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Come Innovate With Us!
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
As an intern with the GID Lab you will:
- Earn a microcredential in design thinking and receive a Design Thinking Applied Project Digital Badge upon completion
- Earn a $750 stipend per quarter
- Gain professional experience and career connections
- Develop skills in problem-solving, facilitation, user research, photography, event coordination, writing, notetaking, and presentation
- Build your resume by publishing in the IIGE's publications including social media platforms and IDEATE bulletin, and presenting at the IIGE's annual Global Engagement Conference (GEC)
- Gain insights into community issues and global innovations
GID Lab interns will work 10 hours per week and will demonstrate professionalism in executing tasks assigned in both in-person and asynchronous remote settings.
Weekly work will include and is not limited to:
- Assisting with events, workshops, and design sprints
- Attending meetings and training sessions
- Creating polished written and visual content for the GID Lab and the IIGE
- Planning and leading a project or peer workshop
- Representing the GID Lab and IIGE as an ambassador
- Staffing the front desk and helping maintain the GID Lab spaces
- Complete weekly work logs
- Completing Canvas assignments
As a GID Lab Intern, in addition to the Microcredential, you may take the internship for Academic Credit. Details of each are below:
Academic Credit
- Earn: 2 credits per quarter (typically TGH 495A)
- Requirement:
- Complete a 10-page reflection essay on the internship experience, including photos and other documentation of work completed
Microcredential
- Earn: Design Thinking Applied Project Digital Badge
- Requirements:
- Complete a short reflection paper or presentation slide on your internship experience, projects undertaken, and lessons learned
- Present a poster on a project from the internship at the IIGE’s annual Global Engagement Conference (GEC)
- Apply online by September 1, 2025, through this form: [link provided]
- Applications will be reviewed by an IIGE faculty/staff committee
- Top candidates will be invited for an interview by September 5
- Final decisions will be sent the week before the start of Fall quarter
- Selected interns will start in Fall quarter 2025
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
