Industrial Design Intern

About the role

Personio is actively searching for a dedicated design student to integrate into our Shanghai studio for a substantial six-month internship period. In this capacity, you will become a core member of a diverse team, working shoulder-to-shoulder with a global collective of 70 experts who are deeply committed to advancing the wellbeing sector. Your primary responsibility will involve owning specific design challenges from initial concept exploration through to refined, tangible solutions. You will be tasked with performing deep qualitative and desktop research to uncover nuanced user needs and translate these findings into actionable strategic insights. The role requires you to develop robust, user-centered concepts through a methodical and iterative exploration process. You will actively participate in rigorous design critiques, using these sessions to refine both your creative process and your technical execution skills. Furthermore, you will be responsible for creating high-fidelity product designs and intuitive user experiences by leveraging industry-standard software and digital tools. Finally, you will collaborate closely with cross-functional team members to produce sophisticated, high-quality client presentations that clearly articulate your design rationale and value proposition.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Conduct comprehensive qualitative interviews and synthesize findings to identify key user pain points and opportunities.
• Execute desktop and competitive research to map the existing landscape and identify gaps for innovation.
• Facilitate initial ideation sessions to generate a wide spectrum of potential design directions and concepts.
• Develop detailed user journey maps and experience diagrams to visualize and improve service interactions.
• Create interactive prototypes and high-fidelity mockups using industry-standard digital design software.
• Utilize advanced skills in Adobe CC, Sketch, and Figma to produce polished visual designs and assets.
• Present design iterations during internal critiques to gather feedback and refine solutions collaboratively.
• Partner effectively with researchers and strategists to ensure your design solutions are grounded in solid insights.
• Work alongside model-makers and technologists to assess the feasibility and manufacturability of your concepts.
• Contribute to the production of polished, professional client presentations that tell a compelling design story.
• Collaborate with the global team to ensure design deliverables meet the highest standards of quality and coherence.
• Support the documentation of the design process, maintaining clear and organized files and artifacts.

Requirements

• You must be currently enrolled in an interaction design, interface design, or communication design degree program.
• You must be available for a full-time, six-month commitment starting in Shanghai.
• You must demonstrate strong proficiency in either written or verbal English or Chinese to effectively communicate within the team.
• You must possess a high level of intrinsic motivation to actively contribute to a fast-paced, international design environment.
• You must be able to adapt quickly to new tools, methodologies, and collaborative workflows.
• You must show a genuine passion for understanding user needs and translating them into innovative design solutions.
• You must be detail-oriented and capable of managing multiple design tasks simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
• You must be open to receiving and constructively integrating critical feedback during the design process.

Nice to have

• A demonstrated interest in participating in the Personio Academy program to extend your graduation project following the completion of the internship.

Practical notes

• The duration of this internship is fixed at six months on a full-time basis.
• The position is based in Shanghai and requires the intern to be physically present.
• The role includes a structured onboarding program to ensure a smooth integration into the team and processes.
• The work environment is described as collaborative and non-hierarchical, fostering open communication across all levels.
• Interns will receive specific benefits, including additional vacation days beyond standard norms.
• The role involves regular team social events, such as lunches and field trips, to encourage bonding and networking.
• You will be working within a multidisciplinary setting, interacting daily with researchers, strategists, technologists, and model-makers.
• This internship provides a unique opportunity to observe and participate in the workflows of a large, international design studio.
• Professional growth is encouraged, and you will be exposed to end-to-end product development cycles.
• The studio emphasizes the creation of meaningful solutions that positively impact user wellbeing.
• You will be part of a large, global talent pool, learning from and collaborating with experienced professionals.
• The internship concludes with the potential for further engagement through the Personio Academy for graduation projects.