DwB Africa Design Fellow

  • Part-time

Company Description

Design without Borders (DwB) is a product and service design consultancy with offices in Kampala, Uganda and in Oslo, Norway. DwB collaborates with multinational partners using user-centred design approaches to develop innovative product and service solutions that meet the needs of the end-users and are relevant to the wider contexts in which they operate. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, formal technical training in product and service design is still limited. Therefore as part of our mission to support growing design talent, DwB launched the Annual Design Fellowship program. 

Are you interested in creating transformational change by design? Learn how to use design as a tool for problem-solving by applying for the 2022 DwB Africa Fellowship today!

About the fellowship

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 3-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.

Job Description

What to Expect?

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.

  • Familiarise 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.

 

Thematic modules

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

  • Design & Innovation

  • Community co-design

  • Professional practice & work ethics

 

Duration

The fellowship is scheduled to run from June with expected completion in September 2022. Selected candidates should be available during this time.  Fellows will be expected to meet at the DwB office full-time for 2-3 days of the week. Final dates and schedules will be communicated with selected candidates.

At the end of the 3 months, outstanding candidates will be selected and hired to join the DwB design team!

Qualifications

  • Fellowship participants must have earned a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Design, Architecture, Engineering, or other fields like Public Health, Sociology, and IT.

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

  • Should currently be living within Eastern Africa with the capability to attend the program in Kampala, Uganda.

Additional Information

Benefits & Compensation include:

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

  • 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.

 

Application deadline

The deadline for submission of all applications is 17th June 2022 at 5 pm, East Africa Time (EAT)

All your information in this process will be kept confidential.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.