INTERNSHIP DETAILS
Design Intern NY
CompanySterling Brands
LocationNew York
Work ModeOn Site
PostedFebruary 5, 2026

Internship Information
Core Responsibilities
The Design Intern will support the team on client projects, focusing on branding, packaging, visual language, and digital executions, while also contributing to internal design projects. Responsibilities include conducting creative exploratories, design refinements, participating in research, and assisting in crafting engaging presentations.
Internship Type
full time
Company Size
84
Visa Sponsorship
No
Language
English
Working Hours
40 hours
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About The Company
We design living brands.
Brands that respond and are responsive.
Brands that challenge, connect and engage.
Brands that inspire people to think, feel and act.
Our obsessively human-centric approach links
every inspiration back to the consumer.
Their lives and passions, their habits and habitats.
The result—beautiful, inclusive and effective solutions
that make brands come alive and thrive.
About the Role
<div class="content-intro"><p>At Sterling, we create brands that make people think, feel and engage. Brands for today. We’ve done it for super heroes and super causes, organic farmers and information miners, bricks and mortar and digital destinations, cosmetics, condoms, and cornflakes – the tried and true and the disruptive trailblazer.</p>
<p>Our obsessively human-centric approach links every inspiration back to the consumer: their lives and passions, their habits and habitats. The result; is beautiful, inclusive, and effective solutions that make brands come alive and thrive. </p>
<p>Our focus is on consumer brands and their identity expressions on-pack, in-store, and online. We love creating the worlds brands live in and inspiring people to be part of them.</p>
<p>Sterling has an amazing culture of appreciation and celebrating team successes. </p>
<p> </p></div><p><strong>Design Internship, Summer 2026</strong></p>
<p><strong>When: </strong>May 2026 – August 2026, full-time</p>
<p><strong>Where:</strong> NYC</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>About the Role:</strong></span></p>
<p>This semester, you could have the opportunity to experience a fast-paced creative agency environment and gain exposure to a range of industries and high-profile consumer brands.</p>
<p>The Design Intern will support the team on client projects as well as contribute to internal design projects. Successful candidates will have a desire to enter a career in Design, with an emphasis in branding and package design. We’re looking for an advocate of design excellence, with a willingness to push the creative expression and boundaries of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>What You’ll Do:</strong></span></p>
<p>As Design Intern, you will get to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Participate in client projects that allow you to learn new skills and apply your design knowledge, including:
<ul>
<li>Working with the Design team on branding, packaging, visual language and digital executions</li>
<li>Supporting the team in all tasks related to assigned projects </li>
<li>Conducting wide-range creative exploratories as well as design refinements</li>
<li>Participating in research and brainstorming</li>
<li>Searching for design and cultural trends to inspire the team and design direction</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Assist in crafting engaging presentations and observe client meetings to see how insights, strategic recommendations, and creative solutions are presented</li>
<li>Work with team members from Strategy, Design, and Client Services disciplines to understand how the agency operates</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Qualifications:</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li>Must be enrolled as a rising senior in a BA/BFA/MFA degree program or a graduate program with a concentration in Design</li>
<li>Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills</li>
<li>An excellent portfolio </li>
<li>Strong technical knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, XD), skills in animation and moving image are a plus</li>
<li>The ability to take direction well and articulate a strong conceptual point of view</li>
<li>Ability to work independently and think on ones feet</li>
</ul>
<p><strong> </strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Compensation</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li>Base hourly rate: $20/hr</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">This range represents the base pay rate an individual in this role may earn as an employee of Sterling Brands in the United States. Pay will vary based on factors including but not limited to: professional and academic experience; training; associated responsibilities; other business and organizational needs; and geographic location (to account for comparative cost of living). Pay decisions are dependent on the circumstances of each hire.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p><div class="content-conclusion"><p><strong>About Sterling:</strong></p>
<p>We are a brand design consultancy based in NYC, San Francisco, and Cincinnati. For over 25 years, our design, strategy, and innovation teams have been working to bring brands to life across the entire ecosystem of experiences. </p></div>
Key Skills
Design ExcellenceBrandingPackage DesignVisual LanguageDigital ExecutionsCreative ExploratoriesDesign RefinementsResearchBrainstormingCultural TrendsPresentation CraftingCritical ThinkingProblem-SolvingTaking DirectionConceptual Point Of ViewAdobe Creative Suite
Categories
Art & DesignCreative & MediaConsulting
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