2027 Summer Industrial Design Intern

Steelcase; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 25,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing support

Relocation support

Wellbeing resources

Mentorship

Professional development

Job summary

Steelcase in Grand Rapids, MI is seeking an Industrial Design Summer Intern/Co-op to contribute to real-world projects from concept to refinement. You will explore research-driven concepts, develop designs, and prototype in our Concept Shop while collaborating with design, engineering, and marketing teams.

The role offers hands-on experience across the product development process, including tooling impact, fabrication methods, and product quality considerations, with potential extension

Qualifications

• Pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Industrial Design or related field.
• Actively enrolled for duration of internship.
• Demonstrated concept development and form exploration.

Responsibilities

• Gaining hands-on experience bringing ideas to life through access to the Concept Shop and prototyping resources.
• Conceptualizing and developing product and component designs through visualization.
• 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.
• Building relationships across the business to understand how ideas become market-ready products.

Skills

3D modeling

Adobe Creative Suite

Portfolio

Concept development

Sketching

Prototyping

Team collaboration

Education

Undergraduate or graduate in Industrial Design or related field

Tools

SketchUp

Fusion 360

SolidWorks

Rhino

Job description

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

Description

Who You Are:

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.

Your Future Team

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.

You’ll Support Meaningful Work By:

• 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.

Minimum Qualifications

• 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.

Work Authorization

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.

Desired Skills and Experience

• 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 SketchUp, Fusion 360, SolidWorks, 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.

Helping You Thrive By:

• 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 development opportunities through professional development sessions, networking events, and exposure to leaders across the organization.
• Mentorship and connection opportunities that help you build meaningful relationships, expand your network, and gain insights from experienced professionals across Steelcase.
• An inclusive culture where everyone belongs, fostering an environment where people feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives.
• The opportunity to make a lasting impact through work that helps create better experiences for people and supports Steelcase's commitment to a more sustainable future.

Doing better for people and planet

Steelcase is a global design and thought leader in the world of work. Along with our expansive community of brands, we design and manufacture innovative furnishings and solutions to help people do their best work in the many places where work happens.

Why People Choose to Work with Us

At Steelcase, we put people at the center of everything we do. We understand the role of work and believe that it can bring meaning and purpose to the lives of our customers and our employees. We prioritize supporting our employees both in and out of work, in all aspects of their lives. When we bring our talents together, we make a positive lasting impact through our work and communities.

Steelcase provides employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, creed, genetic information, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, or veteran status and bases all employment decisions only on valid job requirements. If we can make the application process easier through accommodation, please email us at [e-mail].

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