will receive $20.00 to $23.00 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in or have a 4-year degree from an accredited university in graphic design, marketing, advertising, communications, business, or related field, or equivalent relevant experience; have proficiency with Adobe CC (strong Photoshop skills required); have proficiency in typography, layout, hierarchy, branding, and image manipulations; and have knowledge of the current product of Major League Baseball and its affiliations (a plus).
#8 Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary Graphic Design Internship
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary are two cultural institutions that celebrate the power of art and its relevance in our lives. Interns will assist in conceptualizing and producing campaigns and multifaceted communications materials that adhere to the brand standards of the organization and the creative direction set by Creative Director and the Associate Creative Director; learn and provide conversion for digital formats such as in-museum screens and social media; print and design production and assistance; work for up to 20 hours per week (undergraduate) or up to 25 hours per week (graduate) and receive a $13 per hour (undergraduate) or $14 per hour (graduate) wage.
Eligibility: Applicants must be pursuing an undergraduate degree in graphic design, fine arts, or a related area of study from an accredited institution of higher education; have entry-level to working knowledge of Adobe CS, Microsoft Word, and proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint; have entry-level experience in graphic design and communications; have excellent communication and interpersonal skills; have production experience.
#9 Northeast Community College Graphic Design Internship
Northeast Community College’s marketing office is a fast-paced office that creates print and digital marketing materials for a variety of partners. Interns will take the lead on a design project that will be produced (under the direction of the Creative Manager); update or revise existing design materials such as marketing collateral, print advertisements, digital ads, banners, signage, and more; maintain brand standards and utilize brand voice; work for 15 hours per week, and receive a $13.50 per hour wage.
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age; have proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite; have the ability to work independently, communicate effectively, and have good customer service skills.
#10 UW Libraries Graphic Design Internship
UW Libraries is the library system of the University of Wyoming that provides access to information resources and services for students, faculty, staff, and the public. Interns will perform various duties such as: designing posters, brochures, signs, and other promotional material for UW Libraries events, collections, and other special projects; working collaboratively with diverse library faculty and staff; and other design work as needed. Interns will receive $12.70 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least sophomores; have graphic design, layout and production skills; have proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite; have ability to operate Mac computers to design graphics and other printed material; have effective oral and written communication skills; have ability to work on projects independently and follow through to completion; have attention to detail and accuracy; have photography/videography skills (preferred); and have demonstrated interest in graphic design and a drive to improve.
#11 American Bankruptcy Institute Graphic Design Internship
The internship is based in New York City, USA, and is part of the marketing and communication team that supports the organization’s outreach and fundraising efforts. The internship is looking for interns who are passionate about graphic design and have a keen eye for aesthetics and visual storytelling. You will design and develop graphic design projects for both print and digital platforms, such as brochures, flyers, posters, banners, infographics, email templates, and social media campaigns. Interns will receive $20 hourly.
Eligibility: Applicants must be currently pursuing a degree in graphic design, visual communication, or a related field, or recently graduated; have proficiency in graphic design software and tools such as Adobe Creative Suite or equivalent; have a demonstrated portfolio showcasing strong design skills across print and digital mediums; have knowledge of design principles, typography, color theory, and layout composition; have ability to work independently, take initiative, and collaborate effectively within a team.
#12 Graphic Design Internship at Zymo Research
Zymo Research is a leading biotechnology company that provides innovative solutions for epigenetics, microbiomics, and molecular diagnostics. The internship is based in Tustin, CA, USA, and is part of the Epigenetics Research team that works with cutting-edge biotechnologies. Interns will collaborate with the creative team, create digital graphic design mockups, and oversee the final printing process. Interns will work for 10 weeks full-time onsite at the Tustin facility, with the potential for extension, and receive $20 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be pursuing or have a degree in graphic design, visual arts, or related field; have basic knowledge of layouts, typography, color, and other graphic design fundamentals; have proficiency in design and prototyping tools such as InDesign, Adobe Creative Suite, or Sketch, InVision, or Figma; have a compelling portfolio of graphic design work; and have knowledge of the life sciences or biotechnology industry is a plus.
#13 Gasp Graphic Design Internship
Gasp is a design studio that specializes in branding, packaging, web design, and marketing for various clients. The internship is based in San Francisco, California, USA, and is part of the Gasp Creative Team that works on challenging projects with tight deadlines and high standards of excellence. Interns will work for 3 months and receive a pay rate of $15.00 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must have 2-3 years minimum design work experience or education; have strong conceptual and problem-solving skills; have thorough understanding of typography, color theory, layout design; have working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator; have photography, video and/or web development skills (a plus).
#14 Graphic Design Internship at Frey Design Group, Inc.
Frey Design Group, Inc. is a creative agency that specializes in branding, web design, and digital marketing. Interns will collaborate with the design team to create illustrative assets and high-quality design work for print and digital platforms, such as brochures, logos, websites, and more. You will also manage your time effectively, demonstrate attention to detail, think out-of-the-box, and be open to feedback. Interns will work full-time onsite at the Chicago office for 3 months, and receive $15.00 – $20.00 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must have a bachelor’s or higher in a relevant field (Graphic Design, Web Design, etc.), or equivalent experience; have a solid understanding of Adobe Indesign, Illustrator & Photoshop; have Sketch/Invision and/or Adobe XD/Invision workflow experience; have strong composition and typography samples; have UI/UX design and motion graphics a plus; have HTML and CSS a plus.
#15 Graphic Design Internship at Chartwells Higher Ed / Texas A&M University
Chartwells Higher Ed is a leading provider of on-campus dining solutions that enhance the student experience and promote meaningful relationships. Interns will work closely with the Marketing Manager and create and design print and digital materials, such as brochures, newsletters, posters, banners, websites, and more. Interns will receive $13.00 per hour.
Eligibility: Applicants must be pursuing or have a degree in graphic design, web design, or related field, or equivalent experience; have excellent communication skills, written and verbal; have customer service experience/knowledge; have previous graphic design experience; have knowledge of social media platforms; have prior marketing related experience is a plus.
Graphic design internships are a valuable opportunity for students who want to gain hands-on experience, network with mentors, and discover their career paths. Many paid graphic design internships are available for students who want to challenge themselves and make a difference.
To find and secure a graphic design internship, you need to have a strong resume and a confident interview. You also need to be proactive, flexible, and enthusiastic about the opportunity. By following these steps, you can increase your chances of landing one of the top 15 paid graphic design internships and kickstart your career in graphic design.
