UX/UI Industrial Design Co-op

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Industrial Design Co-op

Company: Baxter International Inc.

Location: Batesville, Indiana, United States

Job Type: Full-Time, Intern

Category: Industrial Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: April 29, 2026

Experience Level: 0-2 Years (Co-op/Intern)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in-office, 2 days remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• This co-op role focuses on the intersection of Industrial Design and User Experience (UX/UI) within the medical device sector, emphasizing concept visualization and interface development.

• The position offers hands-on experience in a product development environment, collaborating with R&D, Engineering, and Marketing teams to enhance existing and conceptualize new medical device features.

• Key responsibilities include generating design concepts, creating visual assets for user interfaces and product labeling, and contributing to the overall user-centered design process.

• This role is ideal for students seeking practical application of design principles in a regulated industry, contributing to products that directly impact patient health and well-being.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically a co-op/intern position, indicated by the "Co-op" in the title and the "0-2 Years" experience level. The "FULL_TIME" employment type likely refers to the duration of the co-op or internship period, not a permanent full-time role. The integration of UX/UI with Industrial Design in a medical device context suggests a strong focus on human-centered design and usability within a highly regulated environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with Baxter’s Global Design team and cross-functional R&D teams (New Product Development, Sustaining Engineering, Marketing, Market Research) to understand project requirements and design objectives.

• Ideate and conceptualize new product features and enhancements for Baxter’s medical device portfolio, translating user needs and business requirements into tangible design solutions.

• Develop compelling graphics and visual assets for User Interfaces (UI), ensuring intuitive navigation and effective information architecture for medical device applications.

• Create and refine product labeling designs, ensuring clarity, compliance, and adherence to regulatory standards.

• Translate customer ideas and feedback into presentation-ready materials, including mockups, visual prototypes, and interactive demos.

• Take direction from senior designers within the Global Design group, managing priorities and executing assigned tasks efficiently.

• Potentially assist with user testing and usability engineering activities to validate design concepts and gather user feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of conceptual design, visual execution, and collaborative interaction within a structured product development lifecycle, common in operations and R&D environments within established companies like Baxter. The emphasis on "taking direction" is typical for co-op roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Currently enrolled full-time in a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) program.

Experience:

• Previous co-op or internship experience in design, UX/UI, or product development is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

• Strong proficiency in 2D graphics and illustration software, specifically the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).

• Professional, self-motivated, and highly creative with the ability to work independently with limited supervision.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to interact effectively with diverse R&D teams and internal/external customers.

Preferred Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.

• Experience with Adobe InDesign for layout and publishing.

• Familiarity with UI/UX design tools such as Figma or Adobe XD.

• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Word) for creating presentation materials.

• Basic knowledge of 3D rendering software like KeyShot or Strata 3D CX.

• Some exposure to 3D CAD software (e.g., Solid Edge) is a plus.

• Sketching ability to quickly visualize ideas.

• Experience with User Testing or Usability Engineering techniques.

• Proficiency in both Mac and PC environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements clearly define a foundational skill set in visual design and HCI, with a strong preference for specific software proficiency, particularly within the Adobe suite and modern UI/UX tools like Figma/XD. The "0-2 Years" experience level is reflected in the emphasis on current enrollment and foundational software skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing relevant design projects, with a strong emphasis on User Interface (UI) design, concept visualization, and visual communication.

• Projects demonstrating the application of HCI principles to solve user-centered design challenges.

• Visual examples of product labeling or graphic design for technical products.

• Examples of translating complex ideas into clear and effective visual representations.

Process Documentation:

• Ability to articulate the design process followed for portfolio projects, including problem definition, research, ideation, prototyping, and iteration.

• Documentation should highlight how user needs and technical constraints were considered.

• Examples of design deliverables such as wireframes, mockups, style guides, and final visual assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a co-op/intern role, the portfolio is less about ROI and more about demonstrating foundational design thinking, technical proficiency with required tools, and potential for growth. The focus is on process and visual execution rather than large-scale system implementation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• As this is a co-op/intern position, compensation is typically structured as an hourly wage. Based on industry standards for co-op roles in the medical device sector in Batesville, Indiana, and considering the experience level (0-2 years), an estimated hourly rate would range from $18 to $25 per hour.

Benefits:

• Health & Well-being: Medical and dental coverage (starting day one), basic life insurance, accident insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, business travel accident insurance.

• Financial & Retirement: Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with a discount, 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (RSP) with company matching options.

• Professional Development: Flexible Spending Accounts, educational assistance programs.

• Time Off: Paid holidays, paid time off (ranging from 20 to 35 days based on length of service), family and medical leaves of absence, paid parental leave.

• Additional Perks: Commuting benefits, Employee Discount Program, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), childcare benefits.

Working Hours:

• Standard work week is Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week (excluding lunch break).

• Some flexibility in work hours may be available, depending on project demands and support needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation for a co-op role, typically paid hourly. The benefits listed are comprehensive and standard for Baxter, provided to eligible roles. The hybrid work arrangement is also noted here.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Medical Devices / Healthcare Technology. Baxter is a global leader in critical care, kidney care, and hospital products, operating in a highly regulated and innovative industry focused on improving patient outcomes.

Company Size: Baxter International Inc. is a large, established global corporation, with tens of thousands of employees worldwide. This scale implies structured processes, opportunities for diverse project exposure, and a professional corporate environment.

Founded: 1931. With a long history, Baxter has a strong legacy in healthcare innovation, suggesting a culture that values experience, reliability, and continuous improvement.

Team Structure:

• The role is within Baxter’s Global Design team, located at the Batesville, IN Innovatiion Center.

• This team likely comprises experienced Industrial Designers, UX/UI specialists, and potentially graphic designers focused on medical devices.

Methodology:

• Baxter emphasizes a culture of courage, trust, and collaboration, aiming for efficient and effective operations.

• Design work is expected to be user-centered, translating customer requirements and market needs into functional and aesthetically pleasing product designs.

• The process involves iterative design, concept visualization, and close collaboration with engineering and product management to ensure feasibility and market fit.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context emphasizes Baxter's established presence, commitment to healthcare, and a structured yet collaborative operational approach. The Global Design team's role is critical within the product development lifecycle, supporting innovation and user experience in a highly regulated field.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level, temporary position designed for students currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree. It serves as a foundational experience within the industrial design and UX/UI field, specifically within the medical device sector.

Reporting Structure: The co-op student will report to a member of the Global Design group, likely a Senior Designer or Design Manager, who will provide direction, mentorship, and task assignments.

Operations Impact: While a co-op role, the work contributes directly to the product development pipeline. By assisting with concept visualization, UI design, and labeling, the co-op student supports the creation of user-friendly and effective medical devices, indirectly impacting patient care and Baxter’s market competitiveness.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Significant opportunity to hone technical skills in industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma/XD) and gain practical experience in UI design, concept visualization, and product labeling.

• Industry Exposure: Gain in-depth understanding of the medical device industry, including regulatory considerations, product development processes, and user-centered design within a large corporation.

• Networking: Build professional relationships with experienced designers, engineers, and product managers, which can be invaluable for future career prospects.

• Potential for Future Roles: Successful co-op performance can lead to recommendations for future internships or entry-level positions within Baxter or the broader design and healthcare industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section frames the co-op role as a critical stepping stone for a student's career, emphasizing practical skill acquisition, industry exposure, and networking, rather than traditional long-term career progression within Baxter.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at Baxter's Innovation Center in Batesville, IN, suggesting a modern, potentially collaborative workspace designed for R&D and design activities.

Office Location(s): Batesville, Indiana, United States. Applicants must have reliable transportation to this location.

Workspace Context:

• The work environment is hybrid, allowing for a balance of in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility.

• In-office days (3 per week) are expected to facilitate direct interaction with the Global Design team and other R&D personnel, fostering collaboration and idea exchange.

• Access to design software, hardware, and potentially prototyping tools within the Innovation Center.

Work Schedule:

• A standard 40-hour work week (Monday-Friday) is typical, with some flexibility possible based on project needs.

• The hybrid arrangement offers a degree of autonomy in managing one's work schedule, particularly for remote days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, balancing the need for in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work, which is increasingly standard in design and operations roles.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and application to assess academic qualifications, major, and basic skill alignment.

• Portfolio Submission: Candidates will likely be asked to submit a digital portfolio showcasing relevant design work.

• Technical Interview: This may involve a discussion of portfolio projects, design process, and problem-solving approaches. Expect questions related to UI design principles, Adobe Creative Suite usage, and HCI concepts.

• Behavioral/Situational Interview: Questions assessing self-motivation, creativity, ability to work with limited supervision, and collaboration skills.

• Team/Manager Interview: Discussion with members of the Global Design team or hiring manager to assess cultural fit and overall suitability for the co-op role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent the required skills (UI design, concept visualization, graphic design for technical products).

• Showcase Process: For each project, clearly outline your design process: problem statement, your role, research, ideation, design solutions, and outcomes.

• Highlight UI/HCI: Emphasize projects where you applied HCI principles or designed user interfaces, explaining your rationale.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure high-quality visuals, clear annotations, and a professional presentation. Use mockups and prototypes to illustrate your concepts effectively.

• Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention the software used for each project, especially Adobe Creative Suite and any UI/UX tools.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to walk through your portfolio efficiently, focusing on the most impactful aspects.

Challenge Preparation:

• While formal "challenges" might be less common for co-op roles, be prepared for technical questions about design principles and software.

• Practice articulating your design decisions and problem-solving approach clearly and concisely.

• Research Baxter's product portfolio and recent innovations to understand their design language and market position.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview and portfolio review process for a co-op role emphasizes foundational skills, design thinking, and potential. Candidates should focus on demonstrating their understanding of design principles and their ability to execute within a professional context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for this role, with strong emphasis on:

  • Adobe Illustrator: For vector graphics, icons, and detailed UI elements. Advanced proficiency is preferred.
  • Adobe Photoshop: For image manipulation, raster graphics, and creating visual assets. Advanced proficiency is preferred.
  • Adobe InDesign: For layout and creating presentation materials or product documentation. Some experience is preferred.

• UI/UX Design Tools:

  • Figma, Adobe XD, or similar: Experience with these collaborative UI/UX prototyping tools is strongly preferred, indicating a modern approach to interface design.

• 3D Rendering/CAD (Plus):

  • KeyShot, Strata 3D CX: Some knowledge is a plus for visualizing product forms and renders.
  • Solid Edge or other 3D CAD software: Basic familiarity is a plus, suggesting an understanding of product form and manufacturing considerations.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the core design responsibilities, but awareness of how design integrates with the broader product development and market deployment process can be an advantage.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on visual design and UI/UX tools, reflecting the core responsibilities of the role. Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite is a must, with Figma/XD being highly desirable.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Saving and Sustaining Lives: This is Baxter's overarching mission, driving the purpose behind all product development and design efforts.

• Courage, Trust, and Collaboration: These are core cultural pillars, suggesting an environment where open communication, mutual respect, and teamwork are paramount.

• Ownership and Accountability: Individuals are empowered to take responsibility for their work and are held accountable for delivering results, fostering a proactive and results-oriented culture.

• Efficiency and Effectiveness: A focus on optimizing processes and achieving high-quality outcomes is expected, especially in a regulated industry.

• User-Centricity: Implicitly, a strong value is placed on understanding and designing for the end-user (patients, healthcare professionals).

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with diverse teams (R&D, Engineering, Marketing), necessitating strong communication and ability to work with different disciplines.

• Feedback Exchange: An environment where designers receive and provide constructive feedback is essential for iterative design improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: While specific to the design team, expect opportunities to learn from more experienced designers and contribute to a shared knowledge base.

📝 Enhancement Note: Baxter's stated values directly influence the operational culture, emphasizing purpose-driven work, strong teamwork, and a commitment to quality and efficiency within the design and product development processes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Design Vision with Technical Constraints: Medical devices have stringent safety, regulatory, and technical requirements that can limit design freedom. Learning to navigate these constraints effectively is a key challenge.

• Translating Abstract Concepts into Tangible Designs: Effectively visualizing and communicating complex medical device features and interfaces requires strong conceptual and visual skills.

• Working in a Regulated Environment: Understanding and adhering to industry standards and regulations (e.g., FDA guidelines) adds a layer of complexity to the design process.

• Adapting to Hybrid Workflows: Effectively collaborating and maintaining productivity across both in-office and remote work settings can present logistical and communication challenges.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Medical Device Design Specialization: Deepen understanding of design principles specifically applied to healthcare and medical technology.

• User Interface (UI) & User Experience (UX) Best Practices: Gain practical experience in designing intuitive and effective interfaces for complex systems.

• Industry Software Mastery: Become highly proficient in industry-standard design tools like Adobe Creative Suite and UI/UX prototyping platforms.

• Cross-Functional Project Exposure: Learn about the broader product development lifecycle by interacting with engineering, marketing, and regulatory teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are specific to the medical device design field, highlighting the need for adaptability and a strong understanding of both creative and practical constraints. Growth opportunities are focused on skill specialization and industry-specific knowledge.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process: "Walk me through a project from your portfolio. What was the problem, your approach, and the outcome?" Focus on explaining your thought process, how you applied HCI principles, and the tools you used.

• Software Proficiency: "Describe your experience with Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop. How have you used them in past projects?" Be specific about features and applications. "What are your thoughts on Figma vs. Adobe XD for UI design?"

• Problem-Solving: "Imagine we need to design a new interface for a diabetes monitoring device. What are your initial thoughts on user needs and design considerations?" Think about target users, key functionalities, and potential challenges.

• Collaboration: "How do you handle receiving critical feedback on your designs?" Emphasize openness to feedback and a collaborative approach to improvement.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Baxter and the medical device industry?" Research Baxter's mission, products, and recent news. Connect your interest to their work in "Saving and Sustaining Lives."

• "How do you approach working in a hybrid environment?" Discuss your strategies for effective communication and collaboration across remote and in-office settings.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, frame it as a narrative with a clear beginning (problem), middle (your process and solutions), and end (impact/outcome).

• Highlight Your Role: Clearly define your specific contributions, especially in team projects.

• Focus on UI/HCI: Dedicate time to explaining your UI design decisions, user flows, and how you applied HCI principles.

• Showcase Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, and prototypes. Explain why you made certain visual choices.

• Be Concise: Aim for 3-5 minutes per project, allowing time for questions. Be prepared to dive deeper into specific areas if asked.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a solid understanding of design principles, technical tool proficiency, and the ability to articulate one's thought process and collaborate effectively, all within the context of the medical device industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Industrial Design Co-op position:

• Submit your application through the Baxter careers portal (https://baxter.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/baxter/job/Batesville-Indiana/UX-UI-Industrial-Design-Co-op_JR-199292).

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight UI/UX design, concept visualization, and graphic design relevant to technical or medical products. Ensure it clearly demonstrates your application of HCI principles and proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and/or Figma/XD.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your academic major, relevant coursework, any design-related projects, and technical skills. Use keywords found in the job description (e.g., Industrial Design, UX/UI, Adobe Creative Suite, HCI, concept visualization).

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, software usage, and problem-solving approaches. Research Baxter's mission and products to show genuine interest. Be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail.

• Company Research: Understand Baxter's commitment to "Saving and Sustaining Lives" and how design contributes to this mission. Familiarize yourself with their product categories and the importance of user-centered design in the medical device sector.

⚠️ 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.