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Illustrator Internship Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Experience with Illustration, logo and icon design is a plus. The intern must be detail-oriented ... Terms of Service Internships at Elevate are paid positions for current college or graduate students ...

This is an unpaid internship/volunteer opportunity. As a Creative Intern you will focus on building ... Must be proficient in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator * Must know how to create formal ...

Over the course of the internship, you'll have the opportunity to make a real impact-on your team ... Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (especially Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop) is expected ...

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Illustrator Internship information

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How much do illustrator internship jobs pay per hour?

As of May 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for illustrator internship in Chicago, IL is $13.42, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $11.88 and $14.86 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Are Illustrator Internship Opportunities?

Illustrator internship opportunities provide you with valuable training and experience with professional illustrators. Some employers refer to their illustrator intern as an artist assistant, but you may not have as many responsibilities as a paid artist assistant. In some cases, you actually work with the artist assistant and help them with various administrative and clerical duties. Your role also depends on the kind of illustration you study. If you are studying computer animation or 3D graphic design, you have more technical duties, such as rendering and coding. If you work with a more traditional graphic designer or illustrator, you draw and sketch.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Illustrator Intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Illustrator Intern, you need a strong grasp of drawing fundamentals, composition, and color theory, often supported by a portfolio showcasing your artistic abilities. Familiarity with industry-standard digital illustration tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Procreate is typically expected. Creativity, attention to detail, and openness to feedback are essential soft skills that help you excel in collaborative creative environments. These skills ensure you can produce compelling artwork, adapt to project needs, and contribute effectively to a professional design team.

What types of projects and tasks can an Illustrator Intern typically expect to work on during their internship?

As an Illustrator Intern, you can expect to work on a variety of creative projects such as designing digital illustrations for marketing materials, assisting with storyboards, supporting senior illustrators on client projects, and contributing to the visual development of branding assets. Interns often collaborate closely with graphic designers, marketing teams, and art directors, gaining exposure to the full creative process from concept to final artwork. This hands-on experience helps interns build a diverse portfolio and develop practical skills that are highly valued in the industry.

What is an Illustrator Internship?

An Illustrator Internship is a temporary position designed for students or recent graduates who want to gain hands-on experience in creating visual artwork for various media, such as books, advertisements, games, or websites. Interns work under the guidance of professional illustrators and often assist with sketching, digital illustration, and editing tasks. This internship provides valuable insight into the creative industry, helps build a professional portfolio, and can lead to networking opportunities and future job offers.

What is the difference between Illustrator Internship vs Graphic Designer?

AspectIllustrator InternshipGraphic Designer
Required CredentialsTypically pursuing or recent graduate in art, design, or related fieldFormal education in graphic design, visual arts, or related field often preferred
Work EnvironmentInternship programs, often in creative agencies or in-house design teamsFull-time or freelance roles in various industries, including advertising, publishing, and digital media
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by companies to train and evaluate potential future employeesEstablished professional role for creating visual content across media

While an Illustrator Internship provides hands-on experience and training in illustration within a temporary or entry-level position, a Graphic Designer is a full-time professional responsible for creating visual concepts for various media. Internships serve as a stepping stone into the industry, whereas graphic design roles involve ongoing project work and client interaction.

What are the most commonly searched types of Illustrator jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Illustrator jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Illustrator Internship jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Illustrator Internship job openings:
Infographic showing various Illustrator Internship job openings in Chicago, IL as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Internship, and 50% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $27,911 per year, or $13.4 per hour.

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS: GRAPHIC DESIGN SUMMER INTERNSHIP

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP NETWORK

South Barrington, IL

$16/hr

Other

PTO

Posted 25 days ago


Job description

Marketing and Communications: Graphic Design Intern

Purpose: The Graphic Design Intern will support the marketing team by assisting in the creation of digital and print assets, ensuring brand alignment across various platforms, and gaining hands-on experience in a collaborative, fast-paced environment. The intern will work 20 hours per week from June 1 to August 14, 2026, with expanded hours during Summit Week (August 3-7, 30 hours). This role provides mentorship and training from marketing professionals.

Global Leadership Network (GLN) is a nonprofit organization located in South Barrington, Illinois. We exist to help churches build a leadership culture - so more and more people come to know Jesus Christ. We do this by developing resources to help churches grow healthy leaders - because healthy leaders build healthy, thriving churches.

Our flagship event is The Global Leadership Summit is attended by 60,000+ leaders in 400 sites (primarily churches) throughout the United States. The Summit is translated into 50+ languages and held in over 800 sites in 110 countries reaching over 240,000 international leaders from September to April.

Hybrid Work Schedule: This position is remote. Local and some remote staff have a hybrid schedule which includes working in the office Tuesday through Thursday for one scheduled Core Week each month and the option to work from home or in the office on Mondays, Fridays, and Tuesday through Thursdays during non-Core Weeks. Our regular workdays and office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm CT with 30 minutes for lunch.

Job Status: Seasonal Internship (June 1 - August 14), Part-Time 20 hrs/week, Hourly Pay (Non-Exempt from Overtime)

Position Team: Marketing & Communications

Reports to: Callie Wilburn, Creative Director

Pay rate for this seasonal internship of 20 hours per week position is $16/hr.

Benefits include paid time off in accordance with the Illinois PLAWA (Paid Leave for All Workers Act). Time off may be subject to black-out dates during GLS peak season and subject to manager approval.

Internship Dates and hours specifically follow this schedule:

  • June 1 - August 14, 2026: 20 hours per week
  • Summit Week (August 3-7): up to 30 hours in person, travel is covered
  • Actual hours may vary based on project workload

Primary Responsibilities:

Graphic Design and Content Creation

  • Support the graphic design efforts within the marketing department to ensure brand alignment, voice, and messaging.
  • Assist in the creation of digital, print, and social media graphics for marketing campaigns.
  • Design assets for email marketing, website content, event promotions, and merchandise.
  • Ensure all designs align with GLN brand guidelines and maintain a cohesive visual identity.
  • Resize and format graphics for various platforms, including social media, web, and email.

Marketing and Event Support

  • Work with the marketing and creative teams to develop promotional materials for the Global Leadership Summit.
  • Assist in preparing presentation slides, event signage, and printed collateral.
  • Provide creative solutions and revisions based on feedback from the Creative Art Director.
  • Support the social media director, senior copywriter, and web/email specialist with various tasks, as needed.

Collaboration and Project Workflow

  • Manage design requests through Monday.com, ensuring timely delivery of assets.
  • Participate in team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional discussions.
  • Organize and maintain digital asset files for future use.
  • Complete other duties as assigned by the position's manager.
  • Actively participate in one-on-one meetings with manager, team meetings, all-staff meetings, and cross-functional meetings, as needed.

Skills and Qualifications:

  • Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign required; After Effects, Premiere Pro a plus).
  • Experience in graphic design for digital and print media.
  • Understanding of typography, color theory, and layout design.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
  • Familiarity with social media design trends and best practices.
  • Experience with Canva, Figma, or other design platforms is a plus.
  • Basic knowledge of email design (ActiveCampaign experience a plus).

Education, Experience, and Other Requirements:

  • Enrolled in a collegiate program for Graphic Design, Visual Arts, or Marketing (preferred).
  • Detail-oriented, self-directed, creative, and fully engaged in a team environment.
  • Experience creating designs for churches, non-profits, or event marketing is a plus.
  • A vital relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and an active participant of a local church that holds to a historic, orthodox understanding of biblical Christianity.
  • As a Christ-centered organization, GLN seeks interns who align with our mission and values.

Organizational Values:

  • Excellence - We bring our best into everything we do, knowing that this honors God.
  • Authenticity - We seek to be real and honest, and encourage others to do the same.
  • Collaboration - We set aside personal preferences to reach those who do not yet know Jesus.
  • Humility - We are flexible, responsible, and respectful of others.

Leadership Behaviors - How we behave:

Pray about everything Build relationships with God and others

Live a spiritually yielded life Never stop learning

Work with a spirit of intensity Recognize that life change is a process

Allocate resources strategically Possess a winning attitude

Intercept entropy at its earliest stages Communicate truth with grace