Two is Better Than One: Demonstrated Benefits of Multiple Industrial Design Internships

This paper presents a study investigating the benefits of industrial design students completing more than one internship or Cooperative Education position (co-op) during their undergraduate education. Internships are integral to preparing students for the workforce, offering practical experience that bridges the gap between academic instruction and industry application. Existing research highlights that participating in internships significantly increases the likelihood of securing employment post-graduation (Binder, Baguley, Crook, & Miller, 2014). However, little attention has been given to understanding the advantages of completing multiple internships, particularly in industrial design programs.Internships enhance students’ resumes by providing hands-on experience with workplace culture, professional design methodologies, and industry dynamics. While academic coursework builds theoretical knowledge and technical skills, internships develop soft skills, offer insights into workplace expectations, and prepare students for the realities of the design profession. It is unknown how one internship impacts obtaining a second internship or if a successive internship has more impact on preparing students for a competitive work environment. This study examines internship experiences among students from three four-year comprehensive universities, with a focus on differences between students who completed one internship versus two. It evaluates factors such as compensation, duration, location, accessibility, perceived value, and the impact of sequential internships on professional development. Data were collected using a mixed-methods approach, combining survey responses from current students and recent graduates from three four year comprehensive universities (n=147). Qualitative data was gathered through semi-structured interviews of 9 students, representing 3 from each institution. These interviews explored students' internship or co-op experiences, their perceived value, and the support provided by their universities during the internship search process and throughout their placements.The findings reveal a statistically significant increase in the hourly pay rate for students’ second internships compared to their first, indicating that either students are receiving higher compensation based on prior experience or obtaining stronger and higher paying internships for their second internship or co-op. Other factors, such as perceived value, also improved for the second internship but did not reach statistical significance. These results suggest that completing a second internship provides students with a financial advantage and better prepares them for the competitive job market. This research underscores the importance of institutional support in facilitating successive internships, highlighting their role in enhancing both economic and professional outcomes.