Visiting Coney Island during a graphic design internship in New York

Graphic Design Internships in New York

New York carries the weight of the advertising century behind it and still sets the pace for how brands look today. Madison Avenue invented the modern ad campaign, and the city's design firms have shaped identity work for finance, fashion, media and culture ever since.

The industry here runs wide rather than deep in any one style. Independent branding studios in Flatiron and SoHo build identities for start-ups and legacy companies alike. Publishing houses headquartered in Manhattan still shape how magazines and books are laid out worldwide. Advertising holding companies run creative departments producing campaigns seen everywhere, and museums from MoMA to the Met commission design work that treats visual communication as a serious discipline in its own right.

Whether you're a university student, recent graduate, gap year student or career changer, our graphic design internship program in New York places you in a working studio for 4 to 24 weeks, with a portfolio of real projects to show for it.

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24Guaranteed Internship
Vetted placements with New York branding studios, agencies and creative departments. 

14Complete Overseas Support
Visa assistance, New York housing, social & cultural events and 24/7 staff support included. 

22Global Career Network
Join 15,000+ alumni with dynamic workshops, networking events, and employer references. 

Example graphic design host organizations in New York

We've previously placed interns with organizations across New York's branding, publishing, advertising and digital design sectors. The organizations featured represent examples of the types of professional environments where participants have gained experience.

Why do a graphic design internship in New York?

New York's branding firms have built identity systems for some of the world's largest financial, media and consumer companies, and the city's advertising agencies still set the reference points other markets borrow from. Working inside that world means watching a brand go from a strategy deck to a system a client will use across every touchpoint, at a pace few other cities match.

Independent studios here tend to be lean and specialised, so an intern in a ten-person shop might work directly with the founder on a logo project one week and a packaging system the next. Meanwhile the city's publishing houses, home to some of the most widely read magazines and newspapers in the world, keep editorial design a genuine craft rather than an afterthought. Add in a gallery and museum circuit that treats design as worth exhibiting on its own terms, and New York offers a view into nearly every branch of visual communication at once.

The city is particularly strong in brand and identity design, editorial layout, advertising creative and packaging, giving you exposure to design practiced at real commercial speed and scale.

Experience design at the world's advertising capital

Advertising heritage
See how the agencies that shaped the modern ad campaign still set direction for global brands.

Studio intensity
Work inside lean, specialised studios where interns get hands-on with real client projects fast.

International networking
Build connections within one of the world's largest and most competitive creative industries.

Editorial craft
Learn how New York's publishing houses treat layout, typography and print production as disciplines worth mastering.

Meeting other interns during a graphic design internship in New York

Explore graphic design internships in New York

New York's design landscape spans branding studios, advertising agencies, publishing houses, digital product teams and packaging specialists. Your internship could give you the opportunity to see how organizations in the city bring visual identity and communication to life.

Brand & Identity Design

New York's branding studios build identity systems for companies ranging from downtown start-ups to Fortune 500 corporations, work that moves fast and rewards designers who can think strategically as well as visually. Your internship could involve supporting logo development, identity guidelines or brand asset creation.

You could work on: Logo development support · Identity guidelines · Brand asset creation · Pitch deck design

Advertising & Creative Agency Design

New York's advertising agencies produce campaigns for some of the world's biggest consumer brands, built on close collaboration between designers, copywriters and art directors under tight deadlines. You could support campaign asset design, concept boards or presentation materials.

You could work on: Campaign asset design support · Concept boards · Presentation materials · Social content adaptation

Digital & UI Design

New York's product design teams build interfaces for media platforms, fintech apps and consumer tech used by millions. You could support wireframing, visual design or design system documentation.

You could work on: Wireframing support · Visual design assistance · Design system documentation · Asset preparation

Packaging Design

New York's packaging designers work on everything from indie beauty brands to major food and beverage companies, where a product has to win attention on a crowded shelf or a scrolling feed. You could support packaging concepts, mockup development or print preparation.

You could work on: Packaging concept support · Mockup development · Print preparation · Competitive shelf research

Looking for graphic design internships beyond New York? Explore our international art and design internships to discover opportunities across a range of destinations. 

Example graphic design internship roles in New York

Depending on your skills and interests, you could take on a role such as:

  • Graphic Design Intern
  • Creative Design Intern
  • Branding & Design Intern
  • Digital Heritage Design Intern
  • Gallery Operations & Digital Design Intern
  • Art Gallery Design Intern
  • Digital Content Designer
  • Creative Video Production Intern

Your exact role will depend on your host organization and placement.

Explore more example Graphic Design roles >

Sightseeing during a graphic design internship in New York

What can you gain from our graphic design internship in New York?

Our graphic design internship in New York offers more than a line on your CV. It's a chance to see how design gets practiced at the industry's fastest-moving commercial centre, developing practical, portfolio-ready skills through work with real client stakes.

  • Build New York design experience

    Add international design experience to your CV and show future employers you've worked within the industry's most competitive creative market. 

  • Work on real design projects

    Put your knowledge into practice through projects that could involve branding, advertising, editorial or packaging design, depending on your placement. 

  • Grow your international creative network

    Connect with designers, art directors and creative professionals across New York's branding, publishing and advertising sectors, alongside fellow interns from around the world. 

  • Understand design at commercial speed

    See how New York's studios balance strategic thinking with fast production timelines and high client stakes. 

  • Experience New York's creative culture

    Gain insight into how advertising history, editorial tradition and a dense gallery scene combine to shape the city's approach to visual communication. 

Hanging out with other interns during a New York graphic design internship

What's included in the New York internship program?

Your program includes support designed to help you get the most from your international internship, from placement and accommodation to visa assistance, career coaching and 24/7 in-country support.

Explore the full New York internship program >

Hear from our New York interns

Angel Velanky John Fernandes
Angel Velanky John Fernandes
Read their story
Elisa Brena
Elisa Brena
Watch their story
Yasin Akdag
Yasin Akdag
Watch their story

"I chose to do the internship program in NYC because it’s a global hub for media and creativity. The city offers unparalleled opportunities to learn from industry leaders, network with professionals, and gain hands-on experience. NYC’s dynamic environment will help me grow professionally and refine my skills in media production." - Angel Velanky John Fernandes, intern in New York

"The Intern Group’s support and experienced team were incredibly valuable throughout my entire 24-week program in New York. There were times when I felt worried, and at one point I became sick, but I was always able to reach out to the TIG team. Brian from the Experience Team was always available whenever I needed support. If you’re considering an internship in New York, I would definitely say go for it and experience it for yourself. Rest assured, The Intern Group will help you achieve your dream internship. It’s a great experience for your resume and can open up future career opportunities." - Yasin Akdag, New York intern

Visiting Madison Square Garden with other students during a graphic design internship in New York

Is a New York graphic design internship right for you?

A New York graphic design internship could be a great fit if you want hands-on exposure to design practiced at real commercial pace and scale. Whether you're a university student, recent graduate, gap year student or career changer, you can build practical design skills while experiencing how organizations in New York build brands, publications and campaigns for audiences worldwide.

It's an opportunity to build your CV, expand your portfolio and professional network, and discover where a career in design could take you.

What is it like to live as a graphic design intern in New York?

Living as a graphic design intern in New York means the studios clustered around Flatiron and SoHo become genuinely familiar ground, and you'll start recognising faces from other agencies within a few weeks. MoMA's design galleries and the smaller commercial galleries scattered through Chelsea are worth building a lunch break around, and the city's design week each spring turns into a real industry event as studios and schools show their latest work.

Weekends offer their own creative fuel: a wander through a Brooklyn flea market for vintage print ephemera, an afternoon at a museum store restocking on design books, or catching up with fellow interns over dinner while trading notes on whichever gallery opening you each caught that week.

Apply now

Sightseeing with fellow interns and roommates during a graphic design internship in New York

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  • 1

    Apply online

    Complete our simple application form and tell us about your passions, qualifications, and experiential requirements.

  • 2

    Interview

    If your interview is successful, confirm your enrollment with a tuition deposit.

  • 3

    Secure your internship

    Collaborate in the internship placement process & accelerate your career.