Franchise, Products & Partnerships: Creative and Product Design Internships – Summer 2027

NBCUniversal • Universal City, CA

1h • Onsite

About The Position

NBCUniversal’s Summer Internship Program offers students real-world experience in media and entertainment, alongside career development, networking, and learning opportunities. The Franchise, Products & Partnerships group extends NBCUniversal brands, characters, and stories through consumer products and games, theme park merchandise and retail, franchise management, and strategic partnerships. Interns may be placed in Franchise Creative or Toys & Hardlines and will work from Universal City, California, June 7 through August 13, 2027, for 40 hours per week. The role is paid at $19 per hour.

A Franchise Creative intern will support illustration, concept development, and visual storytelling; create digital sketches and final artwork for characters, creatures, sets, and vehicles; develop 2D character turns and production-ready style-guide content; conduct visual research; review character-based products; organize artwork; and contribute to creative development for products such as toys, publications, and interactive games.

A Toys & Hardlines intern will support product and packaging design through market research, creative ideation, and design development. Work may include creating packaging concepts and structures, sketches, Illustrator artwork, and mood boards; supporting branding and packaging development under established style guides and intellectual-property guidelines; researching consumer insights, global toy trends, and competitors; collaborating with internal and external teams, partners, and vendors; and supporting projects through the product-development process.

Applicants must be actively enrolled in an accredited degree-granting program throughout the internship, have at least sophomore standing (30 credits), be authorized to work in the United States without NBCUniversal visa sponsorship, and be available for the full 40-hour weekly schedule in Universal City. Spring 2027 graduates and certain students on student or exchange visas are not eligible unless they can obtain work authorization without NBCUniversal sponsorship. Summer interns receive paid company holidays if full-time, networking and learning opportunities, a complimentary Peacock subscription, free Universal Parks admission, and access to mental-health resources. Needs-based financial assistance for transportation and housing may be available to eligible in-person interns. Full-time lower-lot employees at Universal City can access subsidized transit passes through NBCUCommutes.

Requirements

• Must be actively enrolled in a degree-granting program at an accredited institution throughout the program; Spring 2027 graduates are not eligible.
• Must have sophomore standing or above (at least 30 credits).
• Must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States and not require NBCUniversal work-visa sponsorship now or in the future.
• Must be available to work 40 hours per week from June 7 through August 13, 2027.
• Must be willing to work in Universal City, California.
• For Franchise Creative, proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, understanding of character design, anatomy, and perspective, a versatile visual-development skill set, and interest in animation and storytelling are identified as ideal qualifications.
• For Toys & Hardlines, a foundation in graphic design, including typography, color theory, layout, and composition, and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite are identified as ideal qualifications.
• Ability to communicate ideas clearly through sketches and presentations.
• The listing states that candidates currently on student or exchange visas, including F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, J-1, or M-1, are not eligible unless they can change or adjust to a status granting work authorization without NBCUniversal sponsorship.
• Candidates receiving an offer must provide a Social Security number and complete Form I-9 within three days of hire.

Nice To Haves

• Junior standing or above is preferred.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Skill in CS Suite, 3D software, and relevant product-design and development software, including Keynote for presentations.
• Broad understanding of character design and development.
• Strong understanding of anatomy and perspective.
• For Toys & Hardlines, a passion for illustration, conceptual thinking, and creative problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• For Franchise Creative placements, create digital sketches and final artwork for characters, creatures, sets, and vehicles.
• Develop 2D character turns and production-ready content for style guides.
• Support creative development across products including toys, publications, and interactive games.
• Conduct visual research, review character-based products, and organize project artwork.
• For Toys & Hardlines placements, develop packaging concepts and structures, sketches, Illustrator artwork, and mood boards.
• Support branding and packaging development using established style guides and intellectual-property guidelines.
• Research consumer insights, global toy trends, and the competitive landscape.
• Work with internal and external cross-functional teams, partners, and vendors, and support projects through the product-development process.

Benefits

• Paid internship; hourly rate is $19.00.
• Paid company holidays for full-time interns.
• Networking, learning, and development opportunities.
• Complimentary Peacock subscription during the internship.
• Free admission to Universal Parks during the internship.
• Access to mental-health resources, including counseling sessions.
• Needs-based financial assistance for transportation and housing may be available to eligible in-person interns.
• At the Universal City office, full-time lower-lot employees may use NBCUCommutes fully subsidized transit passes for unlimited Metro bus and rail rides.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed