ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Game Designer Intern Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

tms

Digital Designer Intern

Chicago, IL

$20/hr

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY Digital Designer Intern: Join the PowerUps team to support the creation of ... content for mobile games. You'll gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced team environment ...

tms

Digital Designer Intern

Chicago, IL · On-site

$20/hr

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY Digital Designer Intern: Join the PowerUps team to support the creation of ... content for mobile games. You'll gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced team environment ...

AEG

Graphic Design Intern

Elmhurst, IL · On-site

$15 - $20/hr

Required to work on game nights, off-hours, and on weekends when requested ***Must provide a ... Experience in designing static and animated ads for web, social, email, and display * Excellent ...

IMEG

Lighting Design Intern | Chicago, IL

Chicago, IL · On-site

$22 - $24/hr

... designers. In this role, you'll support design and documentation tasks, help create client ... gaming, healthcare, multifamily, and sports and recreation. If you are ready to design alongside ...

IMEG

Lighting Design Intern | Chicago, IL

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$22 - $24/hr

... designers. In this role, you'll support design and documentation tasks, help create client ... gaming, healthcare, multifamily, and sports and recreation. If you are ready to design alongside ...

Enklu

R&D Intern

Chicago, IL · On-site

$15.50 - $20.50/hr

What We're Looking For In this role, you will work closely with Enklu engineers and designers in ... Founded in 2016 by Games Industry veterans to provide accessible augmented and virtual reality ...

Lake Forest Academy

LFA Summer Camps

Lake Forest, IL · On-site

$13.75 - $18/hr

We offer a variety of roles designed to build leadership skills, professional experience, and ... Social Media intern * Campus Safety Traffic Monitor * Athletic Facility Monitor ...and more!

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsGame Designer Intern JobsGame Designer Intern Jobs in Chicago, IL

Game Designer Intern information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$9

$19

$37

How much do game designer intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for game designer intern in Chicago, IL is $19.96, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.86 and $22.31 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a game designer intern do?

A Game Designer Intern assists in the creation and development of video games by contributing ideas, designing game mechanics, and helping with documentation. They often work closely with senior designers and other team members to prototype levels, balance gameplay elements, and test features. Interns also learn about the game development process, receive feedback, and may participate in brainstorming sessions or playtesting. The role is ideal for those looking to start a career in game development and gain hands-on experience in a collaborative environment.

What does a game designer intern do?

In a game designer intern role, you gain experience with designing video games as a student enrolled in a relevant college degree program. Your internship duties are to shadow your mentor as they teach you the responsibilities and skills game designers need to design and implement a vision into a working video game. You work with gaming clients under the oversight of your mentor to learn more about following client needs and goals to create their games. These positions are temporary, with design companies usually offering them over the summer months. Many companies pay their interns a salary throughout their internship, but some companies only provide unpaid positions.

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

To thrive as a Game Designer Intern, you need a solid grasp of game design principles, storytelling, and basic programming or scripting knowledge, often supported by coursework in game development or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like Unity, Unreal Engine, and prototyping software, as well as version control systems, is highly valued. Creativity, teamwork, and strong communication skills help you effectively contribute ideas and work within multidisciplinary teams. These skills are essential for translating concepts into engaging gameplay experiences and collaborating efficiently in a dynamic development environment.

What types of projects and responsibilities can a game designer intern expect to work on during their internship?

As a Game Designer Intern, you can expect to contribute to various stages of the game development process, from brainstorming and prototyping new gameplay mechanics to assisting with level design and playtesting. Interns often collaborate closely with artists, programmers, and senior designers, gaining hands-on experience in refining game systems and balancing gameplay. You'll likely attend team meetings, provide feedback on in-development features, and help document design decisions. This role offers a valuable opportunity to learn industry best practices while building a portfolio of real-world projects.

What is the difference between Game Designer Intern vs Game Artist Intern?

AspectGame Designer InternGame Artist Intern
Required SkillsGame design principles, creativity, basic programmingArt skills, graphic design, 2D/3D modeling
Work EnvironmentDesign teams, game development studiosArt departments, visual development teams
Common Industry UsageUsed in game development companies focusing on gameplay and mechanicsUsed in studios focusing on visual assets and art creation

Game Designer Interns focus on creating gameplay mechanics, storylines, and user experience, while Game Artist Interns concentrate on visual assets, character design, and environment art. Both roles are essential in game development but serve different creative functions within the industry.

More about Game Designer Intern jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Game Designer jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Game Designer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Game Designer Intern jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Game Designer Intern jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Game Designer Intern jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Game Designer Intern jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Game Designer Intern jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Game Designer Intern job openings:

Game Designer Intern jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Designer Intern job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 69% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $41,519 per year, or $20 per hour.

Digital Designer Intern

tms

Chicago, IL

$20/hr

Internship

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

PROGRAM DATES June 2, 2027 - August 5, 2027 

ABOUT US 

tms unites technology, marketing, and sourcing to drive transformational change for the world's leading brands. With 1,200+ employees across 26 countries, we offer an impressive range of solutions - from inspiration and innovation to category management and delivery.  

Operating as a creative agency, a strategic consultancy, a sourcing business, and a technology provider, we engage with over 110 million customers every single day for our clients, including McDonald's, T-Mobile, O2, Starbucks, and adidas. 

Most importantly, we're a place where you can achieve great things, and be recognized as the best. 

WHAT MATTERS THE MOST 

Breakthrough, business-driving ideas come from extraordinary people with the freedom to be their most authentic selves at work. Authenticity and diversity are critical elements of our business. They can only be realized when we create access and equity for all. We foster a culture of inclusion and belonging and aspire to be ever-evolving. tms is a place where brilliant people are better together. If you want your ideas to be heard and to contribute to a culture of inclusion and authenticity, bring us your voice! Visit us at tmsw.com. 

LIFE OF A TMS SUMMER INTERN 

Here at tms, we care about our people, and we want to help foster their skills into the best they can be. The tms Summer Internship Program aims to do just that. Each year, we seek to build an inclusive program that not only offers hands-on experience working with clients and cross-functional teams alike but also promotes numerous networking and relationship building opportunities with industry leaders, mentors, and peers across the business. 

As an intern, our program will provide you with the unique opportunity to fully integrate yourself across the various business units and departments at tms, while also focusing on team-building and strengths-building opportunities. Throughout the summer, as an intern at tms, you will take part in real client projects and will work together with the other tms interns on a Capstone project, which will be "pitched" to the agency at program end. As an intern, you will also have the opportunity to take part in various panels, lunch & learns, and group activities, all centered on providing you with career tips, guidance, and best practices. Our goal is to help foster the minds of our future - the talent that will ultimately develop and bring the freshest and most innovative ideas to life. 

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY 

Digital Designer Intern:  

Join the PowerUps team to support the creation of digital assets and visual design for interactive Happy Meal experiences. As a Digital Design Intern, you'll assist in crafting UI elements, layouts, and visual content for mobile games. You'll gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced team environment, collaborating with cross-functional teams including UX, development, and motion.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

  • Rising Junior, Senior, or Recent Graduate 

  • GPA: 3.0 or higher 

  • Solutions-oriented with critical thinking and problem-solving skills 

  • Strong interpersonal skills, enjoys building relationships and working with others 

  • Proficient in MS Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) 

  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail 

  • Strong time and project management skills, comfortable juggling multiple tasks 

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills 

  • Resourceful and a proactive self-starter 

Hourly Rate: $20/hr

If interested, please apply and submit your resume. We will follow up with a link to our assessment and a detailed overview of each internship position. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. 

RECRUITING AGENCIES 

tms does not accept agency resumes submitted by third-party vendors unless a valid agreement has been signed and the tms Talent Acquisition Team has granted authorization for submissions for a specified position. Please do not submit or forward resumes to our site, tms employees, or any other company location. tms is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes. 

Apply