Our 6-10 week summer incubator program provides a diverse community for learning about inclusive design, adaptive fashion and collaborative research with people with disabilities. From partnerships with corporations to educational institutions, we explore a different theme each year.

2024 Open Style Lab Summer Program OPEN CALL!!

Over 6 weeks, we will dive deep into accessible footwear. Participating fellows will be invited to work in a hands-on, cross-disciplinary environment, collaborating with the disability community to explore challenges and design style-led adaptive footwear solutions. The fellowship will focus on functionality, comfort and style. Throughout this workshop, you will have the opportunity to work with experts in the field of inclusive design and gain access to Open Style Lab’s extensive database of over 10 years of learnings in inclusive design and fashion.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join Open Style Lab’s award-winning summer program that equips makers and designers with the skills to design with people with disabilities and problem-solve with style and beauty for a more inclusive world.

It is a chance to rethink design norms, innovate for better design for all and meet an amazing collective of creatives who design with soul, purpose, joy and empowerment. Let’s challenge perceptions of human ability and the body through design and technology!

Currently, we offer three types of fellowship engagements for the program.

Expectations and Requirements

Fellows will undertake research (online and in-person collaboration) from June to July for 6 weeks, meeting in person every Saturday and on two weekday evenings over Zoom. We will explore the challenges surrounding accessible footwear and develop prototypes together with people with disabilities at every stage of the footwear design process.

Fellow Time Commitment Expectations:

  • Every Saturday in person (9-5pm) + 1 day of each team’s choosing of lab work
  • 2 evenings (1.5 hrs) of virtual lecture attendance

Application Requirements:

  • Resume or CV
  • Portfolio (design and film fellows only)
  • Completion of assignment that involves a written or creative task and short video (depending on fellow type)
  • *Must be a US Citizen
  • There is a $1500 stipend for all fellows, though additional financial support may be available for those who apply (optional)

About the Program

During the fellowship, fellows learn and create inclsuively designed footwear. Teams are formed to develop a range of prototypes, both digital and physical, demonstrating the application of design principles in real-world scenarios.

Teams are given resources to carry out work with people with disabilities to co-fabricate and prototype ideas.

Fellows will also be given a wide range of resources, including educational material and lectures from prominent figures in the disabled community and the design world. Topics will range from disability history and past OSL examples to inclusive design principles.

By the end of the program, each team will share design projects and receive feedback from prominent guest lecturers, mentors and judges from academia and different industries during a final showcase to the public. See our 2020 showcase collaboration with MDA HERE
Currently, we offer three types of fellowship engagements for the program: Design, OT or PT and Film Fellow.
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Open Style Lab is seeking applications from members of the disability and non-disabled community a.k.a experts, designers, occupational therapists and film fellows interested in participating in our eighth summer program.

  • All fellows must have at least 1 year of work experience in their field and be able to commute to Manhattan, New York. Film and Design Fellows will be asked to share a portfolio with a CV.

  • Must be a US citizen.

June 10th - July 27th
Virtual induction week starting June 10th
June 15th-July 27th: In-person meetings every Saturday

Expectations:
1 in-person day every Saturday (9am-5pm) and 1 day of lab work with your team on any other day of your team’s choosing
2 evenings (1.5 hr) of virtual lecture attendance

Fellows will contribute to the growing body of research and collaboration synergy at OSL by creating tools, learning methods and designs related to accessible footwear challenges.
Manhatten, New York City
Selected fellows will be offered a stipend for travel expenses, fees and material costs of at least $1500. If you need additional financial support, please fill out the corresponding question in the form.
Nope! However, if you are accepted to the program, there will be a $100 fee to confirm your participation.
  • Max 500 words from everyone on: Why you want to join OSL 2024 and what you hope to gain from it.
  • Resume or CV
  • A detailed portfolio (max 5 pages and optimized) that is tailored to the OSL mission and one or more of the following fields in design: Fashion Design, Accessories/Footwear design, adaptive clothing, or wearable technology.
  • Assignment :Video submission (between 30 seconds to 1 minute) on how you would make shoes more accessible for those with challenges with upper limb strength and dexterity. It is important for us to see your thought/design process and methodologies.
  • Example 1) Altering everyday sneakers for those with challenges with upper limb strength and dexterity.
  • Example 2) 3D-rendering of a closure or tool that you think will help those with upper limb strength and dexterity challenges put on shoes more efficiently.
  • Max 500 words from everyone on: why you want to join OSL 2024 and what you hope to gain from it.
  • Detailed fieldwork description resume from OT

Assignment:
▪ 1. Create and submit an assessment on how you would look at dressing for your client. What task analysis guideline will you make to observe and report the challenges of dressing. (ex) - putting on a pair of sneakers.
▪ 2. Submit a short description or sketch of a footwear closure that you think will help people with disabilities put on shoes more efficiently. (ex- buttons, zippers).

  • Max 500 words from everyone on: Why you want to join OSL 2024 and what you hope to gain from it.
  • Resume or CV
  • A detailed portfolio that displays storytelling around social good, capturing subtleties and nuances often missed (a link to 1-2 of your best work is suggested).
  • Assignment: Submit a short 30-second trailer of storytelling of a person’s day (interview and observation), capturing their personhood through subtlety and nuances.

Footwear challenges from the community