Digital Designer Intern

Digital Designer Intern

Publicis Groupe is a global leader in communication and is positioned at every step of the value chain, from consulting to execution, combining marketing transformation and digital business transformation.

Publicis Groupe Africa has opened applications for Le Cubs 2027, its flagship 12-month internship programme designed to give young South African graduates meaningful workplace experience and an opportunity to build future-ready careers in the marketing and communications industry.

Starting in March 2027, successful applicants will join teams across Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, gaining hands-on experience in disciplines including creativity, strategy, human resources, data, technology, AI, media and business support.

Le Cubs is designed to bridge the gap between tertiary education and the workplace, giving graduates the opportunity to move beyond theory, contribute to real work, learn from industry professionals and develop practical skills in a connected, collaborative environment.

Title: Digital Designer Intern

Location: Cape Town

Reporting To: Senior Digital Designer/Group Head/Creative Director

As a Digital Designer Intern you will work with our passionate, multi-talented studio delivering on exceptional, integrated concepts and designs to exceed client briefs and expectations.

A Digital Designer Intern can expect to be craft-led and platform neutral conceptual thinkers, in particular having an understanding of all major social platforms as well as being comfortable executing work on these platforms as well as any digital format. Should a desire to transform companies by creating beautiful, intuitive, and human-centred products and experiences.

The successful candidate will be tuned into all aspects of South African popular culture and the platforms and media it plays in, as well as have a strong point of view on what it takes to win in this space.

Duties include, but not limited to:

• Be up to date with digital platforms
• Manage your creative process on projects
• Work with other disciplines (Strategists, Developers, Media, Accounts, etc.)
• Be a champion for digital innovation on every project you touch
• Participate in pitches for new business
• Define or apply the aesthetic of overall campaigns
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Generate ideas and sell them into clients or other members of the team
• Mock up creative ideas
• Design across multiple channels
• Consistently produce creative elements against a deliverables list
• Participate in brainstorms & conceptualisation
• Lead the craft & design of your idea
• Compile presentations for clients and learn to present
• Attend client briefings & if required, present to clients

Qualifications:

• Currently completing or recently completed a Diploma, Degree or Higher Certificate in Digital Design, Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Multimedia Design, Interaction Design or a related creative field.
• Foundational working knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly:
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe After Effects would be advantageous
• Basic understanding of digital design principles, typography, layout, colour and visual composition.
• An understanding of designing for social media and digital platforms, including the different formats and specifications required across channels.
• A portfolio or student body of work demonstrating creative thinking and design ability. Academic, personal and freelance projects are welcome.
• Basic understanding of UI/UX principles and tools such as Figma would be advantageous.
• An interest in digital trends, social media, technology and popular culture.
• No previous agency or professional experience required.

The Person:

• Great time management
• Ability to work under pressure & meet tight deadlines
• Adopt problem solving skills
• Strong communication skills with ability to provide rationales for creative choices made
• Adequate presentation skills
• Working knowledge of existing and emerging technologies & platforms
• A strong understanding of best practice interaction and visual design principles
• Able to work with team members

Operational KPI's:

• Ability of design work (Show minimum of 4 examples)
• Must show an understanding of various programmes

Working knowledge of these tools:

• Illustrator
• Photoshop
• Indesign
• After Effects (Advantageous)
• KeyNote / PowerPoint
• Spark AR Studio
• AdobeXD (UI/UX)
• Figma
• Google Web Designer & DV360 (Advantageous)
• Facebook Creative Hub (Advantageous)