Build a targeted portfolio, tailor your resume and pitch, and send tight, well-matched applications in short cycles to land a graphic design internship.
Ready to break into studio life or an in-house team? This guide shows a clear path from “I want in” to “offer signed.” You’ll shape a lean portfolio, prep a clean resume and cover note, and send applications that match real briefs. No fluff—just steps that move you toward interviews and a seat at the desk.
What Hiring Managers Check First
Reviewers scan in minutes. They look for clarity, taste, and proof that you can ship. Use this checklist to line up your materials before you ping anyone.
| Item | What Good Looks Like | Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 6–8 projects with short stories, live links, process slices | Case notes, before/after images, shipped URLs or files |
| Resume | One page, readable type, scoped bullets with outcomes | Metrics, verbs tied to action, tools used |
| Cover Note | 100–150 words tailored to the team and role | Mentions one project of theirs and your matching work |
| Contact | Professional email, link hub, location or timezone | Clickable icons, working links, no dead pages |
| File Hygiene | Named assets, small files, web-safe exports | “Name_Project_Role_Year.pdf”, compressed images |
Applying For A Graphic Design Internship: Step-By-Step
Think in sprints. Each round, ship five well-matched applications, pause, review results, then adjust. That rhythm keeps quality high and feedback fast.
Step 1: Pick A Track And Targets
Pick lanes that match your strengths—brand identity, marketing design, product UI, packaging, motion, or editorial. Scan internship pages for those labels and for software stacks you actually use. Build a short list of studios and companies that post real briefs and talk about design craft, not just swag and perks.
Step 2: Shape A Focused Portfolio
Six to eight projects beats a giant gallery. Lead with the work that mirrors the role you want. For each project, tell a tiny story: the goal, your role, two or three decisions, one result. Add one or two process slices—sketches, wireframes, grid notes, or typographic trials—so reviewers see how you think.
For structure ideas from a respected design body, study the AIGA guide to internships. It lays out what a quality experience looks like and what both sides should expect. Use it to check that the roles you chase line up with your learning goals and ethical working conditions.
Step 3: Tune Your Resume For Design
Keep it one page. Use a clear hierarchy: name and links at top, skills and tools, then projects and roles. Each bullet should show scope and effect: “Redesigned weekly email header; click-through up 18%,” or “Built icon set for campus app; shipped to 3k users.” Avoid dense blocks and tiny type. Recruiters skim; help them land on the goods fast.
Step 4: Write A Short, Specific Cover Note
Skip a template wall of text. Write 100–150 words that say: what draws you to this team, one detail about their work, and the one project of yours that matches. End with a clear ask and availability. That’s it.
Cover Note Formula
- Line 1: Role and where you found it
- Line 2: One line on why this team
- Line 3: The project in your portfolio that mirrors their brief
- Line 4: Availability and a friendly close
Step 5: Prepare Files And Links
Host your work on a stable site (personal domain, portfolio platform, or a well-organized Google Drive). Keep thumbnails crisp and pages light. If you send a PDF, keep it under 15 MB with internal links to live work. Test on mobile and a work laptop so it reads well anywhere.
Step 6: Send Tight Batches
Five tailored applications in one round beats twenty generic blasts. Track every send in a simple sheet with columns for company, contact, date, and status. If you don’t hear back in ten business days, send a friendly nudge with one new line of value, like a fresh case study or a small motion pass on their mark.
What To Include In Each Portfolio Project
Think of each project as a clear brief with receipts. The viewer should grasp the goal at a glance, then see two or three decisions that shaped the result.
Project Anatomy
- Title & Role: “Festival Identity — Art Direction, Type, Layout.”
- Goal: One line on what success meant.
- Decisions: A few shots with captions: color system, grid, type pairing, icon moves.
- Result: A metric or outcome where you can share it.
- Credits: Name partners or a class if it was team work.
Proof Beats Hype
Link to shipped work when you can. If it’s student work, show constraints—time box, tools, audience, and a quick test result. Add one animated prototype or scroll capture so reviewers see interaction flow, not just static frames.
Where To Find Roles And Briefs
Cast a wide net, then filter hard. Search studio career pages, major job boards, school portals, and chapter postings from design groups. When a listing calls for brand, marketing design, UI, or packaging, mirror that language in your portfolio order and cover note so the match is obvious.
Signals Of A Healthy Internship
- Named mentor or supervisor
- Clear weekly schedule and scope
- Real projects with release dates or live deliverables
- Feedback loops: crits, reviews, and check-ins
- Fair pay or school credit in line with local rules
For the legal side in the U.S., read the Wage and Hour Division fact sheet on internship programs. It explains how pay and training criteria work for “for-profit” settings, so both sides know the ground rules.
Interview Prep For Design Roles
You’ve got a call. Nice. Now tighten your story and rehearse live walk-throughs. You’re not reading slides; you’re telling how you shape decisions and ship quality.
Build A One-Page Talk Track
- Intro: Name, focus area, tools you use daily
- Three Projects: One brand, one product or marketing, one wildcard
- Role Fit: How you can help their team in the next quarter
Walk Through A Project Live
Share screen and show the goal first. Then three choices you made and what changed because of them. Keep it brisk. Invite questions after each section so the chat feels like a crit, not a monologue.
Answer Common Prompts
- “Tell me about a constraint.” Pick a narrow brief, a tight deadline, or limited assets. Show one tradeoff and the result.
- “How do you take feedback?” Share a moment when critique made the work sharper. Mention how you record notes and test changes.
- “Favorite tools?” Name your stack and one shortcut or workflow that speeds you up.
Cold Outreach That Gets Seen
Some roles never hit boards. A short, thoughtful message can open a door. Keep it tight and relevant to their work.
Message Template You Can Adapt
Subject: Internship interest — Brand & UI Hi [Name], I admire [Project/Client] and your [one detail]. I’m a design student focused on [lane]. Here’s a 6-project portfolio (link) and a 1-page resume (link). If you’re open, I’d love to help on [specific area] this [season]. Thanks for reading — [Your Name], [City or TZ]
Scope And Time Management Once You’re In
Interns who get offers manage scope well. Set weekly goals with your mentor, post updates, and ship increments. Keep files tidy and handoff ready.
Weekly Rhythm That Works
- Monday: goals and blockers
- Midweek: share WIP screens or Figma links
- Friday: quick retro with one lesson and one note for next week
Portfolio Pieces And Skills Matrix
Use this matrix to pick which projects to keep. Aim for range and depth: identity, layout, interface, motion, and one real-world constraint piece.
| Project Type | Skills On Display | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Identity | Type pairing, mark construction, color systems | Grid snaps, spacing spec, logo pack |
| Marketing Campaign | Layout, hierarchy, visual rhythm, asset scaling | Ad sizes set, social cutdowns, CTA tests |
| Product UI | Components, states, microcopy, accessibility | Prototype link, token sheet, alt text plan |
| Packaging | Dielines, print prep, color management | Mockups, print-ready PDF, color checks |
| Motion/Interaction | Timing, easing, transitions | MP4 or GIF loop, storyboard frames |
Proof Of Impact Without NDAs
Many interns work under NDA or on class projects. You can still show value without leaking anything private.
- Redact client names and show crops that display layout or type choices
- Rebuild a public page to show approach and talk through changes
- Create a small case based on a public brief from a student challenge
Follow-Up Without Pestering
Wait ten business days after you apply. Then send a short nudge: one line that you’re still keen, one new link, and your availability for a chat. If you don’t hear back, move that lead to “parked” and keep shipping new rounds.
Offer Basics And Fair Terms
When an offer arrives, confirm scope, schedule, pay, mentorship, and equipment. Ask who will review your work and how often. In the U.S., internship pay rules depend on context; the official fact sheet explains the test used for “for-profit” settings. If you’re outside the U.S., check local labor guidance posted by your government.
Common Mistakes That Block Interviews
- Huge galleries with no story
- Broken links or heavy pages
- Generic cover notes that could fit any team
- Unreadable resume layouts
- No contact info above the fold
Keep Growing Between Rounds
Keep sharpening your craft while applications are out. Join a review night, contribute to an open brief, or ship a small self-initiated project every two weeks. To shape stronger case studies, study design group advice like the AIGA portfolio steps and apply one tweak per project—tighter copy, stronger cover frames, clearer role notes.
Action Plan You Can Start Today
- Pick two lanes (brand, UI, etc.) and list ten targets that match
- Trim your portfolio to six projects that mirror those targets
- Rewrite your resume bullets to show scope and effect
- Draft a 120-word cover note you can tailor in one minute
- Send five tailored applications this week and log every response
- Book a mock review with a classmate or mentor and adjust
- Repeat the cycle next week with five new, well-matched sends
Final Nudge
Design teams hire interns who show taste, ship on time, and make feedback easy. Keep your portfolio tight, your note personal, and your sends consistent. That steady rhythm gets you seen, gets you calls, and moves you toward a desk where your work goes live.