CREATIVE LEAD FELLOWSHIP - TOY/PRODUCT DESIGN (wood)

Overview

Role: Creative Lead Fellow - Toy/Product Design (wood)

Location: Los Altos, CA (San Francisco Bay Area)

Eligibility: Graduating Seniors, Graduate Students and Alumni

About DesignX

DesignX is a boutique education company in the heart of Silicon Valley, dedicated to preparing the next generation of creatives. We guide students ages 7–15 to discover and develop their unique creative voice through specialized programs in fashion, toy, product, and architecture design.

At DesignX, we remain firmly grounded in the timeless power of human ingenuity. We believe that the essence of creativity is rooted in imagination, interpretation, and craft – no matter the technologies. Our programs cultivate lasting capabilities—creativity, discernment, collaboration, and hands-on making—preparing young creatives, and the fellows who guide them, to thrive in a world where tools may evolve, but the human spirit of design endures.

Over the past decade, DesignX has inspired more than 7,000 young creators across Silicon Valley, equipping them with confidence, design literacy, and capabilities that extend far beyond the classroom.

The Fellowship

The Creative Lead Fellowship in Product Design is conceived as a formative professional experience for emerging designers and educators.

As a fellow, you will be entrusted with leading students through the complete design process—framing problems, fostering discovery, and guiding the creation of tangible products. Along the way, you will refine your creative judgment, strengthen your leadership, and practice mentoring in a fast-paced studio-like setting. Technology may enable aspects of ideation, yet the true emphasis lies in cultivating the human dimensions of design: imagination, discernment, collaboration, and craft.

Fellowship Responsibilities

●      Lead through practice: Mentor students from concept development to finished products, introducing them to woodworking and other fabrication techniques while advancing your own interpretive and design capabilities.

●      Engage AI with rigor: Use AI thoughtfully as an enabling tool, while developing the discernment to refine and contextualize its outputs.

●      Elevate execution: Focus on framing challenges, coaching learners, and cultivating critical reasoning in the execution of ideas.

●      Develop leadership acumen: Hone skills in delegation, communication, and studio management through direct responsibility for class teams.

●      Advance through mentorship: Work closely with senior staff who will challenge assumptions, broaden perspectives, and invest in your growth.

●      Deliver with distinction: Plan and execute six collections of age-appropriate soft-toys, executing 10–15 unique concepts weekly (80+ toys) in a fast-paced, studio-like environment.

Candidate Profile

●      Demonstrated proficiency in product design, industrial design, or related fields, with hands-on experience in woodworking, prototyping, and material exploration.

●      A commitment to growth—not only as a designer but as a leader, mentor, and critical thinker.

●      Intellectual curiosity and the ability to use AI as a tool while strengthening the uniquely human capabilities that give design its meaning—intentionality, emotional resonance, cultural context, and the craft of making.

●      Enthusiasm for working with young learners, combined with empathy, patience, and the ability to inspire.

●      Reliability, professionalism, and openness to feedback in a collaborative environment.

Fellowship Details 

●      Program Dates: June 15 – July 26, 2026

●      Onboarding & Preparation: June 11 – 12, 2026

●      Commitment: Full-time

●      Compensation: Competitive

Application

Please submit: Cover Letter, Resume, and Portfolio