Design Internships

ewu department of design

Design Student Handbook
Getting Started
Design Classes
Advising
Portfolio
Graduation
Resources

What Can You Do With a Design Degree?

There are numerous career paths you can pursue with a design degree. You can be a graphic designer, print specialist, marketing expert, entrepreneur, digital designer, artist, teacher, UX designer, web designer, social media designer, experiential designer, event planner, set designer, and more!

All of the possibilities with a design degree might seem overwhelming, so we encourage you to use the time you have now to explore your options. Take classes that interest you. Talk to people you know and read about designers. Reach out to local experts. Most people are thrilled to talk to someone about their life (people like talking about themselves). Visit the EWU Career Center for resources on conducting an informational interview with an industry professional. Part of your education is discovering what you want for your life, and the best way to do this is to observe and experiment with different roles for yourself.

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When And Where To Look For Internships

Start your search in the fall. Bigger companies start posting positions anywhere between October and January for summer openings, with an increasing number of postings during late February through April. Keep your goals and desires for the experience at the forefront of your mind.

Once you start looking outside Spokane, there are numerous opportunities—but also many more candidates to compete with. Here are some addition tips:

  1. Don’t doubt yourself: you are qualified to apply and you can secure an internship.
  2. Narrow your search to 3-5 cities. This will help filter the overwhelming number of openings.
  3. Make a list of ten companies you think you’d like to work for. Then, go to their websites to see what internships they have open.
  4. Search Handshake, LinkedIn, Indeed, and even just Google.
  5. Save the positions that excite you the most when you read about them, taking special note of any application deadlines.

Create Your Portfolio

Your portfolio is your resume. It showcases your most challenging and rewarding pieces of work. It shows your skills as a designer. Need help? Consider taking DESN 493: Portfolio, talking to your instructors, or using the resource below.

Portfolio Help

Applying For Internships

Now that you have organized list of opportunities, start applying. Schedule time to work on your applications. Start with the one that is due the soonest, then work forward. Always include a cover letter; if there isn’t a place to upload one, add it as the first page of your resume.

TIP: Use a screen capture plugin to save the job description so you can reference it later. Some companies will take down the posting before scheduling interviews, and you might need to reference it to prepare for an interview!

Congrats!

Your application caught someone’s eye. When this happens, you will usually get an email from a recruiter requesting to set up a short phone call. These calls are preliminary checks to make sure you understand what the role you are applying for is and to answer any high level questions you have about the position. Before the call, make a list of a few questions to ask about the position and company. Below are a few ideas:

  • How big is the team I would be working with?
  • What types of projects have interns (or junior staff) completed in the past?
  • Will there be any other interns or junior staff at the company?
  • How many senior designers will be available to mentor throughout the internship?
  • What teams will I be working with in this position? Marketing? Developers?
  • Is intern housing provided?
  • What is the salary?
  • What are the chances of a job offer at the end of the internship term?

Remember, this call is as much for you as it is for them. You want to make sure you will be compensated for the time you are spending and the skills you already have. Be confident and value yourself. Also, be humble, hungry and smart. The company wants to know you’re willing and able to learn.