The purpose of the Industrial Design Internship Program is to provide level 3 or higher students with a grounded, real-world experience in a professional design environment.
While the role of an intern is humble in nature, each student will be exposed to the daily processes involved in running a design firm:
- Project management
- Client relations
- Research
- Collaboration with engineers, model makers, human factors specialists, interaction designers, and others
- Design presentations
- Production drawings
- Vendor selection and coordination
How will an internship benefit me?
- Extend your educational experience into the professional world of design.
- Increase your chances of getting a job.
- Take your first step as a professional.
- Help professionals understand the value of CCA students.
When should I do an internship?
It is recommended that students try to gain professional work experience early and often, beyond the requirement. The more students understand the role of the designer in the work environment, the more they can leverage their learning at CCA. This may mean doing internships beyond the one required for graduation.
For the credit internship, students generally complete it during the summer semester between ID4 and ID5, or while taking ID5 or ID6 (this is a heavy academic load).
What are the requirements?
- To be eligible for CCA's industrial design internship program for credit, a student must have successfully completed all required Level 2 courses.
- After securing an intern position at an approved internship site, students must log a minimum of 225 hours at the site. While compensation is up to the employer, we suggest that students get paid $15 per hour. Accepting a position with a firm that is either unwilling or unable to provide monetary compensation is left to the discretion of the student.
- At the end of the internship, the employer reviews the intern's performance by completing an evaluation form. That form, along with the student's evaluation of the internship site and a signed copy of the hours log, must be submitted to Industrial Design Program Manager in the Academic Services office.
A meeting is scheduled each semester to provide students with a forum for asking questions and sharing insights about their respective experiences. The internship coordinator is also available for in-person consultation on campus once a week. Check for office hours with the Industrial Design Program Manager or schedule an individual appointment.
How do I register?
To register for a CCA internship, you must complete the internship registration form available in the Academic Services office. This form requires the signatures of both your internship site supervisor and the ID internship coordinator, so be sure to leave yourself enough time to get those signatures before the registration deadline.
You may register for an internship through the last day of the add/drop period each semester. There is a $200 late fee for adding an internship after that date.
If you have not completed your internship by the end of the semester in which you are registered, you will be given an incomplete, an E. If you have not filed the necessary paperwork for the internship by the end of the following semester and have not been granted an extension, your grade will be recorded as an F.
Contact Us
Ian Coats MacColl
Internship Coordinator
ian@inventures.net
Kerry Gould
Program Manager
415.703.9563
415.703.9524 fax
kgould@cca.edu
