Design Intern

About Disconnect Madison

Disconnect Madison is a grassroots community project based in Madison, WI. The project encourages people to reduce their use of algorithm-driven social media and reflect on how screen time affects their lives. It is research-driven, nonpartisan, and rooted in the belief that our attention is a resource worth protecting.

The project was founded by a software engineer and product developer who noticed the negative effects of social media in his own life, started making changes, and built a website and local outreach campaign to help others do the same. Disconnect Madison currently operates through a Next.js website (with a self-reflection quiz, research summaries, and a pledge system), printed flyers distributed at co-ops, bookstores, and coffee shops across Madison, and community events.

This is a one-person operation. There is no staff, no office, and no corporate structure. What it is: a real project reaching real people in our community, a clear mission, and a sincere desire to provide a meaningful experience to a student designer.

Start date and internship period are flexible.

The schedule is flexible and depends on the intern's interests, and how closely they want to simulate a tech industry job. Work hours are flexible and weekly check-ins with Mentor will be scheduled according to availability.

Title

Design Intern

Organization

Disconnect Madison (disconnectmadison.org)

Type

Paid internship (stipend-based)

Compensation

$800

Duration

Spring/Summer 2026 (approximately 10 weeks). Flexible schedule.

Hours

60 labor hours with additional mentorship hours optional. 

Start date: 4/20

Location

Remote with encouraged in-person meetings in Madison, WI

Position Summary

The Design Intern will collaborate with the founder to define and build a cohesive visual identity and design language for Disconnect Madison. The specific scope of the work will be shaped collaboratively based on the intern’s strengths, interests, and the project’s evolving needs. This is not a prescriptive role with a fixed set of tasks. It is a partnership. The material outcome of this partnership is secondary to the goal of providing a meaningful and fruitful experience for the intern.

Potential areas of work include, but are not limited to:

• Brand identity: Creating and refining a visual identity system (color palette, typography, logo, print and digital guidelines)
• Print design: Creating and iterating on flyers, posters, business cards, and event materials for local distribution
• Web design: Proposing UI/UX improvements to the existing website, including layout, visual hierarchy, and page-level design
• Social media assets: Designing templates for Instagram posts (static images, carousels) that align with the brand identity
• Environmental/event design: Materials for community events such as the Earth Day fair (table signage, handouts, display materials)

The intern will have real ownership over design decisions and will see their work used in the community. Their print media will be distributed to local businesses and organizations. Every web improvement will be live on a real site with real visitors.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the internship, the intern will have gained experience with:

Professional Tools

• Figma: Collaborative design, component systems, prototyping, and handoff workflows
• Jira/Trello: Task tracking, sprint planning, and project management in an agile workflow
• Miro: Visual brainstorming, wireframing, and collaborative ideation
• Git/GitHub: Basic familiarity with version control as it relates to design-developer collaboration (exposure, not proficiency)

Professional Concepts

• Product Development Lifecycle (PDLC): Understanding how a product moves from idea to research to design to development to launch
• The Three-Legged Stool: How design, engineering, and product management collaborate to make decisions
• Design systems thinking: Creating reusable, consistent components rather than one-off designs
• Stakeholder communication: Presenting design rationale, receiving feedback, and iterating professionally
• Portfolio development: Documenting the design process (not just the final output) for future job applications
• Professional relationships: Diplomacy in the workplace, maintaining healthy boundaries, advocating for oneself, maintaining work:life balance

Applied Skills

• Designing for print and digital simultaneously, understanding the constraints and conventions of each
• Working with a real client (the founder) to interpret ambiguous briefs and propose solutions
• Balancing creative vision with practical constraints (no budget, grassroots context, accessibility considerations)

Compensation and Support

Stipend

This is a paid internship. The intern will receive a stipend of $800 for the full internship period, paid in two installments, at midpoint and upon completion. The stipend reflects the noncommercial nature of the project and is supplemented by significant mentorship and professional development value.

Mentorship and Support

• Weekly 1-on-1 sessions: Approximately 1-2 hours per week with the founder, covering design feedback, professional development topics, career guidance, and tool walkthroughs
• Ongoing access: The intern will have direct access to the founder via phone, email, or chat for questions, feedback, and collaboration outside of scheduled sessions
• Portfolio support: The founder will help the intern document their work to strengthen their design portfolio and tell the story of their process
• Professional reference: Upon successful completion, the founder will serve as a professional reference for future job and internship applications

Equal Opportunity

Disconnect Madison is committed to creating an inclusive environment. This internship is open to all qualified UW-Madison students regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, or national origin. If you need accommodations during the application process or internship, please let us know and we will work with you.

Required

• Priority will be given to art students, with a focus on graphic design
• Foundational skills in graphic design, including understanding of typography, color theory, and visual hierarchy
• Ability to work independently and manage your own time in a remote/flexible environment
• Interest in the project’s mission (you don’t have to have quit social media, but our mission should align with your personal values in some way)

Preferred but Not Required

• Experience with Figma / willingness to learn
• Familiarity with web design concepts (responsive layout, UI components)
• Experience with print production (bleed, trim, file preparation)
• Comfort with ambiguity and collaborative problem-solving
• Joy in creativity. We’re not trying to build an industry-standard clone of every other nonprofit brand/website. We’re trying to help people reflect, learn, and help themselves. There are no rules.

Note: This internship is designed to teach professional skills, not require them. If you meet the required qualifications and are excited about the work, please apply. You do not need to check every box on the preferred list.

Interested students should submit the following materials to zeke@disconnectmadison.org:

• Resume: Informal, one page is fine. I don’t need to know about your work history if it’s not relevant to the role.
• A short written response (250 words or less) answering: What interests you about this project, and what would you hope to get out of the internship?
• Optional: A link to a portfolio or website, or attach 2-3 samples of design work you’re proud of, or that you feel represents your personal style and tastes. This does not need to be polished or professional. Coursework is welcome.

Applications will be reviewed as they come in. The process will be informal and conversational. Qualified candidates will be invited to a brief virtual or in-person conversation with the founder to discuss the role, mutual expectations, and fit.