Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Visual Intern

💰 Hourly Stipend or Academic Credit

DesignInternshipCreativeMarketingEntry-Level

🎯 Role Definition

The Visual Intern is an integral part of our creative and marketing ecosystem, serving as a key support for the visual storytelling of our brand. This is not just a role about fetching coffee; it's a hands-on, immersive experience designed to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world application. The intern will work directly with senior designers, marketing managers, and content creators to produce compelling visual assets across a variety of platforms. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to live projects, build a professional portfolio, and understand the day-to-day operations and strategic thinking within a fast-paced creative department.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Current student in a Graphic Design, Visual Arts, or related program.
  • Recent graduate with a strong portfolio and a degree in a relevant field.
  • Self-taught designer with a demonstrable portfolio of personal or freelance projects.

Advancement To:

  • Junior Graphic Designer
  • Visual Designer
  • Marketing Coordinator (with a design focus)

Lateral Moves:

  • UI/UX Design Intern or Junior Designer
  • Social Media Content Creator
  • Motion Graphics Artist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Conceptualize, design, and produce engaging graphics for all social media channels, including Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, ensuring they align with our brand voice and campaign goals.
  • Assist in the creation and iteration of digital marketing assets such as web banners, email campaign visuals, and promotional landing page graphics.
  • Support the senior design team in developing and refining brand identity elements, including logo variations, typography systems, and color palettes for new initiatives.
  • Design and format internal and external presentations (PowerPoint/Google Slides), ensuring they are visually compelling, on-brand, and effectively communicate key information.
  • Create print and digital collateral, such as one-pagers, brochures, case studies, and event signage, from concept through to final file preparation.
  • Collaborate on the visual aspects of content marketing by creating infographics, charts, and custom illustrations for blog posts, whitepapers, and reports.
  • Participate in the ideation and execution of photoshoots, assisting with concept development, prop sourcing, and on-set support.
  • Perform basic video editing tasks, including trimming clips, adding text overlays, sourcing appropriate music, and creating simple motion graphics for short-form video content.
  • Develop and adapt visual assets for various dimensions and formats required by different platforms, ensuring visual integrity and optimal performance.
  • Assist in the design and prototyping of user interface (UI) elements for web and mobile applications under the guidance of senior UI/UX designers.
  • Create and update templates for frequently used documents and marketing materials to ensure brand consistency and improve team efficiency.
  • Contribute to brainstorming and ideation sessions, bringing fresh perspectives and creative solutions to new campaigns and projects.

Secondary Functions

  • Meticulously organize, tag, and maintain our digital asset management (DAM) system to ensure all creative files are easily accessible and properly archived.
  • Conduct thorough visual research on competitor branding, industry design trends, and emerging visual styles to inform and inspire our team's creative direction.
  • Provide support in preparing design files for production, including liaising with print vendors and ensuring all specifications are met for high-quality output.
  • Review and proofread creative materials for visual errors, typos, and brand inconsistencies before publication or final delivery.
  • Assist in creating mockups and prototypes to visualize design concepts for stakeholder review and feedback.
  • Document design processes and update our internal brand style guide with new examples and standards as they are developed.
  • Participate actively in team critiques and feedback sessions, both offering constructive input and gracefully receiving feedback on your own work.
  • Support the broader marketing team with ad-hoc design requests and quick-turnaround visual needs for various initiatives.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Strong foundational skills in Adobe Photoshop for photo editing and raster graphics, Illustrator for vector illustration and logos, and InDesign for layout design.
  • Digital Design Principles: A solid understanding of layout, typography, color theory, and composition as it applies to both digital and print media.
  • UI/UX Fundamentals: Familiarity with user interface design tools like Figma or Adobe XD for wireframing and prototyping is a significant plus.
  • Video Editing Basics: Basic knowledge of video editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro or After Effects for creating simple video content and motion graphics.
  • Presentation Design: Competency in designing visually engaging and professional presentations using PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote.
  • File Management: Understanding of file formats (e.g., JPG, PNG, SVG, EPS) and the importance of organized file management and version control.

Soft Skills

  • Strong Visual Eye & Attention to Detail: A keen eye for aesthetics and a meticulous approach to ensuring every pixel and detail is correct and on-brand.
  • Excellent Communication: The ability to clearly articulate design ideas and concepts, as well as listen to and interpret feedback effectively.
  • Collaborative Spirit: A proactive, team-player attitude with a genuine desire to learn from and support colleagues.
  • Time Management & Organization: The ability to juggle multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • Receptiveness to Feedback: A growth mindset and the ability to view constructive criticism as a tool for improvement without taking it personally.
  • Creativity & Initiative: A passion for design and a drive to proactively contribute fresh ideas rather than just waiting for instructions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Currently enrolled in or a recent graduate of an accredited college or university.

Preferred Education:

  • Actively pursuing a Bachelor’s or Associate's degree in a design-related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Graphic Design
  • Visual Communication
  • Digital Media Arts
  • Fine Arts with a design concentration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 0-1 years. Experience gained from academic projects, personal work, or previous freelance/internship roles is highly valued.

Preferred:

  • A well-presented online portfolio that showcases a variety of design skills and creative thinking is required for consideration. Your portfolio is the most important part of your application.
Explore More Careers