Design

Fall Fellowship

Design not just for spaces and connection.

A Design Experiment for Belonging

At 500 Acres, we’re designing for the future of homes, systems, and stories that help people feel grounded and connected. This fall, we’re inviting five Design Fellows to help us prototype belonging through self-building and DIY housing.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re recruiting 4 Design Fellows across disciplines:

  • Narrative & Research Design Fellow — Build a data driven narrative.

  • Website & Brand Design — building our digital presence, voice, and visual identity.

  • Housing & Spatial Design — reimagining homes, cabins, and self-built dwellings as sites for belonging.

  • System Design — creating the playbooks, workflows, and rituals that make community scalable.

(Hybrid skill sets are welcome—tell us how your craft blends.)

What You’ll Do

  • Co-design and prototype self-building housing at 500 Acres.

  • Experiment with DIY construction methods—from sketches to on-site building.

  • Document and share your process so others can replicate it.

  • Deliver visible outcomes: prototypes, guides, design assets, and toolkits.

Fellowship Details

  • Timeline: ~4-12 weeks. November 3 - December 5, 2025 // February 6, 2026.
    ~10–15 hours/week

  • Commitment: ~10–15 hours/week

  • Location: remote collaboration

How to Apply

Send a single PDF or link bundle to nick@500Acres.org with:

  1. Basics — name, location, portfolio link(s).

  2. Work Samples — 3–5 projects with your role + outcome.

  3. Prompt (250 words) — Describe a time you designed or built for belonging. What did you try, what worked, what did you learn?

  4. Focus Area — Interior, Website/Brand, Housing/Spatial, System (or hybrid).

  5. Availability — confirm you can commit ~10–15 hrs/week.

Deadline: October 31, 2025 at 11:59pm [Time Zone].
Applications reviewed on a rolling basis; interviews scheduled within a week.

Selection Process

  1. Review — portfolio + fit

  2. Conversation — 30-min interview

  3. Mini-Brief — 48-hour sketch on a real fellowship prompt

  4. Decision — offers sent within 5 business days

Who Should Apply

You don’t need to check every box. We’re looking for people who:

  • Bring craft and systems thinking.

  • Can move from concept to build quickly.

  • Value DIY ethos, care, and hospitality as design principles.

  • Thrive in collaboration and ambiguity.

Our Commitment

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. If you’re excited by this work but unsure if you’re “qualified,” please apply—fellows often grow into the role.