Industrial Design - Year Placement

Kohler Mira; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing company in Cheltenham is offering a 12-month Industrial Design internship starting in September 2026. The successful candidate will redesign a watering can while gaining hands-on experience in a supportive team environment. A maximum gross salary of £23,500 is offered along with flexible working conditions and an emphasis on innovation and personal growth during the internship.

Benefits

£23,500 gross salary

25 days of paid leave

Flexible working environment with studio and WFH opportunities

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled at a UK university with a 12-month placement requirement.
• Willingness and eagerness to learn with a proactive attitude.
• Ability to multitask and meet tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Communicate ideas quickly through sketching and model making.
• Maintain design intent from concept to final implementation.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously and deliver on strict timelines.

Skills

2D visualisation tools (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)

3D modelling and visualisation software (Solidworks, NX, Rhino, Keyshot, Vizcom)

Strong organisational and time‑management skills

Good interpersonal skills

Creative problem-solving skills

Education

BSc/BA in Industrial Design, Product Design or a related discipline

Job description

Role Overview

The Kohler Mira Design Team based in Cheltenham (UK) is looking for its next Industrial Design (ID) intern. The successful candidate will join the team for a 12‑month paid internship commencing September 2026. This year the internship centres on re‑imagining the watering can through the "Kohler Mira X Design Truth" live brief: redesign a watering can to improve functionality, ergonomics, sustainability, emotional connection and manufacturability while aligning with Kohler Mira’s commitment to craft and innovation.

Project Deliverables

1. Opportunity board – describe your idea, background and insights. Provide a clear statement of the problem you wish to solve and show how it answers the brief, including storyboards, sketches and photos.
2. Ideation board – showcase your design process, how you reached the final concept, and provide sketches (digital or hand‑drawn) and model drawings to illustrate iterations.
3. Hero board – present the best views of your product, show user interaction, and demonstrate how the concept fits into its surroundings using CAD renderings, photorealistic sketches or a mix of both.

Application Requirements

• Currently enrolled at a UK university with a 12‑month placement requirement starting September 2026 and ending September 2027.
• Studying a BSc/BA in Industrial Design, Product Design or a related discipline.
• Willingness and eagerness to learn, with a proactive "can‑do" attitude.
• Good interpersonal skills and a team‑player mindset.
• Strong organisational and time‑management skills.
• Ability to multitask and meet tight deadlines.

Core Responsibilities

• Communicate ideas quickly through sketching, physical model making or other mediums.
• Proficient user of 2D visualisation tools (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
• Competence in 3D modelling and visualisation software (Solidworks, NX, Rhino, Keyshot, Vizcom, or AI‑assist tools).
• Demonstrate prototyping abilities.
• Show creative problem‑solving skills and compile research into mood boards and presentations (Miro).
• Maintain design intent from concept to final implementation.
• Apply design principles, research trends and materials, and drive innovation by sharing new ideas.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritise tasks, and deliver on strict timelines.
• Communicate design decisions effectively and participate in 1:1 support with a lead designer.

Benefits and Compensation

£23,500 gross salary plus 25 days of paid leave (bank holidays excluded). Flexible working environment with studio and WFH opportunities. 12‑month paid internship eligible for Design Truth and Mira’s LinkedIn features. Intellectual property created during the internship remains the student’s; Kohler Mira does not claim ownership.

EEO Statement

Kohler Mira is an equal opportunities employer.