Snap Design Academy 2026

Snap Design Academy 2026

The Snap Academies are nine week, paid summer training program hosted by Snap Inc., the makers of Snapchat. As a Snap Design Academy Scholar, you will immerse yourself in a professional creative environment designed to make you internship-ready. If accepted, you’ll get the opportunity to:

• Learn from Snap team members shaping products used around the world
• Build meaningful connections with dedicated Snap mentors
• Create standout portfolio pieces and expand your professional network
• Elevate your collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Immerse yourself in a dynamic, nine-week Snap-designed curriculum built for your future in the tech industry

Our Snap Design Academy is looking to build a cohort of 15 aspirational Scholars with solid professional experience in creative content development and visual storytelling (including but not limited to images, videos, graphics, typography, web projects, etc.). Experience with using design software with layout or interface design is a huge plus. This academy will provide Scholars with the opportunity to participate in custom, creative workshops, fireside chats, and receive mentorship from Snap Inc. team members.

Quick Facts:

• Receive an academy payment for participation and completion of the nine-week program and academy-related expenses
• Designed for community college (or recent transfer) students
• Spend Monday - Friday learning from June 15, 2026 to August 14, 2026
• Snap Design Academy is held in-person at the Snap Offices in Santa Monica, CA
• 15 Scholars for each of the four Snap Academies

If you’re passionate about learning, then we’re talking to you!

What you'll do:

• Design scalable vector graphics and expressive compositions that effectively convey information
• Deepen your professional vocabulary for collaborating and navigating creative feedback
• Develop engaging visuals and persuasive communication skills
• Demonstrate and grow your knowledge of user experience (UX) and user interface (UI)
• Serve as a Snap Academies ambassador for future cohorts!

Eligibility and Pathways:

• The Snap Academies are designed to provide professional pathways for Scholars who have traditionally faced systemic barriers to entry in the tech industry. We welcome applicants who meet one of the following criteria:
• Community College Pathway: You are a current community college student or have recently transferred to a four-year institution.
• Expansion Pathway: You are a current four-year university student and identify as Opportunity Youth (this includes individuals with lived experience in the foster care system, the juvenile justice system, or those who have experienced housing insecurity).
• Important Note: Due to the specific mission and funding of this program, we are unable to consider applications from four-year university students who do not fall under the "Expansion/Opportunity" designation.

Participation Requirements:

• Beyond the educational pathways above, all Scholars must meet the following participation requirements:
• Age: Must be 18 years or older.
• Enrollment: Must be a currently enrolled student with a graduation date no sooner than Fall 2026.
• Residency: Must reside in the Southern California area for the duration of the program.
• Attendance: Must be available for the full nine-week duration (June 15 – August 14, 2026) and able to attend in-person at Snap HQ in Santa Monica, CA, Monday through Friday.
• Commute: Must have access to reliable transportation to and from the Santa Monica headquarters.

Our ideal Academy Scholar cohort member is:

• Aligned with Snap Inc.’s mission, values and voice. Learn more at www.snap.com
• Passionate about design and has a growth-oriented mindset
• Experienced with (via coursework or projects) creative content development and/or visual storytelling such as graphics, video, typography, or web projects.
• Familiar with digital and social media platforms and emerging trends
• Comfortable presenting ideas and receiving feedback in group environments

It's a bonus if you have:

• Experience or exposure to Graphic Design, UI/UX, Typography, or Prototyping in the form of college coursework, online certifications, or previous creative roles. Additional experience in Design Thinking, Design History, Web Design, Illustration, or Video Editing
• Experience using design softwares with layout or interface design, including but not limited to Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).