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Game Design Internship Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Game Design Internship information

What is a game design internship?

A Game Design Internship is a temporary position that allows students or recent graduates to gain practical experience in the game development industry. Interns typically assist with various aspects of game design, such as creating game concepts, designing levels, testing gameplay, and providing feedback on user experience. These internships are valuable for building a portfolio, making industry connections, and learning industry-standard tools and processes. They often work closely with experienced designers and development teams to understand the full cycle of game creation.

What types of projects and tasks can I expect to work on during a game design internship?

As a Game Design Intern, you can expect to participate in a variety of hands-on projects, such as designing game levels, prototyping gameplay mechanics, and contributing to brainstorming sessions with the design team. You'll often collaborate with artists, programmers, and producers to help implement features or refine existing gameplay elements. Interns are typically given opportunities to playtest games, provide feedback, and document their design ideas. The fast-paced and creative environment provides valuable exposure to the full game development pipeline, making it an excellent learning experience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a game design intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Game Design Intern, you need a foundational understanding of game mechanics, storytelling, and user experience, often supported by coursework or personal projects in game development. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as Unity, Unreal Engine, and graphic design software, as well as basic scripting knowledge, is typically required. Creativity, teamwork, and strong communication are vital soft skills to effectively collaborate and share ideas within a development team. These skills and qualities are important because they enable interns to contribute meaningful ideas, adapt to feedback, and support the fast-paced, collaborative nature of game development.

What is the difference between Game Design Internship vs Game Development Internship?

AspectGame Design InternshipGame Development Internship
Required SkillsCreativity, storytelling, level designProgramming, software engineering, technical skills
Work EnvironmentDesign teams, creative departmentsProgramming teams, technical departments
Industry UsageUsed in game studios focusing on design and user experienceUsed in studios focusing on coding and technical development
Common Search IntentUnderstanding design roles in gamingUnderstanding technical roles in gaming

Game Design Internships focus on creative aspects like storytelling, level design, and user experience, while Game Development Internships emphasize programming and technical development. Both roles are essential in game studios but cater to different skill sets and career paths.

What are the most commonly searched types of Game Design jobs in California?

The most popular types of Game Design jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Game Design Internship jobs in California?

For Game Design Internship jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Game Design Internship jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Game Design Internship jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Game Design Internship jobs?

Cities in California with the most Game Design Internship job openings:

Game Design Internship jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Design Internship job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 24% Internship, 54% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 95% In-person, and 5% Remote job distribution.

2027 Design Internship - San Francisco

Rejuvenation

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$22 - $26/hr

Full-time

PTO

Posted 2 days ago

New

Key responsibilities

  • Work closely with senior management to create concept boards, manage samples, support new product lines, and participate in business presentations.

  • Develop skills through collaboration with a team of mentors and leaders, attending professional trainings and brainstorming sessions.

  • Participate in meetings, lead projects, and contribute ideas that may influence new business strategies.

Job description

We designed our program to be a game-changing first step in kicking off your career journey. We're looking for the next generation of Designers who are passionate, creative, and innovative. During this 10-week program, you'll develop your skills alongside a team of supportive mentors and inspiring leaders.

Our Design team brings customer-centered, trend-forward products to life through seasonal collaboration, innovation, and cross-brand alignment. As an intern, you'll work closely with senior management to learn how to create concept boards, manage samples, support new product lines, and take an active role in business presentations.

ABOUT YOU

  • You have a portfolio or website of work from previous school/personal projects
  • You're actively pursuing a degree in Design with a graduation date of Spring/Fall 2027 or Spring 2028
  • Minimum GPA of 3.5
  • Able to work onsite at one of our brands in San Francisco
  • Know how to prioritize and move quickly to react to our ever-changing business

OUR PROGRAM

Our Design Internship is meant for undergraduate students graduating in Spring/Fall 2027 or Spring 2028.  During your internship, you will be a part of an intern cohort working for one of our San Francisco Brands (Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, or PB Kids and Teen).  Throughout the program, you will attend business critical meetings, lead projects, gain experience working with cross-functional teams, attend professional trainings, and have the chance to brainstorm with our leadership team.

At the end of the program, you are given the opportunity to pioneer a new idea and present it to our executive leadership team. Many of our interns' project proposals have been implemented in new business strategies, as we value the fresh perspective our interns bring to the business.

Of course, we also leave time for a little fun by hosting social and networking opportunities with your fellow interns such as cohort lunches, and social hours.

WHEN

Our 10 week program runs June 7th - August 13th (start date is flexible for students on the quarter system). 

WHERE

San Francisco, CA. Onsite 4-5 days a week.

ABOUT US

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is a global, multi-channel retailer of home furnishings and housewares (our family of brands includes Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn teen, west elm, Rejuvenation, GreenRow and Mark & Graham), but we operate within smaller teams, giving each person an opportunity for hands-on experience. Together, our brands represent a strong, diverse and growing portfolio that allow us to reach customers in a new way every day - and we'd love your help.

Our performance driven culture is best described as entrepreneurial, collaborative, and purpose driven. Our teams are filled with smart and innovative people who have helped us achieve such accolades such as:

  • American Innovation Index Top 25 Most Innovative Companies, 2023
  • Barron's 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies, 2023
  • Newsweek's America's Greatest Workplaces, 2023
  • Newsweek's America's Greatest Workplaces for Women, 2022 
  • Newsweek's America's Best Customer Service, 2024
  • Time World's Best Companies, 2024
  • Fortune 500 List, 2022

WSI will not now or in the future commence an immigration case or "sponsor" an individual for this position (for example, H-1B or other employment-based immigration

The expected starting pay range for this position is $22-$26 hourly. Applicable pay ranges may differ across markets. Actual pay will be determined based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. In addition to competitive pay, compensation may include a variety of other components like benefits, paid time off, merit, and bonus opportunities.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, or other applicable state or local laws and ordinances.

Our Company
Founded in 1956, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty retailer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home in the United States. Our family of brands are Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, Rejuvenation, West Elm, Mark & Graham, Outward, and GreenRow. These brands are among the best known and most respected in the industry. We offer beautifully-designed, stylish and functional products for every area of the home, including the kitchen, living room, bedroom, home office, closet, laundry room and even outdoor spaces. We've seen some big changes since our first brick-and-mortar store opened more than half of a century ago. What hasn't changed is our passion for high-quality products, functional design, outstanding customer service, and enhancing the lives of our customers and the communities where we operate. Today, we're a multi-brand, multi-channel, global enterprise supported by state-of-the-art technology and some of the most talented teams in retailing - and we're always looking for new energy and ideas.

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