AI Research Residency 2026
Open Style Lab (OSL) is initiating a disability-led research residency at the intersection of AI, fashion, and personal style from July 11 - November 13, 2026.
Applications are now open and will be closing on April 22, 2026.
Calling for:
- Disabled Lead Fellow (Lived experience of disability, experienced leadership in the disabled community)
- Fashion Design / Fashion Technologist Fellow (Garment construction, manufacturing, metadata, product page reality)
- Fashion Curation & History Fellow (context, representation, and narrative integrity)
- AI Specialist Fellow (AI behaviour, risks, quick wins, AI ethics)
- Research Fellow (Methodology, synthesis support, and research framing)
- Communications / Data Visualization Fellow (Educational visual design, quick outputs through synthesis)
Apply here or email us at hello@openstylelab.org to find out more.
AI Research Residency
The Residency in a nutshell
OSL brings deep expertise in disability-led design and fashion. As AI rapidly reshapes how people access styling and shopping, we are bringing in technical and research fellows to ensure these systems are informed by lived experience from the outset.
This residency brings people together to explore how current AI systems work, identify key gaps, and define practical standards that help shape more inclusive and creative AI-driven fashion systems.
Why Now?
Personal style is a form of self-expression and autonomy, yet as AI reshapes fashion and shopping, disabled people risk being left in a growing digital blind spot.
Without inclusive standards, these systems are already repeating past accessibility failures. Trained on “average” bodies and experiences, they risk reinforcing exclusion at scale and limiting independence for millions.
Program Details
Dates:
July 11 - November 13, 2026
The Commitment:
The fellowship is a hybrid format, primarily remote and flexible, with two optional in-person sessions and independent collaboration between meetings, designed to accommodate existing professional commitments.
Virtual (x18 sessions):
Weekly Tuesday evenings, 7:30 - 8:30pm EST
Two In-Person Dates (Optional):
* September 11, 2026 (NYC/SVA)
* October 30, 2026 (NYC/SVA)
Participation on in-person sessions is encouraged but not required.
What this Residency is
It is a 4.5-month collaborative research residency bringing together 5 fellows to:
- Examine how AI is currently shaping fashion and personal style
- Identify where systems fail disabled users
- Define practical standards and guidelines for more inclusive AI-driven fashion tools
- Contribute to a published report and industry-facing toolkit
What Fellows gain
Each fellow will receive an honorarium of $1,000 in recognition of time and contribution.
Additional benefits include:
- Work at the forefront of AI, fashion, and disability-led design.
- Shape early thinking and emerging standards in a rapidly evolving field
- Engage with a disability-led community and research environment not typically accessible in industry or academia.
- Collaborate across disciplines and expand your thinking.
- Contribute to a timely, high-impact research initiative.
Application considerations
- The residency is open to US-based applicants or those able to complete a W9 form.
- Please review the fellow role descriptions and apply only to the position that best aligns with your expertise.
- Selected applicants will be invited to an online interview
Join Us!
The Research Residency is ideal for working professionals and grad students.
Join Open Style Lab, combining our expertise in disability and fashion with leading experts across disciplines, to define how AI-driven fashion systems advance inclusive design and expand new creative possibilities.