Design Intern - Accessories & Apparel Off Campus Work Study Positions

Wisconsin History; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 18,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

University of Wisconsin–Madison is seeking a Design Intern for Accessories & Apparel the off-campus work-study program. The intern will refine existing sling bag concepts, develop patterning, select materials, and assemble the collection under supervision. This hands-on role contributes to a materials-led line and requires a strong portfolio.

The position emphasizes independent work, producing technical flats, and coordinating with production partners. Remote work is allowed with a M-F schedule.

Qualifications

• Portfolio showing process from concept to technical drawing, not just renders.
• Proficiency in Illustrator and Photoshop or equivalent tools.
• Pattern making coursework or proven self-teaching in patterns.

Responsibilities

• Design development: refine sling bag concepts into production-ready designs.
• Produce technical flats and construction drawings for handoff to production.
• Develop new concepts from direction, imagery, or brief; iterate with prototype feedback.
• Document construction sequences for clean handoff to partners.

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Job description

Design Intern - Accessories & Apparel Off Campus Work Study Positions

Job No: 512042
Division/Organization: Community Partners
Department: Represented Collective
Job Type: Local Work Study Student Jobs
Remote Eligbility: All Remote
Location: Off Campus Work Study
Salary/Wage Range or Lump Sum: $16
Job Categories: Interpersonal Communication, Leadership, Critical Thinking/Problem Solving, Teamwork/Collaboration, Professionalism/Work Ethic, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Performing and Visual Arts, Honoring Context and Culture, Federal Work-Study Preferred

Department Overview

School of Human Ecology
Department of Art

Anticipated Start Date

9/9/2026

Remote Work Eligibility Detail

All Remote

Anticipated Hours Per Week

Minimum: 5

Schedule

M-F 8:30am-5pm - remote

Salary/Wage Range/Lump Sum

Minimum: 16

Number of Positions

1

Qualifications

• Experience in design,
• Portfolio required. Must include at least one project showing process from initial concept through to technical drawing or specification — not finished renders alone.
• Working proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, or an equivalent combination of digital design tools
• Coursework, training, or demonstrated self-taught ability in pattern making. Accessories, softgoods, or apparel patterning all considered.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Design and drawing
• Ability to sketch by hand and render digitally, moving fluidly between the two.
• Ability to produce clean, dimensioned technical flats and construction drawings that a workshop or sample maker can build from without further clarification.
• Ability to generate original concepts from written direction, reference imagery, or verbal brief.
• Pattern and construction
• Working knowledge of pattern making fundamentals, including seam allowance, material thickness allowance, and edge finishing.
• Ability to adjust and troubleshoot patterns based on prototype feedback and manufacturing constraints.
• Ability to document construction sequences clearly enough to be handed off.
• Materials
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate materials on performance characteristics — drape, weight, structure, hand, and finish — rather than appearance alone.
• Ability to identify and source appropriate materials, hardware, and trims for a given design.
• Ability to anticipate where a material selection will create a construction problem and raise it proactively.
• Knowledge of, or capacity to quickly learn, leather terminology including grades, tannages, substance, and finishing methods.
• Color and cohesion
• Ability to build a coherent color palette from physical swatches and inspiration references, and to articulate the reasoning behind each selection.
• Ability to assign colorways across multiple products so that a collection reads as a unified family.
• Strong visual editing judgment — the ability to review a broad set of loose concepts and identify which belong together and which do not.
• Communication and work style
• Ability to work independently with direction and constraints rather than step-by-step instruction.

Position Summary

The Design Intern supports the development of a materials-led accessories line. The line is in early development: direction has been established, but silhouettes, patterns, materials, and colorways require resolution. The intern will translate that direction into finished design work, taking concepts through refinement, patterning, material selection, and collection assembly. This is a hands‑on design position; the intern's work will be reflected in the finished product.

Job Duties

• Design Development: Refine existing sling bag and strap concepts into resolved, production-ready designs. Produce technical flats and construction drawings suitable for handoff to a workshop. Develop new concepts from written direction, reference imagery, or brief. Iterate designs in response to prototype feedback and manufacturing constraints.
• Pattern and Construction: Develop and refine paper patterns for bags, straps, and small leather goods. Adjust patterns to account for material thickness, seam allowance, and edge finishing. Document construction sequences for clean handoff to production partners.
• Materials Sourcing and Evaluation: Research, source, and evaluate material options, including leathers, woven fibers, hardware, and linings. Build and maintain a physical material and color swatch library. Match materials to designs based on performance and aesthetic requirements.
• Color and Collection Cohesion: Develop seasonal color palettes from swatch work and inspiration references. Assign colorways across the product line to ensure visual cohesion. Produce mood boards, line sheets, and collection overview documents. Collate the complete line into a single organized, presentable set of documents.

Physical Demands

none

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

UW-Madison is an Equal Employment, Equal Access Employer committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce.

Institutional Statement on Diversity

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background-people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: diversity.wisc.edu

Advertised: September 01, 2026 09:00 AM Central Daylight Time
Applications close: October 15, 2026 11:55 PM Central Daylight Time