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Graphic design is a collaborative field, requiring seamless teamwork with content and marketing teams to create impactful visuals. Success in the industry depends on a versatile perspective that enables designers to connect with varied audiences and communicate effectively across different cultural and professional backgrounds. One of the best ways to develop these skills is through an international graphic design internship.
An AIFS Abroad internship will help you expand your global perspective while building the skills you need to advance your graphic design career. AIFS Abroad offers incredible opportunities for internships in some of the world’s best cities for graphic design, so here are our top five cities for graphic design internships!
Want to lay the groundwork for a successful career in the industry? Explore AIFS Abroad’s top 5 cities for graphic design internships!
1. Barcelona
Barcelona is an established tech, digital marketing, and creative hub that’s the perfect place to start your graphic design career. In Barcelona you can build a professional network in an international community dedicated to innovating in the digital marketing and creative design space. At your graphic design internship, you’ll gain hands-on experience covering a variety of essential skills such as assisting with design projects, concept development, image retouching and editing, and more. Thanks to the city’s large number of digital marketing agencies, you can look for companies that fall into your specific niche. For example, we can help you find a position at fashion marketing agencies, publishing houses, advertising firms, e-commerce brands, or media companies if they align with your career goals and are accepting internship placements. Immerse yourself in a community that’s on the cutting-edge of the field with a graphic design internship in Barcelona!
In addition to being a tech and creative hotspot, Barcelona is also a cultural hotspot and the capital of Catalonia, a region known for its spectacular beaches, world-class cuisine, and famous artists like Antoni Gaudí and Salvador Dalí. While you’re in Barcelona, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the city and learn why it’s a favorite tourist destination. You can explore the rest of the region and get to know Catalonia on a deeper level. Visit the 12th century village of Besalú to see the seven arches and two towers of Pont Vell that extends over the River Fluviá, or go back in time 1,000 years to discover the Montserrat Monastery which sits atop a beautiful mountain, accessible via cable car. While leaving home and interning abroad in Barcelona may make some nervous, as the Catalans say, “qui no s’arrisca, no pisca,” or, “no guts, no glory.” Take the leap and find graphic design glory in Barcelona!
2. New York City
New York City is an excellent place to launch any career, especially graphic design. As a business, media, and marketing hub that’s known for its creative industries, it’s an unbeatable choice for your graphic design internship. The city is home to countless design studios, advertising agencies, marketing firms, and tech startups, offering a wide range of opportunities to gain valuable graphic design experience. Interning in NYC means collaborating with top industry experts, learning the latest design trends and software, and building a strong portfolio with real-world projects. The city’s fast-paced environment pushes designers to think outside the box and develop creative problem-solving skills. Plus, networking opportunities are everywhere—industry events, galleries, and meetups provide endless chances to connect with potential mentors, collaborators, and future employers.
When you’re not designing graphics, you can design the perfect lifestyle in NYC. Go for a morning jog through Central Park, get a slice of pizza at any hour of the day or night, take art classes, or just stroll through your local borough searching for the hidden gems this city is famous for. With an internship in NYC, we promise you’ll never run out of things to do, and because there’s so much to do, you can create your dream lifestyle and indulge in every hobby you can think of! Whether you’ve always wanted to start pilates, learning how to salsa, rock climb, aikido, or visiting jazz clubs, New York City has a new and exciting pastime with your name on it. Fall in love with life with a graphic design internship in NYC!
3. London
Across the pond from New York City is London, another marketing and creative capital of the world that’s brimming with opportunity for aspiring graphic designers. With the city’s huge demand for creative professionals and its more than 100 art schools, it’s no wonder why graphic designers come to London from around the world to start their career. London is also home to a booming business environment that’s known worldwide for its media and marketing industry. No matter where you intern in London, you’ll have the chance to build a strong professional network in an international city known for graphic design. Plus, you’ll build all the skills needed to find success in the field—using essential design tools, making infographics, assisting with digital and print materials, improving designs, and more.
When you’re not at your internship, you can soak up all the culture that London is known for. The city is packed with international diversity, setting the stage for multicultural immersion within an English-speaking city. Experience Chinese culture in London’s Chinatown, visit Camden for exposure to Latin culture, or venture to Brixton to learn about the African-Caribbean community. If you’re interested in nature and greenery within the bustling borders of this international city, there are tons of beautiful parks you can visit, including London’s many Royal Parks, which are well-tended outdoor environments with acres of natural land available for you to relax and stroll about in.
4. Florence
Graphic design and art go together like peanut butter and jelly. Anyone who is considering interning abroad for graphic design needs to consider Florence as an option! This city has been a hub for creative pursuits for hundreds of years. As the birthplace of the Renaissance and home of Michelangelo, among many other famous artists, Florence is overflowing with fine arts masterpieces and sources of creative inspiration. Today, the city is no less important in the creative world—it remains highly influential in the international world of graphic design and fine arts, making it a fine choice to start your career. You’ll receive mentorship from local designers who are adept at applying their creative craft to captivate audiences and accurately represent their brands. Intern in Florence and learn how traditional techniques are applied and adapted to fit contemporary methods of graphic design.
Outside of your graphic design internship, all of Florence awaits. Visit world-famous art museums and galleries like the Uffizi, which houses an extraordinary collection of ancient sculptures and paintings from the Middle Ages to the modern age, including works by famous Renaissance artists such as Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Leonardo, and Raphael, to name a few. You’ll find that artistry is imbued in every aspect of this city—the architecture radiates beauty and history, at night the streets sing with the sounds of opera, and around mealtime the air is saturated with delectable culinary scents. Live the ideal artist’s life with a graphic design internship in Florence!
5. Madrid
Madrid has strong fashion, retail, publishing, and advertising agencies, all of which rely on graphic designers for innovative design solutions. It’s also a rising tech hub with a lively startup ecosystem that has a strong demand for UX/UI web design and graphic design, making it an excellent choice to launch your graphic design career. An internship in Madrid will provide you with valuable professional experiences that overlap with the tech industry, including digital marketing, app development, and interactive media, giving you the skills to put you at the forefront of this ever-evolving industry. Also, you’ll get the chance to assist with real-world projects in industries that are heavily reliant on strong visual storytelling via graphic design. With an internship in Spain’s capital, you’ll get exposure to innovative design solutions in a rapidly growing tech and creative professional community.
Within Madrid there is so much cultural experience available. You can learn about the art and history of the region at museums and galleries. Sample Spanish foods at tapas bars or bistros, exploring the full flavors of Madrid along with other distinct regions of Spain. Outside of Madrid, the whole country awaits—the majestic white hill towns (“pueblos blancos”) populate the southern region of Andalusia, adding a striking contrast to the natural landscapes. Picturesque beaches with clear blue water are located east of Madrid in Catalonia. In Madrid you’ll be in the center of the country, with the rest of Spain at your fingertips. Advance your career and travel Spain with a graphic design internship in Madrid!
Looking to impress employers with an international graphic design internship? Connect with new cultures and develop your career simultaneously with AIFS Abroad!
An international graphic design internship is an incredible way to gain hands-on experience while immersing yourself in diverse cultures across the globe. AIFS Abroad provides unparalleled opportunities for aspiring graphic designers in some of the world’s most exciting cities. With inclusions such as housing, insurance, career readiness programming, excursions and activities, on-site staff, and emergency support, you’ll have a stress-free global education and professional development experience. Don’t miss the opportunity to gain hands-on graphic design experience with an internship abroad!