IDEO CxD '24 Fellowship Application

IDEO CxD Fellowship Application
Calling all Creative Problem Solvers! If you consider yourself a curious person with a desire to leverage your imagination to solve problems in new ways, we invite you to apply to our Color by Design (CxD) Fellowship.

The CxD Fellowship is an immersive 9 month program. It starts with a 3 month, part-time training course with RepresentEd Leadership. Followed by a 6 month, paid full-time design fellowship with IDEO.

The application deadline is Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 at 11:59pm PT.

Eligibility to apply:
- You are authorized to work in the US and do not require sponsorship to work in the US either now or in the future.
- You are local (or within commuting distance) to one of the following IDEO offices:
  - San Francisco (CA)
  - Chicago (IL)
  - Cambridge (MA)
- Available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-7:30pm (PST) from September 26th - December 20th, 2024 to participate in the professional training course.
- Available for full-time work from January - June 2025.
- Available to participate in the full 9 month program from September 26th, 2024 - June 30, 2025.
More information:
CxD is a RepresentEd Leadership program created in partnership with IDEO. Together RepresentEd Leadership and IDEO are invested in transforming the boundaries of the human-centered design practice by ushering in a new generation of designers through a program that combines both training to prepare you for your first design role as well as on-the-job learning.

This year’s CxD Fellowship Program is focused on Interaction Design. Interaction Designers help make the invisible, visible. They take ideas and make them more tangible. Their goal is to facilitate the interactions between users and their products / services / experiences.

This year IDEO will host CxD Fellows in three of their US hubs, San Francisco (CA), Chicago (IL), and Cambridge (MA).

Color by Design (CxD) is RepresentEd Leadership's fellowship program designed for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color). RepresentEd prepares non-traditional students and early stage first generation professionals of color to make a great impact in spaces of power and privilege.

Please read below for more application details.

QUALIFICATIONS

We are looking for Fellows who can demonstrate...

Prototyping: Proficiency in creating tangible prototypes quickly and effectively. Can bring ideas to life physically, visually, and/or digitally by understanding and exercising the value of build-to-think mentality.

User-Centricity: Proven ability to focus on user needs and incorporate insights into the design process. Experience building awareness for the perspectives of others, as well as advocating for the end users.

Creative Problem-Solving: Effectiveness in identifying and addressing design challenges. Ability to generate and visualize unique ideas. Willingness and ability to refine and improve designs based on testing.

Strong Communication: Can present ideas, learnings and decisions with clarity and rationale. Ability to take concepts and turn them into a story as a way to pitch ideas or build alignment on a team.

SKILLS
- Comfort + proficiency designing high-fidelity prototypes using prototyping tools:
  - I.e: Sketch, Figma, Adobe CC Suite, Miro, Axure RP, Origami studio, InVision Studio, Framer, Principle, HTML/CSS/JS, etc.
- Is familiar with or has learned about one or a combination of the following: visual, motion, systems, service, or digital design.
CORE ATTRIBUTES

Resiliency & Optimism: Even under pressure, you know how to maintain your professional performance and personal well-being. You see setbacks as learning opportunities, and prioritize progress over perfection.

Adaptability & Flexibility: You adjust to new conditions, challenges, and environments quickly. You are open to change and can manage multiple priorities at once.

Initiative & Focus: When faced with a new challenge, you are curious and proactive in finding a new path forward. You help teammates get unstuck. You don’t wait around for the answer to present itself, you design the answer as you go.

If you need support or have any issues with submitting your application, please email dvine@representedleadership.org.
Please see the PDF below to learn more about Interaction Design with IDEO.

Contact Information
Name*

First NameLast Name
Date of Birth*

MonthDayYear
Date
Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Is it okay to contact you with updates through text message?*

YesNo
Email*
example@example.com
Mailing Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Do you currently have authorization to work in the United States?

YesNoType option 3Type option 4
If yes, will you require sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B visa, etc.) now or in the future?

YesNo

Education Background
Please provide your education history using the fields below*
Are you a current or past:

EOP StudentPell Grant RecipientFirst Generation StudentTransfer StudentN/A

Access & Availability
Please confirm that you are available for orientation and training on Thursday, September 19th, 2024 6-7pm(PST)?*

Yes, I am availableNo, I am not available
The 3 month bootcamp will consist of seminars occurring twice per week, and will be conducted virtually. Please confirm you have consistent access to a computer and internet connection to virtually conduct work, collaborate on Zoom, and communicate through Messaging Apps?*

YesNo
This year IDEO is hosting CxD fellows in three of their US hubs. Fellows will be expected to work in-person in the office between 3-4 days a week. We will not cover any relocation or moving costs. We ask that you please confirm you will be permanently based in one of these hubs from January - June 2025:*

San FranciscoCambridgeChicago

Personal Statement

Please provide written (Max of 300 words) OR video-recorded (Max of 2 minutes) responses to the following questions.
PROMPT: RepresentEd Leadership’s Values are Equity, Empowerment, Progress, and Connection. Choose one value that resonates with you the most and provide a specific example of when you have seen this value in action in the real world. Please describe the context, the actions taken, and the impact it had on you and others.
Please upload your response to the prompt below*

Max of 300 words (written) OR 2 minutes (recorded)
Cancelof
Please upload your resume below*

Cancelof

Portfolio or Work Sample

As part of your application for the fellowship, we require you to submit a portfolio of your work or at least one work sample that showcases your skills and accomplishments. This submission is a critical component of your application and will be used to assess your qualifications and suitability for the fellowship.
If you are uploading a Portfolio:

A portfolio is a curated collection of your professional work that demonstrates your skills, experiences, and achievements. It provides evidence of your abilities and allows reviewers to evaluate your suitability for the fellowship. Your portfolio can include various types of work samples, such as reports, presentations, designs, articles, research papers, and more.

Your submission should meet the following criteria:

Relevance: Include a diverse range of projects that demonstrate your expertise and versatility.

Clarity and Organization: Make sure your portfolio is well-organized and easy to navigate. Clear labels, descriptions, and a logical flow will help reviewers understand your work better.

Originality: All submitted work should be your original creation. If the work was created as part of a team, clearly indicate your contributions.

Confidentiality: Ensure that your submission does not contain any proprietary or confidential information.
If you are uploading a Work Sample:

Please submit a work sample and brief explanation that demonstrates your creative problem-solving skills and ability to translate ideas into tangible outcomes. This should be a project or artifact that you have previously completed, ideally within the context of an academic or professional project.

Your submission should meet the following criteria:

Previous Work: The work sample should be something you have already completed. Please keep in mind that this submission should not require significant additional work. We value your time,and your ability to showcase existing work that represents your skills effectively.

Relevance: Choose a project that best demonstrates your ability to take an idea and make it tangible, whether through prototypes, designs, or other tangible outputs.

Brief Explanation: Along with your submission, provide a brief explanation (approximately 200-300 words) that describes the project, the problem you were addressing, your approach to solving it, and the outcome achieved. Highlight any creative solutions you implemented and how you made the idea tangible.

Originality: All submitted work should be your original creation. If the work was created as part of a team, clearly indicate your contributions.

Confidentiality: Ensure that your submission does not contain any proprietary or confidential information.
Are you uploading a Portfolio or a Work Sample*

Work SamplePortfolio
Please submit here:

Cancelof
If you submitted a work sample, please respond to this section: Please provide a brief explanation (approximately 200-300 words) that describes the project, the problem you were addressing, your approach to solving it, and the outcome achieved. Highlight any creative solutions you implemented and how you made the idea tangible. (If you submitted a portfolio please respond N/A.)*

IDEO CxD Fellowship Application

Contact Information

Education Background

Access & Availability

Personal Statement

Portfolio or Work Sample

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