Summer 2027 Industrial Design Intern

Job Description

The Role:

We are a bold, creative crew of designers and strategists embedded in GM Industrial Design, where innovation meets imagination. We specialize in visual storytelling powered by cutting-edge graphics, AI, and design thinking, turning brand values and market insights into visuals that move people.

The Team

GM's Industrial Design organization brings together a global community of designers, makers, and creative technologists who shape the physical and digital character of GM vehicles and customer experiences. Working across disciplines and studios, teams move ideas from research and 2D concepts through digital and physical development into compelling experiences for GM's portfolio of brands. As an intern, you will learn in a collaborative, feedback-driven environment while partnering with designers, engineers, suppliers, and fabrication experts to explore how form, color, material, finish, graphics, and technology come together.

We are hiring interns in Industrial Design across two focus areas for Summer 2027:

Brand ID + Product Design Intern

This role will support the development of distinctive vehicle accessories and graphics by turning creative 2D concepts into compelling 3D applications. Projects may include accessory badges and emblems, decals and wrap graphics, wheel and exterior details, branded charging/cargo/utility accessories, and explorations of material, finish, scale, and placement. The intern will also create physical or digital prototypes to support design reviews and bring ideas to life on the vehicle.

Colors, Materials, Finish (CMF) Intern

This role will support the design of future vehicles through research and development in color, materials, and finish. Projects may include exploring CMF trends, developing color and material palettes, researching sustainable and innovative materials, and defining textures, gloss levels, patterns, and surface treatments for interior and exterior applications. The intern may also create physical and digital samples, support prototype development, collaborate with suppliers, and prepare visual presentations for design reviews.

What You'll Do

• Explore ideas that enhance the design, identity, and customer experience of future vehicles.
• Research trends, materials, technologies, and user perspectives to inform design concepts.
• Develop and communicate concepts through sketches, visual studies, samples, models, and prototypes.
• Translate creative ideas into thoughtful applications across vehicle surfaces, accessories, and experiences.
• Collaborate with designers, engineers, suppliers, and other partners to refine and realize concepts.
• Present work, receive feedback, and iterate designs throughout the development process.

Please note, you must submit a portfolio to be considered for this position, see instructions below.

Required Qualifications

• Pursuit of a bachelor's or BFA degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design, CMF, or related creative discipline.
• Must be graduating between December 2027 and May 2029.
• Able to work full-time, 40 hours per week during the summer months.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of AI programs such as Vizcom and Midjourney.
• Knowledge of VRED, Adobe Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), Alias, Blender.
• A sharp eye for what's next, bringing trend-savvy taste, techniques, and cultural awareness to inspire the studio and maintain a creative edge.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work both in teams and independently.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Dependability.
• Strong organizational and project-planning skills.

GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of GM as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1-B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.).

Work Arrangement

Onsite: This role is categorized as onsite. This position requires the employee to report to the GM Design Center in Warren, MI, on a full-time basis.

GM will provide a one-time lump sum taxable stipend payment to eligible students selected for the 2027 Student Program. To help facilitate administration of relocation benefits if you are selected, please apply using the permanent address you would move from.

Start Dates

Start dates for this internship role are May & June of 2027.

Compensation

Eligible students selected for the 2027 Student Program may receive the one-time taxable stipend described above.

What You'll Get From Us (Benefits)

• Paid U.S. GM Holidays
• GM Family First Vehicle Discount Program
• Result-based potential for growth within GM
• Intern events to network with company leaders and peers

Portfolio Submission Instructions

We strongly encourage you to include a link to your online portfolio in the "website" section of your application or directly on your resume. This allows us to easily access larger files and view your work in its intended format. Please do not submit Dropbox files or Google Docs.

• Save your portfolio as a PDF document.
• Name your portfolio LAST NAME, FIRST NAME. Example: Candidate name is John Smith. Portfolio PDF file name is: Smith, John.pdf.
• Upload it as an attachment; you may have to condense the file.

DISCLAIMER: The works included in your career portfolio must not be subject to any nondisclosure and/or confidentiality agreement. If the works in your career portfolio are owned by your current or former employer, or by any other third party, there must be express written consent from the owner allowing the works to be included in your career portfolio for sharing with General Motors ("GM"). By sharing your career portfolio, you grant to GM the right to quote, paraphrase, reproduce, distribute, or otherwise use all or any portion of the career portfolio for purposes of making a hiring determination. By sharing your career portfolio, you also agree to release and discharge GM, and its licensees, successors, and assigns, from any and all claims, demands, or causes of action that you may have regarding any use of the career portfolio, including (but not limited to) any claims based on the right to privacy, the right to publicity, copyright, libel, defamation, or any other right.