Summer Industrial Design Intern

General Information

Country: USA

State:
Michigan

City:
Grand Rapids

Office

Location:

1101 - 1111 44th Street - - - - -

Date posted: 04-Sep-2026

Business Function:
Engineering

Position Type:
Intern

Are you a curious designer who enjoys transforming research and insights into thoughtful, innovative product concepts? Do you enjoy exploring ideas through sketching, prototyping, and hands‑on making while bringing creative solutions to life? Are you excited to collaborate with engineers, marketers, and fellow designers to shape products that will have a real impact in the marketplace?

We are hiring an Industrial Design Summer Intern/Co‑op to join our Global Design team from May - August 2027 (possibility for extension, subject to change). In this role, you'll gain hands‑on experience contributing to real‑world projects throughout the product development process, from research and concept exploration to prototyping and refinement.

You’ll join a collaborative team of Industrial Designers, Engineers, Project Managers, and Model Makers who work closely across the product development process. The team values curiosity, collaboration, mentorship, and continuous learning while providing opportunities to contribute meaningful work from day one. Explore the journey from concept to production through hands‑on exposure to manufacturing environments, learning how design decisions impact tooling, fabrication methods, assembly, and product quality.

• Gaining hands‑on experience bringing ideas to life through access to our Concept Shop and prototyping resources, where you can explore, build, test, and refine physical concepts and designs throughout the development process.
• Conceptualizing and developing product and component designs through visualization and exploration techniques.
• Collaborating with designers, engineers, marketers, project managers, and other partners to solve design challenges.
• Exploring new ideas through sketching, prototyping, model making, and iterative design development.
• Creating presentations, documentation, and visual materials that communicate design direction and recommendations.
• Building relationships across the business to understand how ideas become market‑ready products.

• Reliable onsite vehicle transportation required
• Pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Furniture Design, or a related field.
• Actively enrolled in a degree‑seeking program throughout the duration of the internship.
• Demonstrating experience with concept development, ideation, and form exploration.
• Demonstrating proficiency in 3D modeling software and Adobe Creative Suite or similar tools.
• Providing a portfolio showcasing design process and project work.

Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis. Steelcase will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization and/or visas for this role.

• Strong presentation, communication, and visual storytelling skills.
• Experience conducting research and translating insights into compelling design solutions.
• Strong critical thinking, problem‑solving, and prototyping capabilities.
• Experience collaborating within multidisciplinary teams and incorporating feedback effectively.
• Familiarity with Sketch Up, Fusion 360, Solid Works, Rhino, or similar modeling software, along with a willingness to learn new tools.
• Interest in leveraging AI‑powered visualization and creative tools to explore concepts, communicate ideas, and support the design process.

• Competitive compensation and meaningful work that provides hands‑on experience while helping you grow your skills and explore your career interests.
• Housing and relocation support for eligible interns, making it easier to focus on your experience and make the most of your internship with Steelcase.
• Wellbeing resources designed to support you, including access to our Wellbeing Hub, onsite health services at our Grand Rapids headquarters, and additional wellness offerings throughout the year.
• Continuous learning and…