The Social Impact Lab is a hands-on, team-based experience for those who want to make a difference in their community.

A two-month marathon. Powered by design. To multiply your impact.

Grounded in design thinking

Using a design thinking framework, teams work on local projects and research, ideate, build and test solutions to address a specific challenge.

Sprint-based modules

At the beginning of each sprint, lab participants meet together* to hear from experts about an important step in the design process. Teams then apply these best practices to specific design challenges to research, design and plan possible solutions. The lab culminates in a two-day impactathon where teams get live feedback on their prototypes from lab stakeholders and the community.

*Spring 2020 lab meetings will be virtual.

design experience not required

The Social Impact Lab was designed for local professionals who are curious or passionate about social impact design or interested in applying their professional skills to a different context outside their current day-job. Those with a background in design, interested in design thinking, or want to see human-centered design in action should also apply.

Calling all denizen* designers

*denizen: an inhabitant or occupant of a particular place

We believe that everyone can use thoughtful consideration to make a difference.

We call this design. And this is your invitation.

What makes the Social Impact Lab unique?

With its team-based approach, project-specific focus, and marathon-mindset, the Social Impact Lab provides the chance to experience first-hand how design can help solve some really big problems. The combination of lab workshops and team activities will provide participants the chance to practice and apply social impact design while making a difference in their local community.

OUR LAB PROJECTS

Lab projects are carefully selected by organizers to provide the best opportunity for participants to learn about social impact design and make a distinct difference through the power of design.

Teams will be assigned to work on a specific project local to their community. This may include projects from social enterprises, emerging social entrepreneurs, collaborative associations, local organizations or governmental bodies, or traditional non-profits. Project sponsors will work closely with Social Impact Lab organizers to offer an appropriate design challenge for the lab format.

OUR lab teams

Lab participants are matched with specific projects based on need, interest, or background.

Team participants come from a variety of industries and backgrounds. Teammates may be designers, developers, consultants, coders, project managers, product owners, social services workers, or public servants of all kinds.

Together, teams will be working towards co-creating a workable prototype based on their specific project needs. The final product that teams work towards range from service blueprints, physical products, tech or digital assets.

city, meet design

join us for our most daunting challenge yet

The most recent Social Impact Lab launched in Spring 2020 for a design marathon focused on making a difference at a very local level through social impact design.

Lab participants had the opportunity to design around specific design challenges inspired by our exciting partnership with New Avenues for Youth, a non-profit that is dedicated to the prevention and intervention of youth houselessness.

Participants worked both independently and as a team to research, ideate, design, build and test ideas in response to a specific design challenge. Lab participants were engaged in the following:

Formal lab events (all held remotely) to help participants get familiarized with the scope of the design challenge and foundational impact design tools and principles.
Self-guided and team-based activities to give participants a chance to put what they learned into practice.
Achieving key milestones to keep teams on track as they crafted a thoughtful response inspired by the challenge by the end of the lab.

The final celebration took place on June 17th.

The Social Impact Lab is not currently accepting applications.

Sign-up to receive updates for the next lab launch.

about us

The Social Impact Lab is a product of the b:ask collective, a community for people who have a heart for social change. We are making it easier for people to find, follow and fuel their passion. Learn more at baskcollective.org

Your local Social Impact Lab is organized by a group of individuals that believe that design thinking can drive social impact at a local level and around the world.