Industrial Design Intern

Re:Build Manufacturing•Kalamazoo, MI

About The Position

The role of an Industrial Design Intern at Tekna is to help identify problems and provide solutions that focus on improving user experience while maintaining our client’s business objectives. As an Industrial Design Intern, you will develop solutions using a combination of the following tools: Market and user research, sketching, rendering, sketch modeling, computer modeling, and refined prototyping. Tekna understands that as an Industrial Design Intern, you are working on building these skills; collaboration with Design Leads, Engineering Leads, and mentors will help you in this process.

Requirements

Working toward or completed: Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Industrial Design or related field. Junior or Senior- level students (completed at least two years to years to the stated degree).
Must be both self-sufficient and capable of working closely with a supervising mentor.
Must be able to work with colleagues and clients with professionalism.

Responsibilities

Operate within project framework (work with project lead to understand):
Clients’ needs, visual brand language, and market aspirations
Project objectives
Problem definition
Scope of deliverables
Research:
Market trends and the competitive landscape
The user and their needs
Use environment
Use-case scenarios
Sketching and 2D design:
Graphic design and visualization support
Concept sketch development that illustrates potential solutions to functional requirements, user needs, and aesthetic form
Refined sketch development and/or sketch renderings that demonstrate a vision for manufacturing, component packaging, and color/finish/material applications
3D design and prototyping: (form core, clay, foam, wood, etc.)
Sketch models, ergonomic and breadboard models to prove out hypotheses
Aesthetic mock-ups, 3D form development
CAD modeling to translate sketches and mock-ups to surfacing details
Photorealistic renderings from new or existing CAD data
Client meetings (with assistance from project lead)
Attend client team meetings
Present concepts to marketing, engineering, and manufacturing groups