UX/UI Design Intern (Mandatory Internship / Pflichtpraktikum, Unpaid) - AI SaaS startup

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Design Intern (Mandatory Internship / Pflichtpraktikum)

Company: IndieKidz GmbH

Location: Germany (Hybrid/Remote options considered within Germany)

Job Type: Internship

Category: UX/UI Design, Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-23

Experience Level: Entry-Level / Intern (0-2 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (with remote options for individuals in or near Berlin)

🚀 Role Summary

• This internship focuses on designing and improving the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) for an innovative AI-powered self-service SaaS platform.

• You will collaborate closely with software engineers to translate product requirements into intuitive user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and polished UI components.

• Key activities include supporting user research, conducting usability testing, and contributing to the overall product design enhancements for a seamless user journey.

• The role involves hands-on creation of design assets and contributing ideas to enhance user onboarding and overall product usability for children's book creators.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is for UX/UI Design, the prompt requests a Revenue Operations, Sales Operations, or GTM focus. This job description is for a Design Intern role. I will proceed by framing the operations aspects of a design internship, focusing on process, efficiency, and user acquisition/retention, but it's important to note this is not a traditional RevOps/SalesOps role. The "AI SaaS startup" context will be leveraged to infer operations needs related to product adoption and user engagement, which are critical for SaaS growth.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and refine user flows, wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes for the Occibo AI SaaS platform, focusing on editing, illustration, and book production processes.

• Collaborate with software engineers to implement and iterate on UI components, ensuring a consistent and user-friendly design language across the application.

• Support user research initiatives and conduct usability testing sessions to gather critical feedback on product design and user experience.

• Contribute innovative ideas and practical solutions to improve the user onboarding experience, aiming to increase activation rates and user retention.

• Assist in maintaining design documentation, style guides, and asset libraries to ensure design consistency and facilitate efficient development workflows.

• Analyze user feedback and product analytics to identify areas for design improvement and propose data-driven solutions.

• Participate actively in team meetings, design reviews, and brainstorming sessions to foster a collaborative product development environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities have been framed to highlight the operational impact of UX/UI design within a SaaS context. This includes focusing on user adoption, retention, and efficiency, which are key metrics for GTM operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Currently enrolled in a relevant study program (e.g., Computer Science, Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or related field) or possess a similar educational background. Bachelor's degree in progress is expected.

Experience: While this is an internship, prior exposure to design principles, UX/UI concepts, or product development through academic projects or personal work is beneficial.

Required Skills:

• Strong enthusiasm for UX/UI design principles and a meticulous eye for detail in visual design and user experience.

• Basic proficiency with design tools such as Figma or Adobe XD for creating wireframes, mockups, and prototypes.

• Eagerness to learn, adapt, and contribute in a fast-paced startup environment, embracing new technologies and methodologies.

• Effective communication and collaboration skills to work seamlessly with cross-functional teams, including software engineers and product managers.

• Ability to translate user needs and business requirements into functional and aesthetically pleasing design solutions. Preferred Skills:

• Foundational knowledge or interest in AI tooling and how it can be integrated into user interfaces.

• Familiarity with user research methodologies and usability testing techniques.

• Understanding of web application development processes and design system principles.

• Experience with iterative design processes, including feedback incorporation and rapid prototyping.

• A portfolio showcasing design projects, demonstrating problem-solving skills and a strong visual taste.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required and preferred skills have been expanded to include operations-relevant aspects like data-driven decision-making (user research/analytics) and process efficiency (design documentation, collaborative workflows), aligning with GTM operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 well-documented design projects that highlight your UX/UI design process, from initial concept to final execution.

• Projects should demonstrate problem-solving skills, user-centered design thinking, and a clear understanding of user needs and business objectives.

• Include examples of wireframes, user flows, mockups, and interactive prototypes, clearly articulating the design decisions made at each stage.

• Highlight any experience with SaaS products or complex web applications, detailing your role and contributions.

• For each project, clearly define the problem statement, your approach, the tools used, and the outcomes or learnings. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate an understanding of design documentation standards, including style guides, component libraries, and user flow diagrams.

• Provide examples of how you've documented design processes or contributed to design system development.

• Show an ability to articulate design decisions based on user research, usability testing, and product analytics, showcasing a data-informed design approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section emphasizes the importance of a process-oriented portfolio for design roles, mirroring the operational focus on documentation, methodology, and measurable outcomes expected in GTM and RevOps.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: This is an unpaid internship, intended to fulfill mandatory academic or professional course requirements.

Benefits:

• Access to a free coworking space in Berlin, Neukölln, or the option to work fully remote within Berlin or nearby areas.

• A weekly provided lunch when meeting and working together in person.

• Significant learning opportunities, particularly in building a product UI from the ground up within an AI SaaS startup.

• Hands-on experience in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment, contributing directly to product development.

• Exposure to AI technologies and their application in a user-facing product.

Working Hours: Approximately 35 hours per week, aligning with the typical full-time commitment for an internship.

📝 Enhancement Note: The compensation is explicitly stated as unpaid, as per the input. Benefits are detailed to highlight the value proposition for an intern, focusing on learning and professional development opportunities crucial for aspiring operations professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: AI, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Publishing Technology, Creative Tools. Occibo operates at the intersection of AI and creative industries, providing a unique platform for independent creators.

Company Size: Small startup (likely <50 employees based on typical AI SaaS startup profiles). This means a dynamic, hands-on environment where interns can have a direct impact.

Founded: IndieKidz GmbH (Occibo) was likely founded in recent years, focusing on leveraging AI to democratize book creation. The company is dedicated to empowering solo creators.

Team Structure:

• The operations team is likely lean and integrated, with close collaboration between product, engineering, and design.

• You will report to a Product Lead or Senior Designer, working directly with software engineers.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, with frequent interaction across different departments to ensure product-market fit and user satisfaction. Methodology:

• Data-driven product development, leveraging user feedback and analytics to inform design and engineering decisions.

• Agile development methodologies, allowing for rapid iteration and adaptation based on market needs and user insights.

• Focus on user-centric design, prioritizing the needs and experiences of children's book creators.

Company Website: https://occibo.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture and structure are inferred from the "AI SaaS startup" context. This implies a fast-paced, collaborative, and innovative environment where operational efficiency and user-centricity are paramount for growth.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level internship role, providing foundational experience in product design and UX/UI principles within a SaaS context. It's an excellent starting point for a career in product design or potentially UX-focused roles within Go-To-Market (GTM) operations.

Reporting Structure: You will report to a senior member of the product or design team, likely working closely with the engineering team on a daily basis. This offers direct mentorship and exposure to core product development processes.

Operations Impact: While not a direct revenue operations role, your work will significantly impact user acquisition, activation, engagement, and retention – all critical operational metrics for a SaaS business. A strong user experience directly translates to higher conversion rates and reduced churn.

Growth Opportunities:

• Develop a strong portfolio of UX/UI design work, showcasing real-world application in a SaaS product.

• Gain practical experience with industry-standard design tools and collaborative development workflows.

• Learn about user research, usability testing, and data-informed design decision-making.

• Understand the operational dynamics of a startup, including product-market fit, agile development, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Potential for future opportunities within IndieKidz GmbH or the broader tech industry, based on performance and demonstrated skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career growth analysis connects the design internship to broader operational impacts and career pathways within the GTM ecosystem, emphasizing transferable skills.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, with options for a free coworking space in Berlin (Neukölln) or full remote work within Berlin/nearby areas. This offers flexibility while maintaining a connection to the team.

Office Location(s): Berlin, Germany (specifically Neukölln for coworking option).

Workspace Context:

• A collaborative and dynamic startup environment where ideas are encouraged and contributions are valued.

• Access to modern design tools and technologies, fostering innovation and efficiency.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with experienced professionals in product development, engineering, and design.

• A focus on building a product from the ground up, offering a unique perspective on product lifecycle operations.

Work Schedule: Approximately 35 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid/remote model, allowing for effective integration of work with academic commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is described to emphasize flexibility and collaboration, key elements that contribute to operational efficiency and employee satisfaction in modern tech companies.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess design skills, relevant experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Presentation: A session where you walk through key projects from your portfolio, explaining your design process, rationale, and problem-solving approach. Be prepared to discuss your contributions and learnings.

• Technical/Design Discussion: A conversation with a product lead or senior designer to delve deeper into your design thinking, technical skills (e.g., Figma proficiency), and understanding of UX/UI principles.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: An opportunity to meet other team members and assess alignment with the company's collaborative and innovative culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on 2-3 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills and fit the role requirements.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your process, design decisions, and the outcome. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your methodology—how you approach challenges, conduct research, iterate, and arrive at solutions. This demonstrates operational thinking.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If any of your past projects had measurable results (e.g., improved user engagement), be ready to discuss them.

• Tailor to Occibo: Show an understanding of Occibo's product and target audience (children's book creators) in your presentation.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for potential design challenges that simulate real-world tasks, such as improving a specific user flow or designing a new feature.

• Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely, especially under time constraints.

• Think about how your design solutions could impact user adoption, engagement, and overall product success – connecting design to operational outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview and portfolio review process is detailed to provide actionable advice for candidates, with a specific focus on showcasing operational thinking through their design process and outcomes.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expected proficiency for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and collaborative design sessions. This is the primary tool for UI/UX design.

• Adobe XD: Basic knowledge is beneficial as an alternative or complementary design tool.

• Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with tools for creating interactive prototypes (often integrated within Figma or Adobe XD).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary requirement for the intern, an understanding of how user analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) inform design decisions is a plus. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design internship role, but an awareness of how user data flows from product usage to CRM or marketing automation platforms could be beneficial for understanding the broader business context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tool stack is focused on design software, but the mention of analytics and CRM hints at the broader operational ecosystem within a SaaS company that design work influences.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of children's book creators, ensuring the platform is intuitive and helpful.

• Innovation: Embracing new technologies like AI to push the boundaries of what's possible in book creation.

• Collaboration: Fostering an open and supportive environment where cross-functional teams work together to achieve common goals.

• Efficiency: Streamlining processes and workflows, both in design and development, to deliver value quickly and effectively.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Using insights from user research and analytics to guide product development and design choices.

Collaboration Style:

• Open communication and regular feedback loops between design, engineering, and product teams.

• A willingness to experiment, iterate, and learn from both successes and failures.

• Emphasis on shared ownership of the product and its success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture and values are interpreted to reflect a typical agile, user-focused, and innovative startup environment, with an emphasis on operational efficiency and data-driven approaches.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapid Iteration: Adapting quickly to evolving product requirements and user feedback in a fast-paced startup environment.

• Balancing Design & Functionality: Creating aesthetically pleasing designs that are also highly functional and support the complex workflows of book creation.

• Cross-Functional Communication: Effectively translating design concepts to engineers and incorporating technical constraints into design solutions.

• AI Integration: Understanding and designing interfaces for AI-powered features, which can be novel and require creative problem-solving.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in UX/UI design principles, user research, and prototyping using industry-standard tools.

• Industry Exposure: Gain firsthand experience in the AI SaaS startup ecosystem, understanding product development lifecycles and market dynamics.

• Mentorship: Receive guidance from experienced designers and engineers, learning best practices and professional development strategies.

• Portfolio Building: Create tangible assets and case studies for your professional portfolio that demonstrate practical design application.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges and growth opportunities are framed to highlight how overcoming them leads to valuable operational and technical skill development relevant to GTM and product operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance user needs with technical constraints in a design project. How did you approach it?" (Focus on problem-solving and compromise.)

• "How would you approach designing an onboarding flow for a new user of our AI book creation platform? What key steps are essential?" (Demonstrate user journey mapping and optimization thinking.)

• "Walk us through a project from your portfolio where you used user feedback or data to significantly improve a design. What was the process and outcome?" (Highlight data-informed decision-making and iterative design.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Occibo's mission and our AI SaaS platform for children's book creators?" (Show research and genuine interest.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with engineers and other team members? Describe your ideal team dynamic." (Assess teamwork and communication.)

• "What are your thoughts on the future of AI in creative industries, and how might it impact user interfaces?" (Gauge forward-thinking and industry awareness.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, starting with the problem, your process, key design decisions, challenges, and final outcomes.

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, prototypes, and flow diagrams. Avoid overwhelming slides with text.

• Narrative: Tell a compelling story about each project. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice delivering your presentation efficiently.

• Engagement: Be ready to answer questions and engage in a discussion about your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation is geared towards showcasing analytical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills, all critical for operations roles, even within a design context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Design Internship:

• Submit your CV and portfolio through the provided application link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio highlights projects demonstrating UX/UI process, problem-solving, and ideally, experience with web applications or SaaS platforms. Tailor your presentation to Occibo's mission.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your relevant coursework, design tool proficiency (Figma, Adobe XD), and any prior project experience, using keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice walking through your portfolio projects, focusing on your design process, decision-making rationale, and any measurable outcomes. Prepare to discuss your interest in AI and the children's book industry.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Occibo's product, target audience, and the broader AI SaaS landscape to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding 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.

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