Designer Intern Owned Brands Minneapolis

About the internship

This role with Target's Owned Brand Design team turns emerging trends, guest insights and creative ideas into original products that offer strong design, quality and value. The team designs and develops Target-owned brands across Home, Apparel and Fun 101. Designers work closely with merchandising, sourcing, product development, technical design and external vendor partners to build cohesive assortments that match each brand's creative direction and business goals.

As a Designer Intern, you'll get a realistic preview of a career in Owned Brand Product Design and Development. With guidance from design leaders and team members, you'll contribute across categories and projects while learning how an idea moves from research and concept through design, development and presentation. You'll bring your creative point of view, build technical design skills and see how guest needs, brand strategy, trends, materials, cost and production come together in retail product design.

You may support the Home, Apparel and Fun 101 teams based on business needs. You'll receive training, coaching and chances to learn from cross-functional partners. You'll manage a defined design project from inspiration through recommendation, then finish by presenting your work and learnings to design leadership.

What you'll do

• Support product, trend, color, material and competitive research to shape seasonal concepts and design direction.
• Turn ideas into clear CAD illustrations, hand sketches, technical sketches, layouts and presentation materials.
• Help develop product concepts, colorways, patterns, prints, graphics, trims, embellishments, hardware or material stories for your assigned category.
• Prepare design specifications and share relevant details with internal teams and vendor partners.
• Take part in team critiques, working sessions and milestone meetings, and apply feedback to refine concepts and deliverables.
• Work with Merchandising, Sourcing, Product Development, Technical Design and other teams on assortment strategy, guest needs, feasibility, quality and value.
• Organize files, samples, boards and project materials with accuracy and timely follow-through.
• Manage a scoped internship project from research through final recommendation and present the outcome to leadership.
• Show curiosity, initiative, accountability and openness to learning in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

About you

• Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Design, Textile Design, Graphic Design, Fine Arts or a closely related field.
• Strong academic performance and demonstrated progress toward degree completion.
• A portfolio showing creative thinking, design process, visual communication and relevant project work.
• Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud tools such as Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign.
• Experience with CAD illustration or relevant 2D/3D design software, and the ability to learn new tools quickly.
• Interest in consumer products, retail, trends, color, materials and culture across categories.
• Foundational understanding of product construction, textiles, materials, manufacturing or development processes.
• Ability to research, synthesize and apply trend, market and guest insights to design work.
• Strong communication, organization and presentation skills, with close attention to detail.
• Ability to receive and apply feedback, manage priorities and contribute in a team environment.
• Curiosity, initiative and comfort working through ambiguity while meeting deadlines.
• Ability to begin a full-time position, if offered, starting Summer 2028.

Internship experience

This is an entry-level internship based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, beginning in Summer 2027. The program offers meaningful project ownership, exposure to the day-to-day work of an Owned Brand Designer, and development through training, mentorship, feedback and cross-functional partnership.