Do you enjoy making eye-catching social media graphics, posters, or logos? You don't have to wait until college to start if you have a strong interest in visual storytelling. Today's high school students can choose from a wide range of in-person and online graphic design internships that provide practical experience, guidance, and the opportunity to develop a strong portfolio. These programs will assist you in transforming your creativity into useful skills, regardless of your level of experience with design software.
Here are 10 of the best graphic design internships for high school students:
1. Design Hive at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Focus: Collaborative design projects, design process
Location: New York, NY
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in NYC
Deadline: Check the program site for updates
Stipend: $2,000
Design Hive is a youth-led program where students work alongside professional designers, taking projects from initial concept to final execution. Interns get access to museum exhibitions and resources, participate in hands-on sessions, and contribute to group design challenges. You’ll gain insight into the full creative process and build a portfolio with real-world projects.
2. Medicine Encompassed (Graphic Design Team)
Focus: Medical communication, digital content creation
Location: Virtual and in-person (Washington, DC)
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+
Deadline: March 31
Stipend: Possible stipend
As part of Medicine Encompassed’s graphic design team, you’ll create graphics and digital assets for the organization’s website, blog, and social media. Interns collaborate with writers and editors to visually communicate medical concepts, and may also help design educational resources for various medical fields. The flexible schedule lets you work remotely and contribute to a meaningful cause.
3. RISE Global
Location: Online
Program Dates: Flexible, year-round enrollment with customized timelines based on student needs.
Cost: $2,000 (publication included)
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students (grades 8–12) from any country.
Deadline: Rolling admissions
Scholarships: Merit-based
RISE Global provides high school students exclusive one-on-one mentoring, helping them to create research projects that lead to esteemed publications. RISE helps students succeed academically and stand out on college applications by matching them with mentors from prestigious international universities like Harvard, Columbia, and Cambridge. RISE alumni have gained unique talents by pursuing a variety of fields, including psychology, economics, sustainability, and artificial intelligence.
4. Interns 4-Good
Focus: Nonprofit design, promotional materials
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: All high school students
Deadline: Rolling
Stipend: Unpaid
Interns 4-Good partners students with nonprofits, where you might develop artwork, advertisements, flyers, or graphics for social media. You can specify your interest in graphic design during the application process, and you’ll gain experience working on real campaigns that make a difference in your community.
5. PHC Group’s Mary Miller Summer Program
Focus: Social media, marketing, graphic design
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Deadline: Apply as soon as possible
Stipend: Paid
This summer program allows interns to support PHC Group’s team with social media projects, marketing research, and online community engagement. You’ll use your graphic design skills to create social media posts and visual content, while also learning about digital marketing and teamwork in a remote setting.
6. Museum of Arts and Design Teen Programs (Artslife)
Focus: Art and design, leadership, museum studies
Location: New York, NY
Eligibility: NYC teens
Deadline: Check program site
Stipend: Paid
Artslife is a 6-week paid internship blending art and design learning with leadership and museum studies. Interns work on collaborative projects with museum staff and local designers, create artwork, and participate in community engagement activities. The program also includes visits to other cultural institutions and mentorship from arts professionals.
7. ACE Intern at Gensler
Focus: Professional design, architecture, graphic design
Location: Chicago, IL
Eligibility: All high school students
Deadline: Not specified
Stipend: Paid
Gensler’s ACE Intern program offers an immersive, 8-week, part-time internship where students join design teams and work on real projects. You’ll collaborate with professionals, participate in design exercises, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process at one of the world’s leading architecture and design firms.
8. Smithsonian National Museum of American History Graphic Design Internship
Focus: Museum design, promotional materials, digital content
Location: Washington, DC
Eligibility: High school students with basic design skills
Deadline: December 1 (tentative)
Stipend: Provided
Interns at the Smithsonian work on a range of design projects, from creating promotional materials and exhibition graphics to developing digital content for the museum’s website. The program includes mentorship, field visits, and portfolio development sessions, giving you a comprehensive introduction to design in a museum setting.
9. CalArts Summer Graphic Design Program
Focus: Motion graphics, branding, digital illustration
Location: Valencia, CA
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Deadline: April 1 (tentative)
Stipend: Financial aid available
This four-week intensive at CalArts covers motion graphics, branding, and digital illustration. Students work in professional design studios, participate in workshops, and collaborate on projects. The program culminates in a final presentation, where you’ll showcase your work and receive feedback from faculty and peers.
10. Yocket High School Summer Internship
Focus: Web design, animation, real-world projects
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students
Deadline: Limited spots
Stipend: Unpaid
Yocket’s summer internship offers hands-on experience with web design, animation, and digital media projects. Interns receive weekly mentorship, complete practice assessments, and finish with a director-signed certificate and a portfolio of completed work—perfect for college applications and future opportunities.
If you’re a student hoping to build a college profile that truly reflects who you are and what you care about, take a look at RISE Global Education. Their team connects you with mentors from leading universities, guides you through independent research, and helps you publish your work.