Blurb:
Open Style Lab is looking for fellows who would be interested in our 8-week intensive summer program to cocreate innovative accessible footwear kits and packaging through transformative co-design with disabled experts. This is our 9th OSL Summer Program which is a Smithsonian National Design Award-Winning incubator that cultivates an incredible community of innovative creative leaders. The summer program runs from June to August at Newlab in Brooklyn Navy Yards, NY.
About Open Style Lab:
Launched at MIT as a public service program in 2014, Open Style Lab (501c3) runs a 6-10 week intensive summer program that multidisciplinary teams such as engineers, designers, and occupational therapy students and professionals collaborate hands-on to cocreate innovative wearable solutions with and by people with disabilities.
Proven Impact:
Previous program outcomes have been featured at New York Fashion Week and showcased at esteemed institutions such as the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in NYC, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich in Zurich and the upcoming Victoria and Albert Museum in London June 2025.
Calling for:
- Physical Designers (Packaging, Product, Industrial, Architecture, Fashion, etc.)
- Graphic Designers (Skills in packaging and prototyping)
- Industrial or Product Engineer
- Occupational Therapists / Physical Therapists
- Disabled Expert Fellows (Individuals with lived experience of disability)
Program duration:
June – August, 2025
- Preprogram Meeting (End of May)
- 8 Weeks of Programming
- 1 Final Exhibition
Commitment Expectation:
Pre-program meetup: Friday, May 30
First 2 weeks (Fully Virtual) (Third and fourth week of June starting 6/16)
- Three weeknight virtual calls (2 hrs each)
- Virtual Saturday calls (3 hrs)
6 weeks (Hybrid) July 7-August 16:
- Saturdays: Full day programs 9:30-5pm
- Day of your teams choosing: Full lab days for 4 weeks from 7/13-8/3
- Three weeknight virtual calls (2 hrs each)
- Final exhibition 8/16 (TBD)
- Independent project work throughout the week.
Stipend:
$1500 per team for material costs. If fellows require need-based financial support to go towards travel, accommodation, and food, they can apply through the corresponding question in the form.
Application forms and more information are available on our website at https://www.openstylelab.org/incubator/osl-summer-program.
The application deadline has been extended to March 31st.