Sprout: A Design Challenge
Sprout: A Design Challenge
Home
Innovation Resources
Apply
Incubator Program
Design Challenge
Stay Inspired
Home
Innovation Resources
Apply
Incubator Program
Design Challenge
Stay Inspired
Digging in...
Hands-On Learning
Get into the weeds and learn about human-centered design with real-world challenges during this interactive 4-day workshop.
Beginner-Friendly Space
Experiment, play, and build confidence in your creativity in a supportive environment.
Expert Guidance
Benefit from the coaching and mentorship of seasoned design professionals.
Financial Support
Embark on your design journey with $2,500 per person to help cover transportation and accommodations.
Future Opportunities
Chart pathways to further your impact! Sprout teams will receive special consideration when applying for the exclusive In/Tend Incubator Hub.
In the Weeds (FAQs and More)
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, March 9, 2026, and ends on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The tentative schedule is as follows:
- Monday: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM ET
Pack your bags for Providence, Rhode Island! We’re hosting the event at The Space, a matriarch-inspired, creative collective, the perfect backdrop for your human-centered design learning adventure.
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.
We warmly welcome applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences, including those from underrepresented and underserved communities. We aim to bring together teams that reflect the richness and variety of communities across the country.
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, March 9, 2026, and ending Thursday, March 12, 2026.
- All team members must be at least 18 years old.
- All team members are responsible for getting themselves to and from the Sprout venue. (i.e., transportation).
- No team member should have prior experience in human-centered design.
Don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway!
Studies have shown that communities who have historically faced barriers are less likely to apply for opportunities unless they meet every single qualification. We understand that feeling—and we want you to know that you don’t have to be perfect. We are committed to creating a welcoming environment where everybody feels valued and supported. So, if you are excited about this opportunity, please apply.
Application Timeline
Share
November 17, 2025
We first share information about Sprout: A Design Challenge.
Prepare
November 17, 2025 – December 7, 2025
Use this time to gather your teams and prepare your application! We intentionally provide this period to help ensure all interested teams have a fair chance to prepare.
Apply
December 8 – January 9, 2026 11:59 PM ET
The application portal opens. Submit your application ASAP. The portal closes once we receive 42 submissions, or upon the deadline, whichever comes first.
Review
January 5, 2026– January 23, 2026
We review applications.
Invite
February 2, 2026
We send invitations to selected teams.
Commit
February 9, 2026
Selected teams must sign their contract and confirm participation.
Grow
March 9, 2026 – March 12, 2026
Sprout: A Design Challenge
Related Dates
Spring 2026
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, fair, 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 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?
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 9th 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 by February 2, 2026. Teams must confirm their participation no later than February 9, 2026.
Teams who accept the invitation to join Sprout: A Design Challenge must then be able to arrive and participate in the event, starting March 9, 2026, and ending on March 12, 2026, in a timely manner.
The Healthy Teen Network In/Tend Incubator 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.