Design Researcher Intern

Company: BrandStory Digital

Location: Bangalore

Employment Type: Internship

About the Role

This internship is at the intersection of design thinking, research, and visual communication. You will learn to observe, study, analyze, and explain design decisions, contributing to reusable design guidelines for various industries.

Key Responsibilities

• Observe, Analyze and Explain Design
• Study different types of designs (websites, mobile applications, brochures, advertisements, social media creatives).
• Identify visually effective or ineffective design elements.
• Explain design decisions, layout structures, and visual approaches.
• Participate in internal design discussions and review sessions.
• Prepare short design analysis documents.
• Understand Different Types of Design
• Identify differences between UI design, UX design, and graphic design.
• Understand when specific design types are required.
• Study how design approaches change based on medium and communication objective.
• Analyze user interaction with digital interfaces and response to visual communication.
• Learn and Analyze Layout Systems
• Research fundamental grid systems (e.g., 12-column, modular, baseline).
• Understand spacing systems, alignment, white space, and visual hierarchy.
• Study typography, font combinations, type scales, and readability.
• Understand visual reading patterns (e.g., F-pattern, Z-pattern).
• Analyze content, image, and CTA positioning.
• Assist in documenting reusable layout references and design patterns.
• Research Industry-Specific Design
• Research how different industries approach visual communication and digital experiences.
• Study competitor websites, brochures, advertisements, and social media designs.
• Collect references from leading brands, design studios, and award-winning projects.
• Understand the expectations and information needs of different target audiences.
• Create industry-specific mood boards, reference collections, and design inspiration libraries.
• Assist in identifying design trends and patterns.
• Support the Design Team
• Assist UI/UX and graphic designers with research.
• Prepare reference boards, competitor analysis, and visual inspiration collections.
• Help create basic wireframes and layout structures under guidance.
• Participate in brainstorming sessions and design reviews.
• Document research findings and present observations.
• Continuously explore new design tools, platforms, and visual trends.

Design Work You Will Explore

• Graphic Design: Brochures, print advertisements, hoardings, social media creatives, campaign visuals, brand collateral. Learn about visual hierarchy, typography, color combinations, image-to-text balance, and brand consistency.
• Web Design: Websites, landing pages, microsites, listing pages, product pages. Learn about grid systems, section structures, content flow, CTA placement, and responsive layouts.
• UI/UX Design: Mobile applications, dashboards, forms, booking flows, enquiry journeys, checkout experiences. Learn about navigation, information architecture, usability, interaction patterns, and user experience.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree or diploma in Design, Visual Communication, UI/UX Design, Fine Arts, Architecture, or a related field.
• Strong interest in understanding design principles and visual communication.
• Ability to observe designs and communicate what works and what can be improved.
• Basic understanding of UI design, UX design, and graphic design.
• Familiarity with fundamental design concepts: grids, spacing, typography, alignment, and visual hierarchy.
• Basic knowledge of Figma is preferred.
• Familiarity with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign is an advantage.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to research, learn, explore, and discuss different design approaches.
• A portfolio, academic project, or personal case study demonstrating design thinking is preferred.

Nice to Have

• Personal design projects, redesign concepts, or visual research work.
• Experience creating mood boards, reference boards, or competitor analysis.
• Basic understanding of responsive web design and design systems.
• Familiarity with platforms such as Behance, Dribbble, Awwwards, and Pinterest for design research.
• Knowledge of tools such as Notion, Google Sheets, or Miro for organizing research.
• Curiosity about emerging design trends, AI design tools, and creative technologies.

What You Will Learn

• How to critically analyze professional designs across different industries.
• How to identify and understand different layout systems.
• How to conduct competitor and visual design research.
• How to translate research findings into practical design guidelines.
• How professional UI/UX and graphic design teams approach projects.
• How to present and communicate design decisions with confidence.
• How to build structured design reference libraries and research documentation.