(General Hire) Designer Project Intern (TikTok-Design) - 2026 Start (BS/MS)

TikTok; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 34,095 - 48,560; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Wellbeing benefits

Paid holidays

Housing allowance (if applicable)

Job summary

A leading social media platform seeks an intern to join their creative team. This internship involves contributing to impactful projects related to design and user experience for a global audience. Candidates should be pursuing a relevant degree and have skills in interaction design and prototyping with tools like Figma. The role offers a unique opportunity to gain real-world experience while working for a renowned company, alongside creative professionals from various backgrounds.

Qualifications

• Able to commit to working for 12 weeks during Spring/Fall 2026.
• Motion, virtual, creative, or brand design experience required.
• Strong in interaction design, and experience with prototyping.
• Portfolio submission necessary for application consideration.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the creative concept and design for TikTok.
• Analyze user feedback and develop strategies to improve user experience.
• Research aesthetic preferences across different cultures and countries.
• Bring creative ideas involving short video production and effects.

Skills

Interaction design

Prototyping with Figma

Creative design

AI related experience

Education

Currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Principal

OSX

iOS

Android

Job description

Overview

TikTok Design Team is to provide first-class user experience for hundreds of millions of users around the world, thereby helping them create and express better, discover the diversity and beauty of the world, break down more barriers, and build bridges between people. We are an international design team with Product Designers, Creative Designers, Visual Designers, Content Designers and Localization Experts from all over the world working together to make every impossible possible.

Potential team placements include, but are not limited to: Effect, UX, and Platform.

As a project intern, you will have the opportunity to engage in impactful short‑term projects that provide you with a glimpse of professional real‑world experience. You will gain practical skills through on‑the‑job learning in a fast‑paced work environment and develop a deeper understanding of your career interests.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis – we encourage you to apply early.

Successful candidates must be able to commit to at least a three‑month long internship period.

Responsibilities

• Taking ownership of the creative concept and design for TikTok.
• Analyze feedback from users, using metrics to develop strategies that drive engagement and improve overall metrics and user experience.
• Research aesthetic preferences across different countries, leveraging cultural understanding to help the team achieve diverse styles and perspectives.
• Bring creative ideas to the table by exploring valuable initiatives beyond animations, including but not limited to short video production, physical collectibles, and special effects filters.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Able to commit to working for 12 weeks during Spring‑Fall 2026.
• Currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree.
• Motion, virtual, creative, or brand design experience.
• Most recent portfolio must be submitted with application to be considered.
• Strong in interaction design, and regularly execute prototypes using tools like Figma.
• AI related experience or interest.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to rapidly iterate and produce multiple concepts.
• Experience with A/B testing and data‑driven practice.
• Results oriented and resilient, able to join within a startup culture that celebrates efficiency and driving impact.
• Knowledge of working with Principal, Adobe Creative Suite, and OSX, iOS & Android.
• A passion and enthusiasm for TikTok and its community.

Job Information

For Pay Transparency: Compensation Description (Hourly) – Campus Intern. The hourly rate range for this position in the selected city is $30 – $30.

Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Interns have day‑one access to health insurance, life insurance, wellbeing benefits and more. Interns also receive 10 paid holidays per year and paid sick time (56 hours if hired in first half of year, 40 if hired in second half). Interns who are not working 100% remote may also be eligible for housing allowance. The company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.

Eligibility and Fair Chance Statement

For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) candidates, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Criminal history may affect the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment: interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues; appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems; exercising sound judgment.

About TikTok

TikTok is the leading destination for short‑form mobile video. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok’s global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and we also have offices in New York City, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

Why Join Us

Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok’s mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy. We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We’re resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users.

Diversity & Inclusion

TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace.

TikTok Accommodation

TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request.