Innovation Lab Intern

ABOUT DI

At Dimensional Innovations (DI), we’re Designers, Makers, Engineers, Developers, Strategists and Innovators working together to create remarkable experiences, places and products.

Our work lives at the intersection of design, technology and fabrication. From immersive brand experiences and interactive technology to sports venues, museums, corporate environments and destinations, we bring big ideas to life—all under one roof at our Kansas City headquarters.

ABOUT OUR SUMMER INTERNSHIP

At DI, an internship isn't about sitting on the sidelines.

Our summer interns become part of the team and have the opportunity to contribute to real client projects alongside professionals in their field. You'll see how ideas move from concept to design, development, fabrication and installation—and how different disciplines come together to create something remarkable.

Throughout the summer, you'll build practical skills, learn from experienced mentors, make connections across DI and leave with meaningful experience you can take back to school and into your career.

You'll work hard, learn a lot and have some fun along the way.

INNOVATION LAB INTERN SUMMARY

DI's Innovation Lab is where ideas get explored, tested, built and improved.

The Lab works across teams to solve challenges, test new materials and technologies, build prototypes and mockups, and find better ways of doing things. The team supports both real client projects and internal operational initiatives, helping DI continuously improve the way we design, make and deliver remarkable experiences.

As an Innovation Lab Intern, you'll become part of that process. You may spend one day building a prototype to help a project team test an idea and another exploring a new technology, material, digital fabrication method or workflow that could change the way we work.

This is a fast-moving, highly collaborative environment where priorities can shift based on the needs of projects and teams across DI. If you're someone who likes to experiment, make, test, learn and figure things out, you'll fit right in.

• Contribute to real DI client projects through prototyping, testing and problem-solving
• Turn ideas into physical mockups and prototypes that help teams evaluate concepts before they become finished experiences
• Participate in ideation and design conversations with teams across DI
• Explore ways new materials, processes and technologies could solve experiential or architectural design challenges
• Use CAD and digital fabrication tools to take ideas from the screen into physical prototypes
• Experiment with processes such as 3D printing, CNC fabrication and other rapid prototyping methods
• Research and test emerging tools, technologies, materials and design strategies
• Help develop and test ideas for improving DI's internal processes and workflows
• Document prototypes, experiments, findings and recommendations so ideas can be shared with other teams
• Collaborate across Design, Engineering, Technology, Fabrication and other disciplines depending on the project or challenge

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

By the end of the summer, you'll have greater exposure to:

• Taking an idea from “What if?” to a working prototype
• Using prototypes and mockups to test concepts for real client projects
• Rapid prototyping and iterative design processes
• Applying CAD and digital fabrication tools in a professional environment
• Working with tools and processes such as CNC fabrication and 3D printing
• Exploring new materials, technologies and manufacturing methods
• Identifying problems and developing practical solutions through experimentation
• Evaluating what worked, what didn't and what should change in the next iteration
• Communicating and documenting ideas so others can understand and build upon them
• Collaborating with designers, engineers, technologists, fabricators and project teams
• Understanding how innovation can improve both the experiences DI creates and the processes used to create them

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR 

You don't need to have all the answers. In fact, we're more interested in students who are curious enough to ask good questions and willing to experiment until they find an answer.

You'll be most successful if you bring:

• Strong hand sketching and drawing skills for communicating ideas and concepts
• Experience with a solid-modeling CAD program such as SolidWorks, Rhino, Fusion 360 or similar
• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite
• An interest in prototyping, making, digital fabrication and emerging technology
• Experience with CAD/CAM, CNC equipment, 3D printing or other digital fabrication workflows is a plus
• Experience building prototypes or mockups using shop tools and fabrication processes is a plus
• An interest in materials, construction methods and manufacturing processes
• Strong creative thinking and problem-solving skills
• The ability to connect new ideas or technologies to real-world design challenges
• A willingness to experiment, fail, learn and try again
• The ability to adapt and "go where needed" as project priorities change
• Strong communication, organization and attention to detail

Students pursuing Industrial Design, Architecture, Environmental Design or a related field are encouraged to apply.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE DI

Real problems. Real projects. You'll have opportunities to prototype and experiment in support of actual DI client work—not just hypothetical intern assignments.

Build it. Test it. Make it better. The Lab gives you the opportunity to take ideas off the page, create something tangible and learn through making.

Permission to experiment. Trying something new means it won't always work the first time. That's part of the process. You'll be encouraged to explore, test, iterate and learn.

Play with some pretty cool tools. You'll gain exposure to digital fabrication, rapid prototyping, CAD, emerging technologies and other tools used to explore and validate ideas.

Work across disciplines. The Lab supports teams throughout DI, so you'll have opportunities to collaborate with designers, engineers, developers, fabricators and other creative problem-solvers.

See ideas become real. With design, technology, engineering and fabrication under one roof, you can test an idea and see how it might eventually become part of a finished physical experience.

No two days have to look the same. The Lab goes where it's needed, giving you exposure to different challenges, projects, technologies and teams throughout the summer.

Employee-owned. DI is an ESOP company, which means our employees share in the success of the company and bring an owner's mindset to the work we do.

A summer that's more than work. You'll also have opportunities to connect with fellow interns and DI employees through intern events, activities and experiences throughout the summer.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

The Innovation Lab Internship is a full-time, hourly (non-exempt) summer internship based onsite at Dimensional Innovations' Kansas City-area headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas.

Summer 2027 Internship Dates: June 7th - August 6th
Application Deadline: December 31st - but the earlier the better, these internships fill quickly
Schedule: Monday–Friday, approximately 40 hours per week
Location: Overland Park, Kansas
Work Arrangement: Onsite

A portfolio or examples of your work are required to be considered for the Innovation Lab Internship.

We're especially interested in seeing how you think, experiment and solve problems. Your work doesn't need to be professional client work, and a successful experiment doesn't necessarily mean everything worked perfectly the first time.

Your portfolio may include:

• Prototypes or mockups
• CAD or 3D modeling work
• Industrial or environmental design projects
• 3D printing, CNC or other digital fabrication projects
• Physical builds or maker projects
• Material explorations
• Process documentation, sketches or concept development
• Personal projects where you experimented, built something or solved an interesting problem

Whenever possible, show us some of the process behind the finished result—what you were trying to solve, what you tested, what you learned and how the idea evolved