CMF & Graphics Intern - Advanced Digital & Material Focus

Location: Medina

At Polaris Inc., we have fun doing what we love by driving change and innovation. We empower employees to take on challenging assignments and roles with an elevated level of responsibility in our agile working environment. Our people make us who we are, and we create incredible products and experiences that empower us to THINK OUTSIDE.

Job Summary

Polaris is seeking a CMF & Graphics Intern to join our CMF & Graphics Studio within the Design organization in Medina, Minnesota. This role supports the development of next-generation colors, materials, finishes, and graphics for our powersports products.

This internship provides hands-on exposure to digital visualization, material exploration, graphic development, and physical prototyping within a fast-paced, collaborative studio environment. Interns work closely with CMF and Graphics designers to help translate design intent into compelling digital and physical outputs that support concept development and production-ready direction.

Key Responsibilities

* Assist in the development of digital CMF materials, textures, and finish assets using Adobe Creative Suite and visualization tools such as Key Shot and other industry-standard platforms.

* Create high-quality renderings and digital mockups to support communication of CMF direction, surface quality, and graphic intent.

* Support the design and preparation of graphics, decals, and vector artwork for mockups, presentations, and print-ready production files.

* Assist with in-studio prototyping activities, including the operation of vinyl printers/plotters and preparation of physical graphics and mockups.

* Help organize, catalog, and maintain physical and digital CMF libraries, including material samples, color standards, and finish references.

* Support the request, tracking, and management of material samples and standards from internal partners and external suppliers.

* Assist CMF & Graphics designers with material boards, mockups, presentations, and internal design reviews.

* Collaborate with cross-functional partners in design and engineering to support visualization and prototyping needs.

Qualifications

* Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in industrial design, Graphic Design, CMF Design, Transportation Design, or a related field.

* Strong working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Familiarity with InDesign is a plus.

* Experience with digital material creation, surface visualization, or rendering workflows, including Key Shot, Substance tools, VRED, Blender, or similar platforms, preferred.

* Strong attention to detail with a demonstrated eye for color, surface quality, finish execution, and visual accuracy.

* Ability to work effectively across both digital and physical design workflows.

* Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate in a studio-based, team-oriented environment.

* Experience with vinyl printers/plotters, model-making, or prototyping tools is a plus.

* Interest in materials, surface finishes, coatings, textures, graphics, and powersports products.

Portfolio Expectations

* A portfolio is required as part of the application process.

* Portfolio should demonstrate a strong understanding of color, materials, finishes, surface quality, and graphic execution.

* Include examples of digital visualization or rendering work (e.g., Key Shot or similar tools) that show material realism and attention to detail.

* Show evidence of graphic design skills such as decals, layouts, typography, or vector-based artwork.

* Physical prototyping, material exploration, mockups, or hands-on studio work are highly valued and may be shown through photos or process documentation.

* Conceptual projects are welcome, but emphasis should be placed on execution quality, craftsmanship, and clear communication of design intent.

Working Environment

This is a hands-on, studio-based internship in Medina, Minnesota. The role offers exposure to advanced CMF development, graphics workflows, and full-scale vehicle mockups within a professional design studio environment. Interns will gain real-world experience supporting production-focused design work while learning how CMF and graphics contribute to the development of…