join
Our community grows every quarter, and we would love to have you too! Together we can tackle innovative human-centered design projects and help each other become better UX thinkers. Below are different ways you can be involved in DI.
Our Structure
Design Fellows
Our Fellowship program is a community of UCD students passionate about design and human-centered problem-solving. Fellows will have access to the DI alumni network, a design challenge, and internal events.
Design Associates
Mentored by industry designers, these teams of experienced designers tackle exploratory, out-of-the-box problems and walk away with a portfolio-ready project.
Design Fellows
Design Associates
Design Sprint
4 weeks
6 weeks
Time Commitment
2-3 hours per week
4-6 hours per week
Requirements
An interest in human-centered design / user experience and a passion to learn.
Significant knowledge of UX design shown through a portfolio. The portfolio can include UX case studies from internships, DES 112, or personal passion projects.
Quarters Offered
Fall, Winter, Spring
Fall, Winter, Spring
Our General Sprint Process
Each DI project follows the industry’s standard structure. Our design process is split into six sprints: research, ideation, wire-frame iteration, testing, prototyping, and presenting. These projects range from redesign to exploratory themes and come with guidance from a mentor or board members.
Fall 2026 Recruitment Timeline
TUE, SEP 29 | 10AM-2PM | PHILZ COFFEE
Coffee Chats
Get to know our board members, get advice on applications and more.
Cohort Applications Due
The Cohort application will be due at 11:59PM PT; submit through the application form.
WED, SEP 30TH | 6-8PM | TLC 1215
Kickoff + Application Workshop
Come meet our community and learn more about all DI has to offer!
FRI, OCT 9TH | 11:59PM
Fellowship Applications Due
The Fellowship application will be due at 11:59PM PT; submit through the application form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be a Design Major?
Absolutely not! We take people of all majors — from Economics to Cognitive Science to Statistics! We give no preference to particular majors, as great design teams are built from diverse backgrounds.
I'm new to design/UX/product design. Should I still apply?
If you are just beginning your UX journey, we strongly encourage you to apply to our Fellowship where you'll have the opportunity to interact with other aspiring designers and access help & educational resources we've curated for you!
Am I required to attend Recruitment events to apply?
Attendance is not required to apply, but we still want to get to know you! Talking to a board member is a great networking opportunity and will help you better prepare your application.
What can I expect to learn by being a part of DI?
Whether you're a part of our Cohort or Fellowship, be ready to —
Practice the human-centered design method by being passionate about understanding the user's perspective when developing solutions to problems.
Pick up and practice different design techniques (ex. user research, usability testing) and tools (ex. Figma) critical to the field.
Work collaboratively in teams, balance opinions and reach agreement, and help support each other's growth.
FALL 2026
Recruitment