Footwear Design Intern (Spring and Summer 2026)

New York City, NY - USA

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed

Posted on: 9 hours ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Job Title: Design Internship (ONSITE)

Job Summary:We are seeking a Footwear Design Intern to join our Product team at Ground Up International. This is a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about footwear and looking to start their career in Design. In this role you will gain hands-on experience supporting the footwear design process from concept through development while learning how licensed and owned brands come to life in a fast-paced environment. The intern will assist with design research concept development technical updates and presentation materials while collaborating cross-functionally with Design Product Development and Production teams. This internship is ideal for a creative detail-oriented individual eager to build foundational skills in footwear design and industry best practices.

This is a paid part time internship requiring 24 hours per week (3 days onsite) at our office near 34th street Herald Square. The internship will run for 6 months with the potential to extend or convert to a full- time role based of performance and business needs. Start Date: beginning of March 2026. Your placement will be based on your previous experience interests and will be determined during the recruitment process.

About Ground Up:

Ground Up is a premier footwear manufacturer retaining an integrated portfolio of licensed and owned brands and has grown to be a leading supplier. The companys unique capability to design and translate fashion trends offers a fresh perspective on licensed footwear. Ground Up was created with the vision of fulfilling the need for fun innovative products for the true brand enthusiast. As our product entered the market we found consumers wanting to express themselves and their fandom in new creative ways. Consumers connect with us through our brand partnerships giving them brands they love with a brand they now trust. Ground Up has become a recognizable brand for the whole family that stands for elevated fashion and fun.

We aspire to have our teams embody our core values of:

Service
People
Teamwork
Opportunity
Results
Innovation
Trust

Key Responsibilities:

Assist senior designers in creating and refining design concepts for print digital and multimedia projects.
Collaborate closely with the design team to produce visual assets layouts and mock-ups that align with project objectives and brand guidelines.
Conduct research on design trends industry best practices and competitor analyses to inform design decisions and creative solutions.
Organize and maintain digital files folders and project assets to ensure accessibility version control and efficient workflow.
Assist in archiving completed projects and assets for future reference and reuse.
Develop proficiency in design software tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop Illustrator InDesign) and other relevant applications.
Learn and apply design techniques principles and software functionalities under the guidance of senior designers.
Implement revisions and refinements to design work based on feedback from senior designers and project leads.

Minimum Qualifications:

Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Footwear Design Apparel Design Product Design
Course completion in Footwear 101: Parts of a Shoe
Experience in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop Illustrator InDesign) is advantageous.
Strong creative thinking and problem-solving skills with a keen eye for detail and aesthetics.
Excellent organizational and time management abilities with the capacity to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Effective communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate collaboratively within a team and across departments.
Eagerness to learn and adapt to new technologies design trends and industry developments.

What Youll Gain

Hands-on experience in the footwear design and product development process
Exposure to licensed and owned brands in a fast-paced real-world environment
Mentorship from experienced footwear designers and cross-functional partners
Portfolio-ready work based on real business and design projects

Hourly Rate: $17 Per Hour

Ground Up International is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in its employment and personnel practices. Applicants are considered for all employment without regard to race color religious creed religion alienage citizenship gender gender identity national origin ancestry genetic predisposition or carrier status age marital status familial status military or veteran status status as a victim of domestic violence stalking or sexual assault sexual orientation disability or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local law.

Required Experience:

Junior IC

Job Title: Design Internship (ONSITE)Job Summary:We are seeking a Footwear Design Intern to join our Product team at Ground Up International. This is a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about footwear and looking to start their career in Design. In this role you will gain hands-on expe...