Design without Borders (DwB) Africa Design 2025 Fellowship Programme.

Applications are now open for the 2025 Design without Borders (DwB) Africa Design Fellowship Program. Design without Borders (DwB) is a product and service design consultancy with a main office in Kampala, Uganda. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, formal technical training in product and service design is still limited. Therefore as part of the mission to support growing design talent, DwB launched the biennial Africa Design Fellowship program.

The fellowship will be conducted using project-based learning in addition to lectures on key design fundamentals facilitated by the highly skilled DwB designers and esteemed guest speakers. The 4-month curriculum will engage the fellows through real-life challenges with the aim to expose the participants to an array of design methods, tools and processes that aid the development of practical solutions. Participants will engage in all stages of the design process and deepen their understanding of people, objects, environments, and systems as critical to any design challenge.

Eligibility Requirements

Fellowship participants must have earned a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in the fields of Design, Architecture, Engineering, Public Health and Sociology.

A high level of critical thinking, creativity, and great teamwork abilities.

Should have the capability to attend the program in Kampala, Uganda.

Duration: 

The fellowship is scheduled to run from February with expected completion in May 2025. Selected candidates should be available during this time. Fellows will be expected to meet at the DwB office for 2-3 days of the week. Final dates and schedules will be communicated with selected candidates.

At the end of the fellowship the participants can expect to:

● Gain valuable knowledge of the HCD approach and methods through hands-on practice and lectures from DwB staff.

● Learn and practice design communication skills, such as sketching, mock-up building, giga mapping, prototyping, etc.

● familiar with contextual challenges in local production and manufacturing.

● Engage in field research and learn how to facilitate constructive dialogue, workshops and collaboration with communities in co-design.

● Gain deeper knowledge of production methods and material usage.

● Gain experience in designing with people through immersive stakeholder engagement.

The training will tackle the following key thematic modules;

● Design & contextual influence

● Fundamentals of Industrial Product Design

● Fundamentals of Service and Systems design

● The Human-Centred Design Approach

● Behavioral Science Application in Design

● Design & Innovation

● Community co-design

● Professional practice & work ethics

Benefits & Compensation include;

A weekly stipend to cater for meals and transport will be availed for the entire duration of the fellowship.

Fellowship resource pack

Opportunity to be retained on the DwB design team at completion.

A chance to play a key role in creating the change that transforms lives.​

Please note that applicants not living within Uganda are expected to cover their own travel and related costs to attend the fellowship in this country.

Method of Application

For More Information,

Visit the Official Webpage

Application Deadline: November 30, 2024.