Overview
We're looking for a design intern who's curious, self-motivated, and ready to do real work alongside a real team. You'll join One Design Company—a design-driven studio in Chicago, building brand identities and web experiences for a diverse set of clients, where you’ll spend your time contributing to live projects.
This is a paid internship running Summer 2026.
What to expect
You'll be embedded in the studio as a working member of the team. That means sitting in on client meetings, contributing to design reviews, learning how a studio operates, and getting your hands on real work.
You'll be paired with a mentor who will direct your work, invest in your growth, and make space for your ideas with regular check-ins so you're never left guessing how things are going.
You'll be assigned a defined project on day one with a clear scope, deliverables, and end date so you know exactly what you're building toward from the start.
You'll leave with at least one portfolio-ready piece. Client work is rewarding but isn't always shareable so we ensure you’ll have something you can show off when you're done.
What you’ll do
- Sharpen your design process: concepting, iterating, and presenting your rationale from brief to delivery
- Develop fluency in how a studio operates by shadowing senior designers, working on internal initiatives, and working alongside designers, strategists, project managers, and developers
- Strengthen your ability to take creative risks and advocate for your ideas
- Leave with real work experience and a clearer sense of what it means to be a designer in a studio environment
About you
- Currently enrolled in a design program, or graduated within the last 1-2 years.
- Portfolio that shows range, thinking, and grounding in brand or web design (or both)
- Comfortable with ambiguity and motivated to figure things out
- Strong communicator—you can explain and advocate for your decisions, not just make them
- Familiarity with Figma and/or Adobe Creative Suite is a plus
Location
This internship is based in Chicago and operates on a 9-5 schedule. In-person time is core to the experience—we ask for 2-3 days in the office each week.
Duration
This internship runs for 8 weeks in summer 2026, July 6 through August 28. This is a fixed-term internship, not a path to a full-time role. We're committed to making it a meaningful experience for the time we have together.
For Students & Schools
We're happy to support students earning academic credit and to accommodate your department's paperwork, hour requirements, and evaluation forms. Let us know what your program needs and we'll work with you.
Interested?
Submit your resume and a link to your portfolio. We're less interested in perfection and more interested in how you think, what you've made, and what you're hungry to learn.
Underrepresented groups and individuals from all walks of life are strongly encouraged to apply. One Design is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, welcoming workplace.
Skills Required
- Currently enrolled in a design program, or graduated within the last 1-2 years
- Portfolio that shows range, thinking, and grounding in brand or web design (or both)
- Comfortable with ambiguity and motivated to figure things out
- Strong communicator who can explain and advocate for design decisions
- Familiarity with Figma and/or Adobe Creative Suite
- Able to work in Chicago 2-3 days per week during the internship (9-5 schedule, July 6–August 28)
What We Do
One Design is a design consultancy specializing in crafting holistic brand experiences. We blend strategy with creativity and craft to innovate for the future while building meaningful, emotional connections today. We believe in the potential for a brand to be a driver of foundational change and growth in the world around us, the critical importance of learning about the world in order to create impactful experiences rooted in insight.
