Pay Design Interns.

TorontoYellow

About.

The conversation surrounding unpaid design internships has gained traction in the last few years. This has been compounded by the rising cost of living across the province, and more specifically in Toronto. Unpaid internships are exploitative and undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. This is an ongoing database of the companies and studios across Toronto that are committed to paying design and creative interns. 

Wait, aren't unpaid internships illegal?
Internships that are experiential in nature as part of an educational program may be unpaid. Based on 
RGD By-Laws which includes the need to abide by existing labour laws, RGDs who employ interns must meet government mandated labour and minimum wage standards for internships that are not part of an accredited educational program.

How did you collect this information?
Good ol' fashioned cold emailing! I reached out to more than 100 studios and agencies and requested details on their approaches to internships, asking them to identify one of the following:

  1. We do not offer paid internships at this time.

  2. We offer paid internships that pay between $15.50 per hour (Ontario minimum wage) and $22 per hour.

  3. We offer paid internships that align with the Ontario Living Wage Network standard for Toronto, paying at minimum $22.08 per hour.

In addition, we have an open submission for employees and studios alike to submit the names of employers who facilitate paid internships.

Who created this?
Pay Design Interns was inspired by Barron Webster's Pay Interns (NYC) and created by Dr. Ana Rita Morais, Chair for the School of Design at George Brown College.

Database.

MINIMUM WAGE (MW)

The Ontario minimum wage is currently $15/hr, and will transition to $15.50/hr starting on October 1, 2022.

LIVING WAGE (LW)

The living wage for Toronto is $22.08/hr (November 2021) according to the Ontario Living Wage Network.

STUDIO

TYPE OF WORK

MW+

LW+

Branding + Design

 

Digital Design

 •

 

Advertising

 

Digital + Strategic Design

 

Brand + Product Design

 

Marketing + Communications

 

Branding + Design

 

Brand Strategy + Design

 

Graphic Design

 

Marketing + Design

 

Service Design

 

• 

Digital + Branding + Design 

 

Brand Strategy + Design

 

Advertising + Strategy

 

Digital + Graphic Design

 

Strategic Design

 

Marketing + Communications

 

Marketing + Design

 

Environmental Design

 

Branding + Design

 

Environmental Design

 

Strategic Marketing

 

Marketing + Communications

 

Design + Experience

 

Digital Media

 

Branding + Design

 

Branding + Design

 

Software + Web Development

 

Advertising + Strategy

 

Brand Strategy + Design

 

Branding + Design

 

Design + Experience

 

Advertising & Strategy

 

Marketing

 

Marketing

 

Brand Experience

 

Brand Strategy + Design

 

Design + Production

 

Textile Computing

 

Advertising + Strategy

 

Advertising + Design

 

Information Management

  

 •

Brand Strategy + Design

 

Strategic Experience Design

 

Brand Strategy + Design

 

Branding + Design

 

Design + Communications

 

 

Brand Strategy + Design

 

Digital + Service Design

 

Digital + Animation

 

Multi

 

Environmental Design

 

Digital Design

 

Branding + Design

 

Brand Strategy + Design

 

Branding + Design

 

Digital Design

 

Branding + Design

 

Brand Strategy + Design

 

Product Design

 

Branding + Design

 

Branding + Design

 

Branding + Design

 

Digital Design

 

Submit.

We would like to keep this database growing. Do you run, work at, or know a studio or firm that belongs on this list? Get connected.

© 2023

This work was cultivated on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples.

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