Graphic Design Internship - Winter/Spring '27

APCO; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 22,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

APCO is seeking seniors and recent graduates for a full-time, paid internship in our Washington, D.C. office. Interns will design graphics, create content, assist with campaign execution, and conduct market research to amplify APCO’s presence across digital and traditional platforms.

Interns participate as professional staff, join team meetings, and contribute ideas while working 40 hours per week in a hybrid, flexible environment. The program includes a fixed hourly rate of $18.40.

Qualifications

• Portfolio demonstrates expertise in design, typography, composition, and color.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, etc.).
• Candidates must be team players with excellent communication and organizational skills and able to meet tight deadlines.
• Available to work 40 hours per week.
• Knowledge of wireframing, prototyping, HTML/CSS is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support execution of APCO's brand and visual identity by designing graphics, presentation materials, and multimedia assets.
• Collaborate with team members to develop creative concepts and ensure brand consistency across communications.
• General production support including photo sourcing and retouching; edits to print and digital projects.
• Prepare/edit PowerPoint presentations and Word documents; manage files and archiving.
• Monitor issues, news events, and competitor happenings; assist with social media research and content creation.

Skills

Portfolio

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

APCO is hiring seniors and recent graduates to join our full-time, paid internship program. Our interns assist with graphic design, content creation, campaign execution, and market research to help amplify APCO’s presence across digital and traditional platforms. Interns are treated as professional staff, participate in team meetings and actively contribute ideas.

This internship will sit in APCO's Washington D.C. office

Responsibilities:

• - Support the execution of APCO's brand and visual identity by designing graphics, presentation materials, and multimedia assets that enhance engagement across multiple channels
• - Collaborate with team members to develop creative concepts and visual assets, ensuring consistency with APCO's brand guidelines across internal and external communications
• - General production support, including: - Photo sourcing and retouching
• - Incorporating edits to print and digital projects (ex: one-pagers and social media graphics)
• - Preparing/editing PowerPoint presentations and Word documents
• - File management and archiving
• - Monitor issues, news events and competitor happenings
• - Help with social media research and creation of social media content

Qualifications:

• - Portfolio that demonstrates expertise in design, typography, composition, and color
• - Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, etc.)
• - Previous work in an agency or in-house creative team preferred
• - Candidates must be team players with excellent communication and organizational skills as well as the ability to work against tight deadlines
• - Available to work 40 hours per week
• - Knowledge of project management software is a plus
• - Demonstrated interest in marketing, communications, or journalism
• - Knowledge of wireframing, prototyping, HTML/CSS is a plus
• - Requires US Work Authorization, unable to consider candidates with CPT/OPT/Post-OPT status

What are the core working hours and will I need to be in an office?

Our interns work 40 hoursper week, Monday to Friday.

We are committed to a hybrid and flexible working environment, and there may be days that you wish to work from home and days that we come together so that you get to explore more of our culture and meet other colleagues. You will be provided with a company laptop so that you are able to work from home and in theoffice easily.

Compensation:

This is a paid internshipat a fixed hourly rate of $18.40

When is the closing date for applications?

Applications will close on Friday, October 2nd.

When does the internship commence?

Our program begins on Tuesday, January 12th and ends on Friday, May 21st 2027.

Careers at APCO

Through our recruitment, hiring and retention efforts, APCO is committed to building teams who bring the best possible expertise and robust perspectives to our clients. We embrace differences in experience, viewpoint and ideas, starting with our values and extending to our behaviors, policies and practices. We aim to create a positive work experience and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, national origin, citizenship, native language, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, religion, age, veteran status, neurodivergence, mental or physical disability, medical history, pregnancy, political belief or affiliation or anyother characteristic protected by law.