Peter A. Krueger Internships | Summer 2026

Aerial view of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum located in the former residence of Andrew Carnegie. Read below for information about the museum's hours and admission prices.

PETER A. KRUEGER SUMMER INTERNSHIPS

The Peter A. Krueger Summer Internship Program offers undergraduate students the unique opportunity to develop professional skills and learn about museum practices at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Interns will gain in-depth knowledge and an enriched understanding of how the museum fulfills its mission to educate, inspire, and empower people through design. Explore the 2026 Peter A. Krueger Internship details and offerings below.

2025 Peter A. Krueger Summer Internship Overview

  • Dates: June 8–August 14, 2026 (10 weeks, 35 hours/week)
  • Stipend: $6,000
  • Format: In-person
  • Location: Onsite at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, New York City
  • Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate program at the time of application. All individuals participating in a Smithsonian internship must be eligible to work in the United States.
  • Questions? Please email chinternships@si.edu.

How to apply

Submit your application materials through the SOLAA portal. Once you create an account, select “Start Your Application” at the top of the page and search for “Peter A. Krueger Summer Internship” in the program name field.

Application deadline: Monday, February 9, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET (Eastern Time)
Notification: By mid-April 2026

Required application materials:

  • Resume
  • 3 short essay responses
    • Please explain why you are interested in an internship at Cooper Hewitt. Include your preferred placement, relevant past experiences, what you hope to accomplish during the internship, and/or your future academic and career goals. (500 words max)
    • How would you describe the difference between art and design to a museum visitor? (200 words max)
    • Explore Cooper Hewitt’s collection online (https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/). Find an object that interests or inspires you and tell us why. You can select from the featured objects or one of your choosing. (200 words max)
  • 1 letter of recommendation
  • Unofficial transcript
  • Graphic Design Intern Candidates ONLY: Include a brief PDF portfolio of up to 10 pages or link to your online portfolio with your essay responses.

Application notes:

  • Late applications, including recommendation letters, will not be accepted.
  • Short essay responses: Upload as a single PDF, including a copy of each prompt before your response.
  • Letter of recommendation: You will provide contact information for your recommender in the application portal. Be sure to select “email referee” to notify your recommender. Your recommender will receive email instructions on how to submit their recommendation letter through the portal. Recommendation letters must be submitted directly by the recommender by the application deadline. We suggest notifying your recommender and completing this step as soon as possible. You will be able to log in and check the status of whether your recommendation letter has been submitted, even after you’ve submitted your application. We suggest following up with your recommender as needed. Letters received after the deadline will not be accepted.
  • Remove any passwords or other protections from your files before uploading.
  • Skills and qualifications noted are encouraged but not required. We welcome your application even if you don’t meet all the qualifications.

Equal opportunity employment

Smithsonian Institution does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

job seekers with disabilities

Smithsonian provides a reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate.

Learn more from Smithsonian’s Office of Equal Employment and Minority Affairs.

Contemporary Design Curatorial Intern
Curatorial Department

Cooper Hewitt’s Curatorial Department creates object-driven stories about design that audiences experience in our galleries, publications, and online. Our permanent collection includes more than 215,000 objects spanning 30 centuries and several collecting areas, including drawings, prints, and graphic design; product design and decorative arts; textiles; wallcoverings; and digital works. In studying the collection, curators produce exhibitions, programs, and other initiatives to showcase research and scholarship while engaging with the work of living and historic designers to shape the museum’s collecting future. The department also develops monographic and thematic exhibitions to tell new narratives about important makers, moments, and materials or investigate how designers respond to contemporary issues. In doing so, curators seek to welcome broad audiences to engage in meaningful experiences and conversations that offer new perspectives on and understanding of design.

The Curatorial Intern will support a curator of contemporary design with several upcoming projects, particularly one focused on contemporary landscape architecture. Assisting the curatorial team with the final phase of the project, the intern will primarily prepare content for a digital component, which will expand the impacts of an in-person experience to global audiences online. The intern will be responsible for organizing, uploading, and helping to develop web content that adapts the project narrative to a digital experience.

As part of their duties, the intern may also assist with ensuring the project is accessible to visitors of all abilities, which could include drafting and uploading image descriptions, sequencing objects for large-print collateral, preparing object records for extraction to the collections website, and other tasks as assigned. Additionally, the intern may support the continued development and implementation of a permanent collection project and with early research for an upcoming museum Triennial.

Skills and qualifications:

  • Background or specialization in design history, art history, and/or architectural history preferred.
  • Interest in contemporary design and architecture, including landscape architecture as well as an interest in curating contemporary exhibitions.
  • Strong writing skills.
  • Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Office and Google Suites as well as Dropbox, particularly for file management/organization, spreadsheets, and tracking documents.

Education Intern
Learning and Audience Engagement Department

The Learning and Audience Engagement Department at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum develops innovative educational programs that connect diverse audiences to design thinking and the museum’s collection. The department focuses on creating meaningful experiences for learners of all ages.

The Education Intern will contribute to Cooper Hewitt’s professional development initiative for K–12 educators, supporting efforts to integrate design literacy into classrooms across the country. The intern will assist in designing and implementing classroom resources and educator trainings that help students develop the habits and skills of designers. Responsibilities include liaising with educators nationally, supporting resource development, and testing these resources both digitally and in person. Upon the conclusion of the internship, the intern will have gained valuable experience with curriculum design, digital resource development, user testing, and supporting in-person education programming.

Skills and qualifications:

  • Strong communication skills and an interest in K-12 design education is essential.
  • Familiarity with curriculum development and K-12 learning standards is encouraged, but not required.

Graphic Design Intern
Communications and Marketing Department

The Communications and Marketing Department raises public awareness about Cooper Hewitt’s exhibitions and public programs through public relations, social media, marketing, and advertising initiatives.

As a Communications and Marketing team member, the Graphic Design Intern at Cooper Hewitt will engage in collaborative projects across various departments, gaining firsthand experience in the design process from conception to execution. This internship provides an opportunity to create graphic design materials to promote Cooper Hewitt as a contemporary design hub on local, national, and international scales.

The intern will actively contribute to the implementation of design systems and guidelines for visual communications, ensuring consistency with the Cooper Hewitt brand identity across all digital and print platforms.

Skills and qualifications:

  • A strong portfolio demonstrating a keen eye for detail, typography, layout, and composition across both digital and print.
  • The ability to create visual designs across a wide range of assets.
  • Excellent skills in Adobe Creative Suite, especially Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.
  • Working knowledge of various social media platforms.
  • Strong communication skills, a highly collaborative nature, and the ability to work well independently with a commitment to producing consistent, quality work.
  • Animation skills are a plus.

Visitor Accessibility and Programs Intern
Learning and Audience Engagement Department

The Learning and Audience Engagement Department develops inclusive programs and resources that connect diverse audiences to Cooper Hewitt’s exhibitions and collections. The Visitor Accessibility and Programs team leads initiatives that prioritize accessibility and equitable engagement, ensuring that all visitors—including those with disabilities—have engaging experiences. This work includes creating accessible interpretive materials, designing programs rooted in Disability Justice principles, and collaborating across departments to embed accessibility into every aspect of the museum experience.

The Visitor Accessibility and Programs Intern will contribute to inclusive programming and exhibition interpretation research, with a particular emphasis on accessible didactics. They will assist in evaluating and developing resources that prioritize clarity, usability, and equity, supporting Cooper Hewitt’s mission to create welcoming experiences for all audiences. In addition, the intern will focus on digital graphic design projects that enhance the visitor experience across Cooper Hewitt’s programs and exhibitions. This includes creating visually engaging and accessible assets for programs and digital platforms, ensuring compliance with accessibility standards and best practices in inclusive design.

Skills and qualifications:

  • Experience with graphic design software, such as Adobe Creative Suite is encouraged.
  • Familiarity with accessibility guidelines (WCAG) and interest in inclusive design practices are a plus.
  • Knowledge or prior experience working with disabled communities is a plus.

Featured Image: Aerial view of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum located in the former residence of Andrew Carnegie