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Art Direction Intern Jobs (NOW HIRING)

AI Design Intern

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$20 - $25/hr

We are seeking an AI Design Intern who can commit to regular office hours (Monday - Friday PST ... art directors to refine visual direction * Assist with inpainting, outpainting, and asset ...

... given direction. What you'll do: * Collaborate with Design, Events, Content, Press, and global ... A strong interest in the contemporary art world. * Comfort working with data in tools such as ...

Intern- Social Video Creator

New York, NY

$16.50 - $21/hr

We bring together the art and science of strategy, creative, content and growth expertise into a ... Work closely with strategists who guide content direction * Learn from senior creators through ...

Mechanical Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$121K - $158K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

Summary The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared ... The incumbent provides mechanical engineering advice, guidance and direction to the Head of ...

New

Mechanical Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$121K - $158K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

Summary The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared ... The incumbent provides mechanical engineering advice, guidance, and direction to the Head of ...

New

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Art Direction Intern information

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$8

$17

$24

How much do art direction intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for art direction intern in the United States is $17.04, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $19.23 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an art direction intern do?

An Art Direction Intern supports the art director and creative team in developing visual concepts and executing design projects. Their tasks often include brainstorming ideas, creating mood boards, assisting with photo shoots, and helping to prepare presentations. They may also collaborate with designers, copywriters, and other departments to ensure the visual aspects of a campaign align with the brand’s identity. This role provides valuable hands-on experience in the creative industry and helps interns build a strong portfolio.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an art direction intern?

To thrive as an Art Direction Intern, you need a solid understanding of design principles, visual storytelling, and a portfolio demonstrating creative skills, often supported by coursework in graphic design or related fields. Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite, project management tools, and digital media platforms is typically expected. Strong communication, teamwork, and adaptability help you collaborate effectively with designers, copywriters, and clients. These skills are crucial for producing compelling visual concepts and successfully supporting creative projects in a fast-paced agency environment.

What are some typical projects or tasks an art direction intern might work on during their internship?

As an Art Direction Intern, you can expect to work on a variety of creative projects, such as assisting with concept development for advertising campaigns, creating mood boards, and supporting photo or video shoots. You may also help with graphic design tasks, collaborate with copywriters and designers, and participate in brainstorming sessions. This hands-on experience provides valuable exposure to the creative process and allows interns to build a diverse portfolio while learning from experienced art directors.

What is the difference between Art Direction Intern vs Art Director?

AspectArt Direction InternArt Director
ResponsibilitiesAssists in visual concept development, supports senior staff, and helps with project executionLeads creative vision, manages teams, and oversees entire design projects
Required SkillsBasic design skills, familiarity with design software, willingness to learnAdvanced design skills, leadership, project management, and strategic thinking
ExperienceEntry-level, often students or recent graduatesSeveral years of experience in design and leadership roles
Work EnvironmentSupportive, collaborative, often in agency or studio settingsLeadership role, overseeing teams and client interactions

The main difference between an Art Direction Intern and an Art Director lies in their responsibilities and experience level. Interns support the creative team and learn on the job, while Art Directors lead projects and manage teams. Internships are entry points for aspiring professionals, whereas Art Directors are experienced leaders in the industry.

More about Art Direction Intern jobs

What cities are hiring for Art Direction Intern jobs?

Cities with the most Art Direction Intern job openings:

What states have the most Art Direction Intern jobs?

States with the most job openings for Art Direction Intern jobs include:

Infographic showing various Art Direction Intern job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $35,436 per year, or $17 per hour.

AI Design Intern

The Refinery

Los Angeles, CA • On-site, Remote

$20 - $25/hr

Temporary

Posted 15 days ago


Job description

The Refinery is an award-winning entertainment advertising agency in Los Angeles, CA. We work with all of the major studios producing social, digital, and print creative campaigns for theatrical, television & streamer clients.

We are looking for candidates who embody our core values. Refiners are talented, kind, client-focused, ego-free, and passionate. While we operate virtually, we've built a culture rooted in connection and care, where people genuinely support one another. We work hard to make sure everyone feels like part of the team.

Enough about us, here's what we're looking for:
We are seeking an AI Design Intern who can commit to regular office hours (Monday - Friday PST), with the goal of joining the team full-time at the end of the internship. You are a sharp visual thinker who uses AI tools like a second language and who is equally comfortable pushing pixels in Photoshop.

You should thrive where tools evolve weekly. If you test every new AI release, experiment daily, and push the creative edge, we want to talk.

Responsibilities

  • You will work directly with our AI Design lead and Art Directors on live projects
  • Support hybrid workflows: cloud-based generative AI creation blended with manual post-production (compositing, masking, color grading, cleanup)
  • Produce concepts, scrap, layouts, typography, and moodboards using a mix of AI and traditional design tools
  • Translate images, text, and thumbnail sketches into polished digital comps; collaborate with sketch artists and art directors to refine visual direction
  • Assist with inpainting, outpainting, and asset replacement while preserving lighting, depth of field, and texture integrity
  • Leverage AI enhancement and upscaling engines to turn low-resolution generation concepts into high-resolution final assets
  • Prototype multiple concept routes and visual treatments and support fast revision turnarounds
  • Develop a critical eye for AI tells: deformed anatomy, floating artifacts, texture melting, lighting inconsistencies
  • Support scaling of creative into varied aspect ratios and layout distributions without losing the core aesthetic
  • Support the team in maintaining structural and compositional consistency across frames and variations

Requirements

  • Familiarity with modern AI generation platforms and models (Higgsfield, Nano Banana Pro, Firefly) and iteration at speed
  • Working knowledge of Photoshop (including layers, masking, basic compositing, Generative Fill)
  • Interest in image enhancement and upscaling (Topaz Labs, Magnific, or similar)
  • Design eye: AI is the tool, not the identity
  • Fast learner, coachable and calm under tight deadlines
  • Kind, collaborative, and open to feedback

Bonus:

  • Basic Premiere or After Effects and video generation experience (Seedance, Kling, Omni)
  • Blender or similar 3D software experience: basic block-outs, camera and lighting setups, depth maps to guide AI workflows

Portfolio note: we're looking for recent work (last 3 months) ideally made with the tools noted above. If you work with different tools, show us what you've got.

Salary Range

$20.00-$25.00/hr

Employment Type: TEMPORARY