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Global Innovation and Design Lab Internship
The Global Innovation and Design (GID) Lab Internship is a paid, multi-quarter opportunity open to all UW Tacoma majors. Interns are trained in design thinking, work within a professional environment alongside IIGE staff, expert facilitators and designers, and gain hands-on experience in human-centered design through campus and community projects. Interns may choose either a 2-quarter (Fall and Winter) or 3-quarter (Fall, Winter, and Spring) appointment, during which they will work an average of 10 hours a week with the IIGE and earn a $750 stipend for each quarter worked.
2025–26 Application Deadline: September 1

50+
Interns Since 2020
$18000+
Awarded in Stipends
10+
Majors Represented
Internship Benefits For Students
GID Lab Interns receive additional training and applied project experience. Interns can also elect to receive academic credit and/or a microcredential that awards a digital badge (upon successful completion of internship requirements). Other benefits of the internship include:
- Professional experience and career networking
- Microcredential and/or academic credit for experiential learning
- Enhanced skills in problem-solving, facilitation, and presentation
- A deep understanding of community issues and global innovations
- Resume-building opportunities, such as writing short articles for IIGE's IDEATE bulletin and presenting at the IIGE's annual Global Engagement Conference (GEC)

- Have a chance to grow skills in the following: photography, event coordination, professional writing, design thinking, notetaking, social media management, project management
- Be a part of a cohort with 2–3 other interns
- Earn academic credit and/or a microcredential that issues a Design Thinking Applied Project badge (upon successful completion)
- Receive a $750 quarterly stipend
Interns are expected to work ten hours per week, which may include a mix of in-person and independent work.
Duties vary with IIGE needs and client projects, but, in general, students may expect to:
- Participate in Intern cohort meetings for design thinking training, event planning, and discussion
- Assist with events, workshops, and design sprints
- Design and execute a design thinking project or peer workshop
- Provide hospitality at and help maintain the GID Lab space in Milgard Hall
- Serve as ambassadors for the GID Lab and the IIGE, promoting benefits and recruiting students for events
- 2025-26 Application Deadline: September 1
- Applications will be reviewed by an IIGE committee constituted of faculty and/or staff
- Top candidates moving to the interview round will be notified no later than September 5
- Interviews will be conducted over Zoom over the next two weeks
- Final decisions will be sent out no later than the week before the Fall quarter starts
- In 2025, all Interns will start in Fall quarter.
When it comes to recognizing their achievements, GID Lab Interns can choose to pursue academic credit, a non-credit microcredential, or both!
The core expectations of all Interns (regardless of which path they choose) are to
- Complete weekly work logs
- Provide consistent and high-quality support to design thinking- and innovation-related events, like design thinking sprints and IIGE Signature Events
- Contribute inclusively and professionally to a design thinking team
- Complete an individual or collaborative project applying the design thinking process and design justice principles
- Create high-quality written and visual pieces
Academic Credit Option and Requirements
Interns may choose to take 2 credits of internship / independent study per quarter (usually TGH 491). To earn academic credit, Interns must complete all the core expectations of the internship and
- Complete a 10-page reflection essay on the internship experience, including photos and other documentation of work completed
Microcredential Requirements
To successfully complete the microcredential and earn a Design Thinking Applied Project Digital Badge, Interns must complete all the core expectations of the internship and
- Complete a short reflection paper or presentation slide on their internship experience, projects undertaken, and lessons learned
- Present a poster on a project from the internship at IIGE'S annual Global Engagement Conference (GEC)



What is Design Thinking?
Learn about design thinking from case studies of innovation around the world.
My internship at the Global Innovation and Design Lab was incredibly impactful in my career and personal life. It helped me develop experience and allowed me to contribute to a real-life work environment, where I could develop new skills in a collaborative and respectful atmosphere.

Spring 2025 Intern
The GID Lab internship has been a fun experience for me. It's great having the opportunity to work with new peers on interesting and meaningful projects. My biggest takeaways from this internship have been learning how to be comfortable with ambiguity and learning about the impact of bias in design.

Spring 2025 Intern
Participating in GID workshops, such as the Institute of Black Justice, I saw and experienced how design thinking can address complex challenges and drive positive change. The workshop showed how design can create innovative solutions with real world impact!

Fall 2024 Intern
My design thinking internship was a valuable opportunity to apply creative problem-solving in a real-world setting. I deepened my understanding of empathy, collaboration, and iteration.

Winter 2025 Intern