UX Interaction Design Co-op - Spring 2027

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Interaction Design Co-op - Spring 2027

Company: Crown Equipment Corporation

Location: New Bremen, OH

Job Type: Internship/Co-op

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Development Operations

Date Posted: August 17, 2026

Experience Level: Entry-Level (Co-op)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is a co-op position focused on UX Interaction Design within the material handling equipment industry, specifically for forklifts and lift trucks.

• The position offers hands-on experience in designing user interfaces that prioritize safety, efficiency, and ergonomics for advanced equipment.

• Successful candidates will contribute to the product development lifecycle, translating user needs and business requirements into intuitive and effective user experiences.

• This is an on-site role requiring full-time commitment during the Spring 2027 co-op term.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw job description is sparse, the title "UX Interaction Design Co-op" combined with the company's industry (material handling equipment) strongly suggests a role focused on the human-machine interface of their products. The "Operations" category is inferred as the role directly impacts product usability, efficiency, and thus operational effectiveness for their customers. The "Spring 2027" designation clarifies the employment period.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with UX designers, product managers, and engineering teams to develop user-centered designs for new and existing material handling equipment interfaces.

• Create wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows.

• Participate in user research activities, including usability testing and feedback sessions, to gather insights for design improvements.

• Assist in the documentation of design specifications, style guides, and interaction patterns to ensure consistency across product lines.

• Contribute to the iterative design process, incorporating feedback and data to refine user interfaces for optimal safety, efficiency, and ease of use.

• Gain practical experience in applying UX design principles and methodologies within a manufacturing and product development environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: These responsibilities are inferred based on the "UX Interaction Design Co-op" title and the typical scope of such roles within product development organizations. The focus on "safety, efficiency, and ergonomics" is directly drawn from the company description.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, or a related field.

• Strong academic record demonstrating proficiency in design principles and user-centered methodologies. Experience:

• Prior co-op or internship experience in UX/UI design is highly desirable.

• Familiarity with the product development lifecycle and cross-functional team collaboration. Required Skills:

• Proficiency in UX design software such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar tools for wireframing and prototyping.

• Understanding of interaction design principles, user-centered design processes, and usability best practices.

• Ability to create clear and concise wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes.

• Strong visual design skills and an eye for detail in UI elements and layout.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions effectively.

• Legal authorization to work in the United States without requiring company sponsorship. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with user research methodologies, including usability testing and user interviews.

• Familiarity with design systems and component-based design.

• Basic understanding of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS) is a plus.

• Interest in the industrial equipment or manufacturing sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "xx" placeholders in the original description are replaced with standard requirements for a UX Interaction Design Co-op. The emphasis on legal work authorization is directly pulled from the provided text.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a minimum of 2-3 relevant UX/Interaction Design projects.

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the design process from research and ideation through to prototyping and testing.

• Highlight projects that exhibit problem-solving skills and user-centered design solutions.

• Include case studies that detail the challenges, your role, the design decisions made, and the outcomes or learnings. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes that illustrate your design thinking.

• Provide documentation of user research findings and how they informed design iterations.

• Illustrate your ability to work within design constraints and to document design specifications for development handoff.

📝 Enhancement Note: Portfolio requirements are standard for UX roles. The emphasis on process documentation and case studies is crucial for co-op roles to demonstrate learning and application of skills.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• As this is a co-op position, compensation will be competitive and commensurate with academic standing and relevant experience. While specific figures are not provided, co-op roles in the engineering/design field in Ohio typically range from $18 to $25 per hour, depending on the university program, year of study, and specific responsibilities.

• Research Methodology: This estimate is based on general industry data for co-op/intern positions in engineering and design fields within the Midwest United States, factoring in the cost of living in New Bremen, OH, and the typical duration of a co-op term.

Benefits:

• Paid co-op term, providing valuable work experience and income.

• Opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience in UX Interaction Design within a leading manufacturing company.

• Mentorship from experienced UX professionals and product development teams.

• Potential for future internship or full-time employment opportunities based on performance.

• Networking opportunities within the industrial equipment manufacturing sector. Working Hours:

• This is a full-time, on-site position, typically 40 hours per week, aligning with standard business operations in the New Bremen facility. Specific daily schedules will be confirmed upon hiring.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary and benefits are inferred based on the nature of a co-op position. The hourly rate range is a typical estimate for such roles in the specified region.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Manufacturing (Industrial Equipment / Material Handling)

Company Size: Crown Equipment Corporation is a large, established global manufacturer with over 10,000 employees worldwide, indicating a structured environment with significant resources and established processes. This size suggests opportunities for learning from experienced professionals and exposure to complex, large-scale projects.

Founded: Crown Equipment Corporation was founded in 1945, signifying a long history of innovation and stability in the material handling industry. This longevity suggests a company with deep expertise and a commitment to long-term growth and product development.

Team Structure:

• The UX Interaction Design Co-op will likely be part of the Product Development or Engineering department, working within a UX/UI team or closely integrated with product design groups.

• The team structure is expected to be hierarchical, with senior designers and managers providing guidance and oversight to co-op students.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, involving close interaction with product managers, mechanical and electrical engineers, software developers, and potentially marketing and sales teams. Methodology:

• Crown likely employs a combination of traditional and agile methodologies in its product development, with UX integrated throughout the process.

• Design thinking and user-centered design principles are expected to be core to their approach, ensuring that customer needs drive product innovation.

• Emphasis will be placed on data-driven decisions, leveraging insights from user research, usability testing, and performance metrics to optimize product design.

Company Website: https://www.crown.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Company culture, size, and industry context are derived from the provided company description and general knowledge of large manufacturing firms. The inferred team structure and methodology are standard for such roles.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at an entry-level, co-op stage, specifically designed for students to gain foundational experience in UX Interaction Design within an industrial context. It serves as a stepping stone to more advanced roles in the field.

Reporting Structure: The co-op student will report to a UX/UI Manager or a Senior UX Designer, who will provide day-to-day guidance, project assignments, and performance feedback.

Operations Impact: While not directly managing operational processes, the UX Interaction Design Co-op's work has a significant impact on customer operations. By designing safe, efficient, and ergonomic interfaces for material handling equipment, the role directly contributes to:

• Reducing operational costs for customers through improved efficiency and reduced errors.

• Enhancing operator safety and reducing workplace incidents.

• Improving overall productivity and throughput in material handling environments.

• Strengthening Crown Equipment's competitive advantage through superior product usability. Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Deepen expertise in UX/UI design tools, user research techniques, and prototyping. Gain practical experience in applying design principles to complex industrial machinery.

• Industry Exposure: Learn about the material handling industry, product development cycles in manufacturing, and the specific challenges faced by operators of heavy equipment.

• Networking: Build professional relationships with experienced designers, engineers, and product managers at a global company.

• Future Opportunities: Exceptional performance during the co-op term may lead to offers for future internships, return co-op opportunities, or even full-time entry-level positions upon graduation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Career analysis is framed around the co-op nature of the role and its contribution to operational efficiency for end-users, aligning with the "operations" theme.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role at Crown Equipment Corporation's facility in New Bremen, OH. The work environment will likely be a combination of office-based design work and potential exposure to product development labs or manufacturing floors to understand the context of equipment use.

Office Location(s): New Bremen, Ohio, USA. This is the company's global headquarters, suggesting a central hub for product development and corporate functions.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely be a dedicated desk within a design or engineering department, equipped with a standard workstation and access to necessary software.

• Opportunities for collaboration will exist through team meetings, design reviews, and informal discussions with colleagues.

• Access to company-provided design software, hardware, and potentially 3D modeling tools or simulation environments relevant to equipment design.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time work schedule, typically 40 hours per week, is expected. Flexibility may be limited due to the structured nature of co-op programs and the need for consistent team integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment description is based on the on-site nature of the role and typical office setups within large manufacturing companies.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and academic background, followed by a brief phone screen to assess general fit and understanding of the co-op role.

• Portfolio Presentation: A key stage will involve presenting your design portfolio to the hiring team. Be prepared to walk through 2-3 of your strongest projects, explaining your process, design decisions, and the impact of your work.

• Technical/Behavioral Interviews: Expect interviews with UX designers and managers to assess your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and how you approach design challenges. Behavioral questions will gauge your teamwork, communication, and learning aptitude.

• Final Interview: Potentially a final interview with a senior leader or hiring manager to confirm fit and discuss the co-op term details.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your interaction design skills, problem-solving approach, and ability to work through a design process. Prioritize quality over quantity.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role and responsibilities, the design process you followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), your key decisions, and the outcomes or lessons learned.

• Highlight Process: Show your thinking. Include sketches, wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes. Explain why you made certain design choices.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If any of your past projects resulted in measurable improvements (e.g., increased user satisfaction, reduced task completion time), present these metrics clearly.

• Tailor to Crown: If possible, research Crown's products and industry. While not expected to design for them, showing an understanding of their context can be beneficial.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss your design process in detail and defend your design decisions.

• Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely, especially when explaining complex design concepts.

• Prepare to answer questions about how you handle feedback, collaborate with others, and approach unfamiliar design problems.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview and portfolio review guidance is tailored for a UX Interaction Design co-op role, emphasizing process, problem-solving, and communication.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX/UI Design & Prototyping Software: Proficiency is expected in at least one industry-standard tool such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, or Axure RP. Candidates should be able to create wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• Collaboration Tools: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Confluence, Microsoft Teams, or Slack for project management and team communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While direct analytics responsibility is unlikely for a co-op, understanding how user data and analytics inform design decisions is a plus. Exposure to tools like Google Analytics or internal reporting dashboards would be beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this UX design role, but an awareness of how user data is managed within CRM systems can provide broader context.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section focuses on the software and tools typically used by UX Interaction Designers, with an emphasis on design and prototyping applications.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: A commitment to developing cutting-edge material handling solutions that push industry boundaries.

• Customer Focus: Dedication to understanding and meeting customer needs to provide the safest, most efficient, and ergonomic equipment.

• Quality & Reliability: Emphasis on building durable, high-performance products that customers can depend on.

• Teamwork & Collaboration: Fostering an environment where different departments and disciplines work together to achieve common goals.

• Continuous Improvement: A drive to constantly refine processes, products, and operations for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

Collaboration Style:

• The UX team likely operates with a highly collaborative style, working closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders.

• Expect regular design critiques and feedback sessions to ensure designs meet technical feasibility and business objectives.

• A culture of knowledge sharing and mentorship is probable, especially with co-op students, to facilitate learning and development.

📝 Enhancement Note: These values are inferred from Crown Equipment's company description and typical corporate values in the manufacturing and engineering sectors.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Industrial Design Context: Adapting UX principles to the unique constraints and requirements of industrial equipment (e.g., durability, operator environment, safety regulations).

• Cross-Functional Communication: Effectively communicating design ideas and user needs to stakeholders with diverse technical backgrounds (e.g., mechanical engineers, software developers).

• Balancing User Needs with Business/Technical Constraints: Finding optimal design solutions that satisfy user requirements while adhering to project budgets, timelines, and technical limitations.

• Learning a New Domain: Quickly gaining an understanding of material handling operations and the specific use cases for Crown's equipment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Practical Application: Applying theoretical UX knowledge to real-world product development challenges.

• Mentorship: Receiving guidance from experienced professionals in UX, product management, and engineering.

• Industry Insight: Gaining a deep understanding of the material handling equipment industry and manufacturing processes.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Developing professional-level case studies and design work to showcase for future career opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges and growth opportunities are framed around the specific context of an industrial UX co-op role.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a challenging UX design project you worked on. What was the problem, your approach, and the outcome?" (Prepare to detail your process, decision-making, and any metrics).

• "How do you incorporate user feedback into your design process?" (Focus on iterative design and user-centered methodologies).

• "Walk us through your portfolio. Explain your role and contributions to each project." (Be ready to present your strongest case studies clearly and concisely).

• "How would you approach designing an interface for a forklift operator in a noisy, busy warehouse?" (Think about context, accessibility, safety, and efficiency). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Crown Equipment Corporation and the material handling industry?" (Research Crown's products, values, and market position).

• "How do you collaborate with team members who have different skill sets (e.g., engineers, product managers)?" (Highlight your communication and teamwork abilities).

• "What are your career aspirations after graduation?" (Connect your goals to potential growth paths within a company like Crown). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Problem -> Research -> Ideation -> Design -> Testing -> Outcome/Learnings.

• Visuals: Use high-quality visuals of your wireframes, mockups, and prototypes. Show the evolution of your designs.

• Storytelling: Engage your audience by telling a compelling story about how you solved a user problem.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to ensure it's informative yet brief. Focus on key insights and decisions.

• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges encountered, and how you would handle specific scenarios.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is specific to a UX Interaction Design role, focusing on portfolio presentation, problem-solving, and industry interest.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-focused UX Interaction Design Co-op position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Crown Careers website.

• Portfolio Preparation: Ensure your online portfolio is up-to-date and showcases 2-3 of your strongest UX/Interaction Design projects. Tailor the project selection to highlight skills relevant to product design and user experience.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your academic background, relevant coursework, any prior design experience (internships, personal projects), and proficiency with UX design tools. Use keywords like "UX Design," "Interaction Design," "Prototyping," "User Research," and "Wireframing."

• Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your portfolio projects in detail, focusing on your design process, problem-solving skills, and ability to collaborate. Practice answering common UX interview questions.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Crown Equipment Corporation, its products (forklifts, material handling equipment), its mission, and its values to demonstrate genuine interest during the interview process.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

---