Learn about UX design internships to find out if you want to pursue one. Discover what duties you'll have, what qualifications you'll need, how an internship can benefit you, and more.
A UX design internship is an opportunity for students or entry-level professionals to learn about user experience design careers and gain real-world experience. Typically, companies offer temporary positions in the summer or part-time during the school year where the intern can earn school credit or hourly pay. These opportunities can lead to full-time positions.
Read more: UX Design vs. Graphic Design: Choosing the Right Career Path
User experience (UX) involves how using a product or service makes a consumer feel, and UX design refers to the process of making that experience meaningful. This process contains a variety of elements, including marketing, branding, design, functionality, and usability.
As a UX design intern, you'll work closely with professional UX designers for exposure to commonly used tools and techniques. You might provide design feedback or shadow a professional to learn how they use their design expertise on a daily basis.
Read more: What is UX Strategy? Mapping the Path to Success
Qualifications for a Google UX designer internship vary from role to role. You can browse internship openings using Google Careers to identify areas of focus to study before you apply. You can also receive professional-level training from Google by enrolling to earn the Google UX Design Professional Certificate.
To qualify for an internship in the design field, it helps to have UX or visual design skills and some level of formal training or education. Prior experience may also help you land a UX design internship, whether that's through an academic program, online courses, or projects you've done for your UX design portfolio.
Read more: 7 UX Designer Portfolio Examples: A Beginner's Guide
UX design interns benefit from two categories of skills: technical skills, which help you perform work tasks, and workplace skills, which help you interact with others on the job. Internships often include on-the-job training, but you may need to possess basic skills to stand out as a candidate.
Technical skills:
Familiarity with design tools like Photoshop and Illustrator
Basic understanding of design concepts and methodologies such as information architecture and user-centric design
Research skills
Graphic design skills
Knowledge of usability design
Read more: What Is Information Architecture in UX Design?
Workplace skills:
Problem-solving skills
Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Attention to detail
Creativity and an eye for design
Design thinking
Verbal and written communication
Read more: 9 Essential Skills for UX Designers
Need to build foundational UX design skills, but you're not yet ready to make a financial commitment? The Georgia Institute of Technology offers a free introductory course on Coursera, Introduction to User Experience Design:
Employers often hire students pursuing a bachelor’s degree for UX design internships. However, in some cases, companies may be more interested in UX-related experience and projects rather than education. Bootcamps and UX design courses are examples of ways to gain experience to aid your pursuit of an internship.
- Computer science
- Design computing
- Digital media design
- Graphic design
- Human interface technology
- Interactive media
Although prior work experience isn’t always necessary, it can still make you a more attractive candidate for a UX design internship. Since UX design requires a substantial amount of research and planning, it’s important to have a basic understanding of research methods so that hiring managers understand your methodology to gather data. Employers may take a second look at your application if you have any experience in:
User research
Coding
Graphic design
Read more: What Programming Language Should I Learn?
Here’s how an internship can make a good first step to becoming a UX designer:
Working as a UX design intern provides you with practical, hands-on experience you may not get in a classroom. It’s also an opportunity to develop skills for your resume, which can make you a more marketable candidate for future jobs. You may even get a job offer from the company you intern for.
Working as a UX design intern allows you to learn more about the design industry. It’s also a chance to see where you might want to go with your future career.
Read more: UX Design Books, Blogs, and Podcasts: A 2024 Resource List
A UX design internship may expose you to a variety of professionals in the field. Not only can these people be a great source of knowledge and information, but they also make valuable contacts for future employment.
Read more: What Is Networking? How to Grow Your Network
It helps to strategize when looking for any position. Use these tips for finding your UX design internship:
Decide whether you want to work for a design studio or a company that sells products or services. If a business has a design team, explore their work on the company website to get a better understanding of the people you'll work with.
Other considerations you might have include:
If a stipend is offered for interns
Whether the company has a practice of hiring interns for full-time positions
Whether the company specializes in a particular facet of UX design that interests you, such as information architecture, prototypes, or user research
A number of resources can be useful in an internship search. Try these ideas:
Check with the career services center at your college or university.
Go to career fairs.
Connect with fellow students or professors at your college or university.
Get internship information through online communities.
Follow UX designers on social media.
Make your professional social media page accessible to HR managers and recruiters.
Your UX design portfolio gives hiring managers an example of your work and an idea of your skill level. Be sure to include the following elements:
Visuals for a few projects
A case study for each project that includes details about your design process, any problems you had, the solutions you formulated, and what you learned
Contact information and an ‘About Me’ section
Read more: 7 UX Designer Portfolio Examples: A Beginners Guide
When choosing an intern, companies may ask candidates to participate in a design challenge that helps highlight knowledge and skills. You may be asked to complete a whiteboard challenge in front of your interviewer, or you could receive a take-home challenge, which may take up to a few days to complete.
Examples might include:
Designing an imaginary product or service
Designing a process that improves a product or service
A UX design internship interview provides great practice for getting a future job. To help prepare for your internship interview, take advantage of these tips:
Learn about the company by exploring its website, mission statement, and blog.
Dress professionally.
Bring your resume and portfolio, even if you've already provided them.
Prepare one or two questions to ask at the end of the interview.
Thank your interviewer before you leave, and follow up with an email expressing appreciation for the interview opportunity.
Read more: 12 UX Designer Interview Questions and Answers
Consider earning the to prepare for an internship or an entry-level job in the design field. In this program, you'll explore critical UX design methodologies and follow the entire design process. Upon completion, you'll gain a Google Career Certificate to include in your resume or LinkedIn profile.
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