Impacts of Mentorship on Internship for Industrial Design Students: A Case Study of Three Comprehensive University Programs

Hagins, Carly and Barnhart, Betsy and Tierney, Katherine (2024) Impacts of Mentorship on Internship for Industrial Design Students: A Case Study of Three Comprehensive University Programs. In: P/References of Design. Cumulus conference proceedings series, 1 . Cumulus Association, Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest, Budapest, pp. 423-435. ISBN 978-952-7549-02-5

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Abstract

Building off previous studies demonstrating the positive impacts of internships for undergraduate students (Binder et al., 2014), this investigation explores how mentor/mentee relationships support positive internship experiences. Much has been written about the benefits of mentorship (Hamilton et al., 2019), including the development of "soft skills" and greater opportunities for employment post-graduation. Notably, mentorship has up until this point not been researched specifically as it relates to the ultra-competitive and ever-evolving field of industrial design. This work has direct implications for university industrial design departments who are focused on providing a pathway for student success in entering professional practice. In order to assess the impact of mentorship programs on internship placements, we conducted a case study and research analysis examining three different industrial design departments' approaches to mentorship programs. These approaches include the absence of a formal mentorship program, the option for an informal mentorship program with professionals, and the option for a structured mentorship program with professionals. Other formats including peer-to-peer mentorship and on-the-job mentorship, are also considered. Obstacles to positive mentorships, including scheduling challenges, unclear expectations, and misaligned expertise are discussed. Results indicate that students engaging in any mentorship program demonstrate a higher likelihood of both applying for and securing internships. This investigation is a model for further investigations involving a broader range of institutions, mentorship, and internship experiences.

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