IDEO.

org Fellowship Program FAQs

What is the IDEO.org Fellowship Program?
The Fellowship Program brings unique individuals with design, business, and social sector backgrounds into IDEO.org for a 12 month-period. While there, Fellows will work to apply human-centered design to improving the lives of people in low-income communities. Three of the Fellows will be senior designers from IDEO and serve an important part in helping share the approach and methodologies of design thinking. They will act as project leads and guide their teams through the design process. The remaining Fellows will be selected from around the globe for their demonstrated leadership skills in the private, social, and design realms. We intend for the learning from this intensive experience to filter into our Fellows future work related to the challenges of poverty.

What makes a person eligible for the IDEO.org Fellowship Program?

Were looking for candidates to have at least 5 years of professional full-time work experience, or a graduate degree plus 3 years of work experience. Proficiency in English is a must. Individuals from the design, business, and social sectors who can help our teams deliver great work for our partner organizations are our ideal candidates. You should be passionate about social innovation, have experience working in the developing world or with lowincome communities, work well in teams, be clear and articulate in describing your ideas, and love flexing your creative muscles. Were striving for diversity in our Fellowship Classes. If you are from outside of the U.S., well help you with the Visa application process if you are selected as a Fellow. Fellows will have access to basic health insurance during their time in the Fellowship.

How do I apply?
Click here to begin the process. You will be prompted to fill out and upload the following items listed here. phase one Please include the following items in your initial submission. 1. A current resume 2. A one-page cover letter articulating why IDEO.org and you are a fit. 3. 500 words (or less) telling us about an experience youve had with a culture other than your own that changed your perspective in some way. Different cultural experiences are up to you to define. It can be a different city, village or country.

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4. OpenIDEO challenge submission Participate in a current OpenIDEO challenge (add inspiration, comment on someone elses idea, submit an idea, etc.) We encourage you to participate in the current challenge to show us how you think and work in an open collaborative environment. Please submit your user name with your application. 5. Portfolio link/work samples If applying as a designer, please include a link to your portfolio or provide work samples. Please indicate your role and contribution for each project submitted. There is a 5 mb limit on uploading your portfolio. phase two If you are selected for Phase Two, IDEO.org will contact you to prepare the following materials. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 1. Short Visual Story Create a visual story about something more youd like us to know about you. Use photos, video, drawing, or whatever visual medium seems most appropriate for you. The visual story is an open-ended question that asks you to visually express something you want us to know about you. We are really interested in your creativity, but also want to see how well you can succinctly tell your story. 2. One letter of recommendation from a professional or academic contact. What do other people think of your potential to do great things as an IDEO.org Fellow? We would love to hear from them. Please submit one reference from a professional or academic context using the format and questions provided.

What is the timeline for the application process? When are Fellows chosen and notified?
December 9th, 2011 Fellowship application due December 23rd, 2011 Phase 2 candidates notified January 13th, 2012 Visual story due February 20th-March 2nd, 2012 Applicant interviews Mid-late March, 2012 Fellows selected and notified

How long will each class of Fellows be in the Fellowship Program?

The Fellowship Program will start on August 6th, 2012 and end on July 12th, 2013.

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What happens after Fellows complete the program?

Our hope is that after the Fellowship Program, Fellows will take the knowledge and tools they have gained and apply it to future work in the social sector. We intend to build a network of individuals who have gone through the Fellowship Program who can use each other as resources in the future.

Are Fellows compensated during their time in the Fellowship Program?

Fellows will receive a $50,000 living stipend.

Can Fellows bring their spouse, partner, and/or children?

Yes, families are welcome to accompany Fellows during the Fellowship. However, Fellows will be responsible for covering all travel costs, Visa processing, and other living expenses.

Where will Fellows stay?

IDEO.org will provide housing for Fellows relocating for up to one month. Fellows will need to secure accommodations in the Bay Area for the remaining time in the program.

How much travel outside of the Bay Area will be required?

Fellows will travel both domestically and internationally depending on the needs of the project. Teams will likely be on location from 2-4 weeks at a time.

If I have more questions can I set up a time to discuss them with someone from IDEO?
Unfortunately, we will not be able to hold individual conversations about the Fellowship program. However, we will be holding a webinar on Friday, December 2nd at 2:00 pm PST to address additional questions about the program. The webinar will be posted on our website for those unable to attend.

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