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Sprout: A Design Challenge FAQs

Sprout: A Design Challenge is a four-day deep dive where teams, made up of three individuals, get hands-on with human-centered design to tackle a real-world challenge. Imagine it as a human-centered design boot camp—lots of learning, lots of doing, and a coach to guide you every step of the way! Over four days, with a helpful coach, teams journey from start to finish, from idea to prototype.

The event starts on Monday, February 3rd, 2025, and ends on Thursday, February 6th, 2025. The tentative schedule is as follows:

  • Monday: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM CT
  • Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM CT
  • Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM CT
  • Thursday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM CT

We aim to create an exciting virtual environment with some in-person meetups to boost teamwork and creativity. The Incubator program will mostly be online, but you’ll have at least 2 chances to meet in-person with your cohort. In-person event locations will be as centrally located as possible for ease of travel.

Each person on a selected team gets a $2,500 stipend to support transportation, accommodation, and other costs associated with traveling and attending the event. Lunch and snacks will be provided each of the four days of Sprout. All expenses beyond this stipend will need to be covered by the selected teams.

This opportunity is for human-centered design newbies—i.e., teams with little to no human-centered design experience. We’re looking for teams that work well together, have a go-with-the-flow attitude, and are ready to adapt to new challenges.

Everyone’s welcome, but we strongly encourage individuals who identify as women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities and different abilities, and those from underrepresented groups nationwide to apply. We seek within-team diversity, encouraging trios that represent a range of backgrounds, experiences, and areas of expertise.

Read all the application questions.

You will learn by engaging in hands-on activities with your team and getting personalized coaching. You will get better at using human-centered design to solve real problems.

If you shine at Sprout, you may get some bonus points if you choose to apply as an Innovation Development Team to the In/Tend Incubator Hub down the line.

Innovation Development Teams embark on a seven-month journey, where teams use human-centered design to tackle a challenge within the field of adolescent sexual and reproductive health.

Requirements to Apply

Here’s what you need to know to join the fun:

  • Teams must be made up of 3 people.
  • Team members do not have to come from the same organization but must have
    prior experience working together.
  • The team should bring a mix of talents, where each member brings something
    unique to the table.
  • The team should be passionate about improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health.
  • Team members should be adventurous and willing to work with ambiguity.
  • Team members must commit to attending all days of Sprout: A Design Challenge, starting on Monday, February 3, and ending on Thursday, February 6.
  • All team members must be at least 18 years old.
  • All team members are responsible for getting themselves to and from the Sprout venue.
  • No team member should have prior experience in human-centered design.
  • Preference will also be given to teams that consist of the following:
    • Individuals representing historically underserved populations
    • Young people, ages 18 to 24

Don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway!

Studies have shown that historically underserved communities—such as women, people with disabilities and different abilities, LGBTQ+ and people of color—are less likely to apply for opportunities unless they meet every single qualification.

We are dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible space that fosters a sense of belonging—so if you’re excited about this opportunity, we encourage you to still consider applying. Sprout: A Design Challenge might be the right opportunity for you!

Read all the application questions.

Application Timeline

Share

November 13

We first share information about Sprout: A Design Challenge.

Prepare

November 12 – December 1

Use this time to gather your teams and prepare your application! We intentionally provide this period to provide more equitable opportunities for all interested teams to prepare. Read all the application questions.

Apply

December 2 – January 5, 11:59 PM ET

Application portal opens. Submit your application ASAP. The portal closes once we receive 42 submissions, or upon the deadline, whichever comes first.

Review

December 2 – January 17

We review applications.

Invite

January 17

We send invitations to selected teams.

Commit

January 21

Selected teams must sign their contract and confirm participation.

Grow

February 3 – February 6

In/Tend Incubator Cohort 1 begins.

Related Dates

February 17 – March 2 (tentative)

In/Tend Incubator Hub Application opens.

Teams that show great promise during Sprout: A Design Challenge will be encouraged to apply as an Innovation Development Team (IDT) with the In/Tend Incubator Hub and will be given special consideration during the IDT application process.

Selection

Applications are carefully reviewed by an independent selection committee. This committee is made up of experts in innovation and adolescent sexual and reproductive health.

To provide all teams with a dedicated, equitable, and timely review by our selection committee, we must limit the number of submissions to 42. We understand that this is an uncommon application process, and in the spirit of innovation and transparency, we welcome any feedback on this process.

The Selection Committee will be evaluating applications based on:

  • Team Composition & Collaboration: Do they have strategies to promote inclusive and effective communication and collaboration within the team? Are their skills complementary?
  • Excitement & Motivation: Is the team enthusiastic about the opportunity? We’re looking for teams with a genuine passion to learn something new and for making a difference.
  • Experience & Adaptability: What prior experiences have prepared the team for this adventure? How adaptable are they in navigating new situations and learning opportunities?
  • Alignment with Innovation Dynamics: Does the team showcase a creative and innovative approach in their application? Do they show promise for translating ideas into action?
  • Preferred Selection Criteria: We also consider any preferred criteria, such as representation from historically underserved populations or young people ages 18 to 24.

The Selection Committee will be looking for applications that creatively illustrate who the team is and how they effectively work with one another. We are also looking for teams who embody the potential for innovation and show the promise of putting it into action if they were given the opportunity to do so, such as through this Sprout experience, but just have not had a chance to do it yet.

The application portal will close and stop accepting further applications once we receive 42 submissions, or upon reaching January 5th at 11:59 PM ET, whichever comes first. We highly encourage and recommend interested teams to apply as soon as possible.

Applicants will be notified of their application status no later than January 17, 2025. Teams must confirm their participation no later than January 21, 2025. Teams who accept the invitation to join Sprout: A Design Challenge must then be able to arrive and participate in the event, starting February 3, 2025, and ending on February 6, 2025, in a timely manner.

Read all the application questions.

The Healthy Teen Network In/Tend Incubator Innovation Hub is supported by the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,886,783 with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, OPA/OASH/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit opa.hhs.gov.

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