Graphic Design Intern

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945, currently comprising 193 member states. Its mission is to promote peace, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and cooperation among nations, addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. The UN operates in various countries around the world, employing thousands of individuals across diverse fields, including humanitarian aid, development, and human rights. The organization is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in its workforce and initiatives.

Job Overview:
The Graphic Design Intern position at the United Nations offers a unique opportunity for individuals interested in gaining practical experience in graphic design within a global context. The intern will work in the Global Strategy and Policy Division (GSPD) of the Office of Human Resources (OHR), contributing to the UN's internal and external communication efforts. This role is designed to be in-person and full-time, requiring a commitment of 35 hours per week, although adjustments can be made based on the intern's needs. The internship is unpaid and has a duration of 3 to 6 months, providing interns with hands-on experience in employer marketing content development, from ideation to production. Interns will engage in a vibrant, multicultural environment, collaborating with diverse teams and gaining insights into the UN's communication strategies.

Duties and Responsibilities:
As a Graphic Design Intern, the individual will be responsible for a variety of tasks that contribute to the UN's communication efforts. Key responsibilities include: assisting with the design and production of visual content such as publications, websites, blogs, email campaigns, social media assets, brochures, presentations, advertisements, event materials, posters, banners, flyers, infographics, and other communication products; participating in the full design workflow process, which involves developing concepts, storyboards, and drafts; incorporating feedback from team leads and senior stakeholders; updating content; finalizing layouts for production; and contributing to project evaluations. The intern will also support the development and layout of PowerPoint presentations, newsletters, reports, and other communication products, research and prepare content for printed and digital materials, assist with the maintenance and updates of internal and external websites and social media channels, support event coordination and outreach activities, and explore opportunities to assist with video editing and sound design for digital media projects. Additionally, the intern will contribute to promoting accessibility in graphic design and communication products, attend project briefings, report on workflow and project statuses, and stay current with trends and best practices in graphic design, communications, marketing, and accessibility.

Required Qualifications:
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent). While professional work experience is not required for the UN Internship Programme, a field of study closely related to the internship is necessary. Applicants must be students in the final year of their first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. Programme. Proficiency in graphic design tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Canva, and Figma is desirable, as is the ability to create visual content for social media, websites, publications, or presentations. Experience in supporting event coordination and preparing communication materials is also advantageous.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this internship includes being enrolled in or having completed a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) or being enrolled in or having completed the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent). This ensures that candidates possess the necessary academic foundation to contribute effectively to the role.

Experience:
While the UN Internship Programme does not require professional work experience, applicants should have relevant academic experience or coursework that aligns with the responsibilities of the Graphic Design Intern position. This may include projects, internships, or volunteer work that demonstrates skills in graphic design and communication.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship, as English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of an additional official UN language, such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish, is considered an advantage, enhancing the intern's ability to communicate within the diverse UN environment.

Additional Notes:
The internship is designed to be in-person and full-time, with a commitment of 35 hours per week. However, adjustments can be made based on the successful candidate's request. The internship is unpaid, and candidates are responsible for their own travel, visa, accommodation, and living expenses. For non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents, obtaining a G-4 visa is mandatory for full-time internships in the United States. Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations, and the organization does not charge any fees during the recruitment process.