MicroMentor Product and Brand Design Intern

INTERNSHIP TITLE: MicroMentor Product and Brand Design Intern

INTERN WORKSITE LOCATION: Portland, Oregon or US Remote

DATES OF INTERNSHIP:  June - August  2023

HOURS PER WEEK: Part-time (20 hours per week)

INTERNS SUPERVISOR & CONTACT INFORMATION: UX designer,

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THE INTERNSHIP: $1,300 monthly

Mercy Corps responsibilities

For the duration of this internship assignment the intern will receive:

• Training and supervisory support
• Access to Mercy Corps online tools
• All other tools, materials and communication requirements for this project

Intern responsibilities

Intern will remain responsible for all costs associated with:

• Laptop or desktop computer for working remotely
• Accommodation, travel and living expenses

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

MicroMentor is an initiative within Mercy Corps. At MicroMentor, our mission is to leverage the power of mentoring to help small businesses thrive. We do so by offering entrepreneurs direct access to a pool of committed professional volunteer mentors via an easy-to-use website, found at www.micromentor.org. MicroMentor has an expanding community making tens of thousands of connections every year. Entrepreneurs matched with a mentor have shown significant results in terms of improved job creation, business survival, and revenue growth.

This intern will work closely with MicroMentor’s Product Team to create an accessibility-minded brand refresh to coincide with the launch of a new global business mentoring app. They will also work in support of implementing this brand refresh into a product design system.

KEY ACTIVITIES:

• Conduct research and gather feedback from stakeholders on the organization’s mission, target audience, competitors, and industry
• Analyze existing brand assets, including colors, logos, typography, and imagery to identify opportunities for improvement with accessibility in mind
• Collaborate with the product team to develop a brand strategy that aligns with the organization’s goals and mission
• Design, iterate, and gather feedback on brand concepts
• Build brand style guide and present to stakeholders
• Work with UX/UI designer(s) to implement brand strategy into design system

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Learn best practices for effective communication and collaboration with multiple stakeholders and cross-functional teams
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of branding and UI best practices
• Develop design skills for a global and multilingual audience
• Conduct research and analyze the results to make brand strategy recommendations

DELIVERABLES:

• Update brand strategy document
• Update visual assets
• Update style guide
• Final presentation of brand guidelines

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• BFA or MFA degree recently completed (no more than 1 year since graduation) or in progress, in relevant discipline required
• Pursuing degree in graphic design, interaction design, UX/UI design, or related field
• Strong understanding of design standards for web
• Experience and/or coursework in branding, user experience design, user interface design a plus, strong written and verbal professional communication skills desired
• Intermediate or advanced level skills in Adobe Creative Cloud required
• Experience in Figma a plus
• Have a strong interest in pursuing a related career in product/UX/UI design or brand design

Mercy Corps interns represent the agency both during and outside of work hours and are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Mercy Corps Diversity Statement

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme**.** We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As part of our commitment to keeping our community safe and providing a safe working environment, Mercy Corps has a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for US interns based in Mercy Corps US HQ offices. Interns must be fully vaccinated per CDC requirement or have an approved exception, either (1) sincerely held religious convictions, or (2) a disability that prevents them from receiving a COVID-19 vaccination and comply with regular testing, within 10 business days of starting.  Failure to comply may impact your internship.

Mercy Corps Headquarters: 45 SW Ankeny Street, Portland, Oregon 97204

Mercy Corps: https://www.mercycorps.org/

In your statement, you are encouraged to discuss any relevant experience, and demonstrate your interest. Your application will be reviewed by the Mercy Corps team and shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly for interviews.