10 Red Flags in Design Internships You Shouldn't Ignore
Institute Media
Jul 28
3 min read
10 Red Flags in Design Internships (and What a Good One Looks Like)
Internships are supposed to help you learn, grow, and maybe even land your first job. But some just leave you tired, confused , and questioning your career choices.
Here are 10 red flags to watch out for and what the green flags of a good internship actually look like.
1. “You'll Just Be Observing”
Red flag: You're told you'll only observe.
Why it's bad: Internships are meant to teach by doing, not just by watching others.
Green flag: You're included in real projects, even if it's small tasks like mood boards, research, or model making.
2. No Mentor, No Guidance
Red flag: You have no direct supervisor or mentor to turn to.
Why it's bad: Without guidance, you're stuck guessing instead of growing.
Green flag: You're assigned someone who reviews your work and gives constructive feedback.
3. Too Much Work, No Pay, No Learning
Red flag: You're doing production-level work for free, without learning anything new.
Why it's bad: That’s just unpaid labor, not an internship.
Green flag: Even if it’s unpaid, you're learning, networking, and getting exposure that helps your career.
4. Toxic Work Culture
Red flag: You're afraid to ask questions, people are passive-aggressive, or worse, disrespectful.
Why it's bad: The culture of a workplace can shape how you view the industry.
Green flag: Your team encourages curiosity and respects your time, effort, and ideas.
5. You’re the Office Assistant
Red flag: You’re only making coffee, picking up parcels, and doing admin work.
Why it's bad: You’re not here to be a delivery person, you’re here to learn design.
Green flag: You’re given at least some design-related responsibilities and your input is valued.
6. No Talk of Intern Goals or Timeline
Red flag: Nobody tells you what you’ll be learning or what’s expected.
Why it's bad: Lack of structure often means no growth or recognition.
Green flag: The firm shares what you’ll work on, learn, and possibly build towards during your time there.
7. Vague Work Briefs, Zero Feedback
Red flag: You keep doing tasks but no one tells you if you're doing them right.
Why it's bad: Feedback is the whole point of interning.
Green flag: Regular reviews, suggestions, and even quick chats to help you improve.
8. The Only Intern, and Overwhelmed
Red flag: You're the only intern and they treat you like a junior employee.
Why it's bad: You’re still a learner, not a replacement for full-time staff.
Green flag: You’re part of a small intern team or at least supported with realistic expectations.
9. They Never Acknowledge Your Work
Red flag: You work hard, but your ideas are ignored or never credited.
Why it's bad: Recognition is key to feeling like you belong in the field.
Green flag: Even small wins are acknowledged and your designs are shared internally (or even publicly, with your name on them).
10. No Exit Plan, No Letter, No Portfolio Pieces
Red flag: You finish the internship and leave empty-handed, no certificate, no LOR, no portfolio-worthy work.
Why it's bad: These are basic outcomes that help you move forward.
Green flag: You walk away with tangible work, a review of your growth, and something solid to add to your resume.
A Good Design Internship Should:
Gives you real exposure
Offers mentorship and feedback
Treats you with respect
Helps you build your portfolio
Makes you want to keep working in design
You deserve more than just a title on your resume. Look for internships that fuel your creativity, build your confidence, and help you level up, not burn out.
