The MIDEVA
Design & Innovation
Fellowship
An immersive 6-month experience to build and advance your future in research, human-centered design and social innovation
Applications open until May 31st, 2025
Overview
The Mideva Design & Innovation Fellowship provides an immersive environment for young professionals to develop the skills, mindsets, work experience, network, and credibility necessary for advancing their careers in research, design, and innovation.
Skill Development
Fellows develop and refine their skills in human-centered design and gain a broader understanding of innovation in practice.
Collaborative Approach
The fellowship bridges the gap between design education, industry, and impact by uniting diverse stakeholders to drive innovation.
Real-World Projects
Bring viable solutions to life through projects that address real challenges and create meaningful impact.
Clear Pathways
At the end of the fellowship, fellows transition to careers in design and innovation or embark on their journey in entrepreneurship and venture creation.
As a Mideva Design and Innovation
Fellow,
you will:
Apply human-centered design
Learn mindsets and principles from experienced practitioners and leaders.
Collaborate on impactful projects
Work with peers, practitioners, and organizations on real-life projects.
Enhance essential skills
Develop leadership, strategic thinking, project management, and other 21st-century skills.
Explore emerging technologies
Learn about generative AI and innovative business models that can transform societies.
Discover best practices
Explore life-centered design, futuring, circularity, sustainability, and regenerative thinking.
Build your career
Establish credibility, brand, and community to advance professionally
Fellowship Programs
The 2025 Mideva Design and Innovation Fellowship offers two distinct 6-month programs
In-person Fellowship (Nairobi)
Accelerate Your Design and innovation Career in an in-person environment. Learn alongside others and interact with experienced practitioners and leaders.
Commitment:
3 days per week for 6 months
Project:
Pre-selected projects or topics
Learning model:
Remote Fellowship Track (Africa)
Drive Impact & Innovation from Anywhere. For professionals looking to apply human-centered design to real-life projects or kickstart their journey in Africa impact innovation.
Commitment:
15 hours a week (learning and practice) for 6 months
Project:
Cohort-inspired project, participant-inspired project, or Mideva-inspired social projects
Learning model:
Fellowship Structure
A comprehensive 6-month journey to develop your design and innovation skills
Our Approach
Facilitated learning and coaching sessions with experienced practitioners
Immersion in real-time design projects with partner organizations
Peer learning and collaborative working sessions
Immersion in diverse work environments
Practice of design leadership skills
Field and community immersion experiences
Learning Methods
Month-by-Month Breakdown
Month 1
Design Topics:
- Kick off Bootcamp (in-person & virtual)
- HCD in practice (Design Sprint)
- Life-centered Design
- Ethics in research
Design Leadership:
- Leadership &
- DesignWorking in teams & collaboration
- Tools & Technologies
Month 2
Design Topics:
- Innovation & Opportunity Identification
- Project Scoping
- Project briefs & concept brief
Design Leadership:
- Project Management Best Practices
- Creating Presentations
Month 3
Design Topics:
- Design Research
- Remote research
- Research with AI
- Synthesis & Insight Generation
Design Leadership:
- Data & Decisions
- Workshop facilitation
Month 4
Design Topics:
- Prototyping & Testing
- Behavioral Design
- Business Design
- Product design
Design Leadership:
- Relationship building
- Business Development
Month 5
Design Topics:
- Project Immersion
- Communication Design
- Sustainable innovations
- Systems Thinking
Design Leadership:
- Storytelling
- Portfolio development
Month 6
Design Topics:
- Project Immersion
- Report development and presentation
- Portfolio Development
Design Leadership:
- Building networks
- Innovation to Business
What the Fellowship Offers
A comprehensive experience to accelerate your career in design and innovation
Immersive Learning Experience
Gain practical experience in human-centered design, behavioral design, and other innovation methodologies through workshops, training, coaching, and real-world projects.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Participate alongside fellows from diverse backgrounds, including marketing, design, engineering, psychology, and business.
Portfolio
Development
Build a strong portfolio by working on real-world design projects and receiving feedback from facilitators and practitioners.
Industry Exposure
Learn about the latest trends, tools, and best practices in human-centered design and innovation across various industries and sectors.
Personal & Professional Growth
Enhance your creativity, critical thinking, empathy, communication, project management, and leadership abilities throughout the fellowship.
Mentorship &
Guidance
Receive mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals in human-centered design, including valuable insights and feedback.
This Year's Learning Projects
Fellows will focus on solving real-world challenges in these key areas:
Wellbeing, Health and Rethinking Care for the Future
Future of Work and Digital Transformation
Future of Food & Food
Systems
Past Fellowship Projects
How might we build meaningful and exciting career pathways and income opportunities for young people in Africa?
How might we better support early-stage social entrepreneurs in East Africa to build viable and scalable impactful businesses?
How might we better support working mothers during their first 6 months of the Exclusive Breastfeeding journey?
Ready to Transform Your Career?
Cohort 6: Fellowship program will run between July 2025 and December 2025.
Please apply by May 31st, 2025.
For any questions or inquiries, contact us at info@mideva.co
Let’s Work Together
Whether you are looking to bring an idea to life or you are looking to implement a complex impactful project, or you are looking to infuse design and innovation in your work, processes, teams, and projects, or you are looking to design and implement programs and services for innovators, we are here for you.
We help teams and organizations bring ideas to life through research, design and innovation.
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