Communication Design Internship

Oliver; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 89,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Structured training

Mentorship program

Job summary

OLIVER South Africa’s Communication Design Internship Programme offers a 12-month hands-on experience in conceptual thinking, visual communication and creative design within a fast-paced marketing environment in Durban.

You will learn to interpret briefs, turn insights into original visuals and gain exposure to typography, layout, colour and motion graphics.

Qualifications

• A completed degree or National Diploma in Communication Design, Graphic Design, Visual Communication or related field.
• A portfolio showing conceptual thinking, exploration and strong design fundamentals.
• Ability to develop ideas from research and sketches to final execution.

Responsibilities

• Interpret creative briefs, audience insights and key messages.
• Generate original ideas and translate them into design concepts.
• Create mood boards, sketches, storyboards and concept presentations.
• Develop creative work for campaigns, digital content, social media and brand communications.
• Apply typography, layout, colour, imagery and visual hierarchy effectively.
• Adapt concepts for different audiences, platforms and formats.
• Support motion graphics, simple animations and video content.
• Conduct visual, cultural, competitor and design-trend research.
• Collaborate with designers, copywriters and client services teams.
• Participate in structured training, coaching and mentorship sessions.

Skills

Conceptual thinking

Visual storytelling

Portfolio

Adobe Creative Cloud

Photoshop

Illustrator

InDesign

After Effects

Premiere Pro

Creative problem solving

Communication

Attention to detail

Time management

Team collaboration

Independent work

Learning mindset

Curiosity

Education

Degree or National Diploma in Communication Design, Graphic Design or Visual Communication

Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud

After Effects

Premiere Pro

Job description

Established in 2004, OLIVER is the world’s first and only specialist in designing, building, and running bespoke in-house agencies and marketing ecosystems for brands. We partner with over 300 clients in 40+ countries and counting. Our unique model drives creativity and efficiency, allowing us to deliver tailored solutions that resonate deeply with audiences.

As a part of The Brandtech Group, we're at the forefront of leveraging cutting-edge AI technology to revolutionise how we create and deliver work. Our AI solutions enhance efficiency, spark creativity, and drive insightful decision‑making, empowering our teams to produce innovative and impactful results.

Role:

Communication Design Intern

Location:

Durban, South Africa (Hybrid, 3 days a week in Studio)

About the role:

OLIVER South Africa’s Communication Design Internship Programme is a 12-month opportunity offering practical experience in conceptual thinking, visual communication and creative design within a fast‑paced marketing environment.

Working alongside experienced designers, creative leads and client services teams, you will learn how to interpret briefs and turn insights into original, relevant visual ideas. You will gain exposure to communication design, graphic design and motion graphics while developing your creative thinking, technical skills and understanding of the end‑to‑end design process.

At OLIVER, we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where different perspectives, backgrounds and experiences are valued.

What you will be doing:

• Interpret creative briefs, audience insights and key messages.
• Generate original ideas and translate them into purposeful design concepts.
• Create mood boards, sketches, storyboards and concept presentations.
• Develop creative work for campaigns, digital content, social media and brand communications.
• Apply typography, layout, colour, imagery and visual hierarchy effectively.
• Adapt concepts and assets for different audiences, platforms and formats.
• Support the creation of motion graphics, simple animations and video content.
• Conduct visual, cultural, competitor and design‑trend research.
• Contribute to brainstorming, concept‑development and creative review sessions.
• Present ideas and explain the thinking behind creative decisions.
• Refine work based on feedback from creative leads, colleagues and clients.
• Prepare accurate artwork and design files for review, production and delivery.
• Collaborate with designers, copywriters and client services teams.
• Participate in structured training, coaching and mentorship sessions.

What you need to be great in this role:

• A genuine interest in conceptual thinking, communication design and visual storytelling.
• A completed degree or National Diploma in Communication Design, Graphic Design, Visual Communication or a related field.
• A portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking, creative exploration and strong design fundamentals.
• The ability to develop ideas from initial research and sketches through to final execution.
• A good understanding of typography, layout, colour, composition and visual hierarchy.
• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
• Exposure to After Effects, Premiere Pro or motion design would be advantageous.
• Strong creative problem‑solving, critical‑thinking and communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and openness to constructive feedback.
• Good organisational and time‑management skills.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Curiosity, adaptability and a commitment to continuous learning.

Our values shape everything we do:

Be Ambitious to succeed

Be Imaginative to push the boundaries of what’s possible

Be Inspirational to do groundbreaking work

Be always learningand listening to understand

Be Results-focused to exceed expectations

Be actively pro-inclusive and anti-racist across our community, clients and creations

Our recruitment process does not employ artificial intelligence for selection. We use AI to support efficiency and consistency, not to replace human judgement.Candidate evaluation and selection are conducted without AI-supported screening or decision‑making. We are committed to a fair, thoughtful, and equitable experience for every candidate.

OLIVER, a part of the Brandtech Group, is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected. All applicants shall be considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, neurodivergence, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by local laws.

OLIVER has set ambitious environmental goals around sustainability, with science‑based emissions reduction targets. Collectively, we work towards our mission,embedding sustainability into every department and through every stage of the project lifecycle.