Design Intern (paid internship)

Location: Remote position. Applicants must be located within time zones UTC +0 to UTC +4.

Application Deadline: December 20, 2025

Organisation Overview

OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project) is one of the largest investigative journalism organizations in the world, headquartered in Amsterdam and with staff across six continents. We are a mission-driven nonprofit newsroom that partners with other media outlets to publish stories that lead to real-world action. At the same time, our media development arm helps investigative outlets around the world succeed and serve the public.

Our mission is to spread and strengthen investigative journalism around the world and expose crime and corruption so the public can hold power to account. Our work has four main pillars:

• Investigations we lead collaborative cross-border projects and publish hard-hitting stories;
• Infrastructure we provide training, tools, and resources so investigative outlets can thrive;
• Innovation we develop new technology and solutions that serve the field of journalism; and
• Impact we accelerate the fight against global crime and corruption with groundbreaking partnerships.

Position overview

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) is seeking a motivated and creative Design Intern to join our team. This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced, mission-driven journalism organization. The intern will work closely with our design team and editorial staff, supporting the visual communication of high-impact investigative stories.

We are looking for someone with enthusiasm, passion for design, and willingness to learn. We will provide support and training to get you up to speed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in the creation of engaging and visually appealing designs for our social media channels, including graphics, short animations, and basic infographics.
• Support the design team by preparing and editing design assets under the guidance of senior designers.
• Collaborate with writers and editors to understand design needs and help conceptualize initial design layouts for digital stories.
• Learn and apply OCCRP's visual identity guidelines to ensure brand consistency across various design assets.
• Research current industry trends in digital and print design to bring fresh ideas and continuously seek opportunities for skills enhancement.
• Participate in team meetings and brainstorming sessions, offering observations and creative input.

You must have:

• Strong English language skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to communicate effectively across cultures, in English.
• Willingness to work in a deadline oriented environment.
• Enthusiasm, can-do attitude and willingness to learn.
• Good logical problem-solving skills.
• Attention to detail
• Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).

We’d like you to have:

• Exposure to or interest in motion graphics and animation is a plus, but not required.
• Familiarity with fundamental concepts in typography, color theory, and layout composition.
• Understanding of basic principles of digital design for platforms like social media.
• Basic competence in creating and editing simple vector graphics.
• Knowledge in using Canva, or willingness to learn
• Knowledge in using Figma, or willingness to learn

What you’ll get:

• Opportunity to work with people from around the world and exposure to new cultures
• Chance to grow and learn, and be supported in your career
• Chance to contribute directly to the fight against corruption and organised crime
• Remote-working
• Hands-on experience in real projects
• Mentorship from experienced designer
• A chance to build a strong portfolio and grow into a full-time role

To Apply:

Please upload a cover letter, resume, and a portfolio of your three best projects you have worked on that reflect the skills and experience we are looking for with a brief description of your role in them, and a list of references that respond to further inquiry about your work and performance.

All applications must be submitted in English. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Whilst we have internal goals to reply to unsuccessful candidates, we regret that the high number of applicants greatly exceeds our capacity to respond to each person. We apologise that we will not be able to reply to any unsuccessful applicants.

As an equal opportunity employer, OCCRP values having a diverse workforce and continuously strives to maintain an inclusive and equitable workplace. We offer competitive compensation and benefits and encourage people with a diverse range of backgrounds to apply. We do not discriminate against any person based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, medical conditions, family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics. If you are a qualified applicant requiring assistance or an accommodation to complete any step of the application process, please contact hr@occrp.org.