Is an internship necessary for a career in graphic design?

Can I do unpaid internship at a design studio in India, before considering it as a career option?

• I have completed my graduation but it's no way related to design. I was considering design as a career option but first I need to do internship at some design studio before going for some course. I want to see and experience what designing is all about and how it is like to work in a design studio and do I really like designing. Do design studios in India allow unpaid internships? Is there such a trend in India? If so, where can I find internships in Maharashtra (preferably Pune) ? Do students from NID who come from a different field do internships before taking admission for the course?

• Answer:

  There are a number of design studios in Pune and you should knock at their doors. Who knows which door will open? Your question does not say what kind of design you are interested in (graphic, product, textile, retail...??) or in what way you might have equipped yourself in small ways at least to join the design industry even as an unpaid internee. For instance, what sort of design skills do you have (even at a basic level) or what visual software you might have some knowledge in. It might also be good if you mentioned your initial idea of what design stream you might want to choose after the "internship". Some of the design studios in Pune are listed here: http://www.designinindia.net/resources/industry/firms/industrial-design.html