What is a graphic designer internship and how to become one

Q: Do design interns get paid?

Yes, design interns can get paid, although many internships are also unpaid or offer only class credit as compensation. Ultimately, it depends on the industry and company. The average salary for the average design intern is $38,000 yearly. On the lower end of the salary range, they may only earn around $28,000 and, on the higher end, they may make about $51,000.

Q: Do you need an internship to be a graphic designer?

No, you don't need an internship to be a graphic designer, but it is highly encouraged. Graphic designers often gain their initial experience through internships. It allows aspiring graphic designers to work with veteran designers and experience the design process from concept to completion while completing a design program. Also, some employers prefer to hire an employee directly from their internship program.

Q: How do I get a graphic design internship with no experience?

To get a graphic design internship with no experience is generally okay as the point of an internship is to help you gain professional experience. However, what would be helpful is to have postsecondary education and relevant skills and abilities in the field.

Q: How do graphic designers get college internships?

Graphic designers get college internships by being current college students or being recent college graduates and applying for school-sponsored internship programs that hire graphic designers.

Q: What does a design intern do?

A design intern gains real-world experience working in design. This can include graphic design, UX design, interior design, or other related design fields. Depending on the design field chosen, many of the specific tasks of the internship will vary greatly. Design interns typically shadow professionals in the design field of their choice while being responsible for small tasks and projects, like various aspects of social media management.

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Sarah Satterfield Ph.D.

A graphic designer internship allows aspiring designers to gain practical experience. Interns work under the guidance of experienced designers, assisting with creating designs, developing branding materials, and preparing presentations. They also participate in brainstorming sessions and contribute to the creative process. The internship provides valuable hands-on experience for a resume or portfolio. Students or recent graduates who want to learn about the industry and build connections can benefit from a graphic designer internship.

What general advice would you give to a graphic designer internship?

Dr. Sarah Satterfield Ph.D.

Department Chair Visual and Performing Arts, Professor of Music and Humanities, College of Central Florida

I was once told, if you do what you love, you will never "work" a day in your life. I have found this true in my own career and hope our VPA graduates will find it true in theirs as well. The arts offer such a unique means of engaging and we, as arts educators, have an ability to "reach" those we have contact with, in a unique way.

ScoreGraphic Designer InternshipUS Average

Salary

2.8

Avg. Salary $35,800

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.2

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.37%

Asian 10.42%

Black or African American 3.42%

Hispanic or Latino 10.63%

Unknown 4.99%

White 70.17%

Gender

female 59.37%

male 40.63%

Age - 37

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37

Stress level

4.2

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.9

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a graphic designer internship?

Pros

Chance to learn new software and techniques
Exposure to different types of clients and projects
Possible job offer after completion of internship
Chance to receive feedback on your work and improve your skills
Gain a better understanding of the industry and its demands

Cons

May require long hours and tight deadlines
Possible lack of recognition for your contributions to the project
Possibility of being overworked or underutilized
Limited opportunities for advancement within the company after completion of the internship
May not align with your personal creative aspirations or interests

Key steps to become a graphic designer internship

Explore graphic designer internship education requirements

Most common graphic designer internship degrees

Bachelor's

70.8 %

Associate

21.2 %

High School Diploma

4.0 %

Start to develop specific graphic designer internship skills

Skills	Percentages
Graphic Design Intern	10.98%
Adobe Photoshop	6.17%
Blog Posts	6.15%
Adobe Creative Suite	6.10%
Adobe Illustrator	5.16%

Complete relevant graphic designer internship training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New graphic designer interns learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a graphic designer internship based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real graphic designer internship resumes.

Gain additional graphic designer internship certifications

Graphic designer internship certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific graphic designer internship certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for graphic designer interns include Master Certified Web Professional - Designer (CWP) and Certified Digital Designer (CDD).

More About Certifications

Research graphic designer internship duties and responsibilities

Manage the company's Joomla website with content & design updates.
Attend various B2C and B2B brand trade-shows identifying new distribution channels and sales leads
Create, implement and manage customer activation campaigns and loyalty programs tracking ROI and retention.
Manage all aspects of the creative process with includes; sketch formation, client collaboration, production coordination.

Prepare your graphic designer internship resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your graphic designer internship resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a graphic designer internship resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable graphic designer internship resume templates

Build a professional graphic designer internship resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your graphic designer internship resume.

Apply for graphic designer internship jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a graphic designer internship job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do graphic designer interns rate their job?

2/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Graphic designer internship reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022

Pros

There is so much to like about working as Graphic Designer ... the seeing how all the elements of words, space, colors, visuals (photos, graphics, charts,...) come together on a page...sharing info with others to learn and use

Cons

When working with others who can not make up their minds as deadline approaches nor take responsibility and blames others for their own "misdoings".

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020

Pros

Creativity, Innovation, Intact Brand Integrity through Brand Guidelines

Cons

Interference in mid of work.

2.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019

Pros

The ability to communicate with letters and images for to me its the loudess means of communication.

Cons

I dislike being un-informed or not being informed on time, For information and time is a essential to me. My time is precious.

What is a graphic designer internship and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a graphic designer internship?

What are the pros and cons of being a graphic designer internship?

Graphic designer internship career paths

Key steps to become a graphic designer internship

Explore graphic designer internship education requirements

Most common graphic designer internship degrees

Start to develop specific graphic designer internship skills

Complete relevant graphic designer internship training and internships

Gain additional graphic designer internship certifications

Research graphic designer internship duties and responsibilities

Prepare your graphic designer internship resume

Choose from 10+ customizable graphic designer internship resume templates

Apply for graphic designer internship jobs

How did you land your first graphic designer internship job

Average graphic designer internship salary

How do graphic designer interns rate their job?

Graphic designer internship reviews

Graphic designer internship FAQs

Do design interns get paid?

Do you need an internship to be a graphic designer?

How do I get a graphic design internship with no experience?

How do graphic designers get college internships?

What does a design intern do?

Search for graphic designer internship jobs

Graphic designer internship jobs by state