Merchandising Displays – Design Intern/Co-op 2026 

The opportunity: 

As a Design Intern in the Merchandising Displays organization, you will spend time learning about Smurfit Westrock while developing real-world design experience. This role has the support and guidance of Associate Designers, Senior Designers and Leadership and is expected to work independently, stay organized, communicate well, and demonstrate effective time management.  

 
How you will impact Smurfit WestRock: 

• Demonstrates Smurfit Westrock values of integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence and contributes positively to collaborative design team culture
• Achieves the highest level of customer satisfaction through timely and independent execution and delivery of prototypes, white samples, graphic mock-ups & instructions
• Actively participates in team projects/ customer demands.
• Contributes to design requests under the supervision of project leads
• Creates creative and compelling visuals, appropriately leveraging Brand Guide, templates, and other tools
• Develops and gains experience under the guidance of Design and other colleagues
• Demonstrates an Opportunity Mindset, seizing opportunities to learn from more senior Designers and using their own experiences to recommend and seek new opportunities for Smurfit Westrock business or Design team growth and development

Structural 

• Basic applied 3-dimensional thinking
• Follows appropriate substrate and caliper fit for use materials guidance more senior designers and leaders
• Follows testing protocols to conduct package fit for use testing at the direction of more senior designers and leaders to help provide a fit for use perspective on packaging designs 

Graphic 

• Supports the execution of graphic visuals, mockups, and instructions with direction from teammates and Design Management
• Understands basic MFG processes and learning mock-up production workflow
• Understands Smurfit Westrock Brand Standards and applies Smurfit Westrock branding in a manner that adheres to our corporate guidelines

 
What you need to succeed: 

• Candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited engineering college/university program.
• Should be pursuing a degree in Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Packaging, or other related disciplines
• Demonstrates an interest, willingness, and drive to learn new things; seeks to understand concepts, processes, and ideas within area of functional expertise; naturally inquisitive; sets meaningful goals for personal work productivity
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills: Clearly exchanges thoughts, ideas, and messages through written, verbal, and non-verbal methods that promote an understanding with the target audience; listens carefully and attentively
• Has an eye for recognizing errors or differences; plans and completes work with thoroughness, giving attention to specific information and individual details, conditions, necessary record keeping, and elements of that work
• Strong attention to detail and Problem-Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations; demonstrates tackling a problem by using a logical, systematic, or sequential approach
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload: Plans, arranges and/or monitors work to ensure achievement of desired results; establishes a systematic course of action to accomplish objectives
• Demonstrates agility, flexibility, and a willingness to modify one’s approach to achieve desired results; responds quickly to changing demands, processes, and updated information
• Collaboration: Works effectively with others to complete a task or achieve a common objective; ability to cooperate in both interpersonal and team relationships to foster enthusiasm and maintain mutual trust, candor, and respect for others. Works through conflict constructively

 
 What we offer: 

• Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability and excellence
• Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities
• An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies and potential
• A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.

Smurfit WestRock is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating and maintaining a diverse workforce: Minorities/Females/ Disabled/Veterans.