Become a Fellow

We welcome applicants who feel that their time as a fellow would accelerate their own efforts and contribute to their ongoing professional development as a practicing designer. This program is most suitable for designers whose primary practice would be digital product design or brand/communication design.

Who Can Apply

We seek qualified underrepresented applicants from a wide range of career emergent and self-taught tracks and believe the cross-pollination of these experiences is a benefit of the program. We are currently only taking applicants from U.S. residents.

You must meet one of these practitioner requirements:

If you are enrolled in a traditional design program at a college or university:

An applicant enrolled as a junior or senior in an undergraduate design or design-related (graphic design, interaction design, HCI e.g. ) U.S. educational program.

A student currently enrolled in a graduate program may apply if they have not held a professional role in the design industry for over a year.

OR

If you are enrolled in a bootcamp or other career-switcher oriented program:

An applicant must have successfully completed a design-focused “bootcamp” program within the last two calendar years, and demonstrate continued professional engagement within the field (i.e. on-going freelance work, conference attendance, e.g.)

Current “bootcamp” students must be within 6 months of successful completion of the program.

OR

If you are an early career professional:

An applicant must be within the first 2 years of their first professional full-time design role.

For example, you are self-taught but landed your first job a year ago. You are eligible to apply.

You must supply the following information:

Required Application Materials:

A completed application form.

Current resume or CV

A personal statement

A design portfolio showcasing your work

2 letters of recommendation (of which one should be from a professional capacity). Letters of recommendation must be on official letterhead, signed and contain the writer's email, phone and mailing address.

Proof of meeting the practitioner requirement i.e. offer letter, transcript