This internship offers a hands-on opportunity to learn participatory design from concept through to technical delivery, while contributing to real projects that improve children’s lives at Dream Networks C.I.C.
You will work closely with our CEO/Design Lead on:
* Play Learn and Thrive (early childhood development in low-resource contexts)
* Regenerative play space builds
* Cross-cultural community co-design
You’ll engage in research, support design workshops, produce technical drawings, and contribute to projects that are built and used by communities. This role is not about mastering everything, but about learning how participatory design connects research, co-design, and technical delivery in practice.
You benefit from working within an agile remote team grounded in our CARES company culture: Collaborate, Awareness, Recognise, Engage, Support.
Who are we?
Dream Networks C.I.C. is an award-winning, not-for-profit community interest company whose mission is to end play inequality by co-designing and building regenerative and inclusive play. We do this by empowering communities, businesses, and educational institutions, a to collaboratively design and build sustainable play areas in disadvantaged areas.
Using technology, design, and engineering education, we actively involve children and young people in the co-design process. Our work focuses on creating culturally resilient and regenerative play spaces for children. With projects spanning the UK and East Africa, we partner with schools, property developers, architects, and engineering firms to achieve our mission.
What you will learn
People- Research and Insight Process-Participatory Co-Design
* Community-led research and needs assessment
* Interviewing, observation, and ethical engagement
* Synthesising insights into personas and design narratives
* Culturally responsive approaches
Power-Participatory Co-Design Planet-Technical Design Play - Impact
* Supporting and documenting co-design workshops
* Engaging marginalised communities
* Translating lived experience into design decisions
Planet-Technical Design
* Developing concepts into technical drawings (Computer-aided design)
* Specifying regenerative and locally appropriate materials
* Preparing documentation for makers and builders
Play - Impact
* Designing for inclusive play
* Using the Play Prosperity framework for citizen-led impact
* Designing for long-term social and environmental value
What you will do
Research Documentation (30%)
* Document interviews, observations, and needs assessments
* Synthesise findings into clear outputs
* Support persona development and insight organisation
Co-Design Documentation (30%)
* Capture workshops and community priorities
* Create visual process documentation
* Support translation of design concepts into buildable products
Technical Design Support (40%)
* Produce drawings, specifications, and material lists
* Support the visual design of playful learning toolkit components
* Research regenerative materials
* Support production documentation
You’ll Be a Great Fit If You Are
Essential
* Studying/recent graduate in design (product, industrial, architecture)
* Strong drawing skills (CAD and/or hand)
* Organised, detail-oriented, self-motivated
* Committed to equity and community-led design
* Strong visual and written communication
* Interest in participatory design
Desirable
* CAD experience (SketchUp, AutoCAD, Rhino)
* Knowledge of play, inclusion, or sustainability
* Experience with marginalised communities
What We Offer
* Real responsibility on live projects
* Mentorship from an experienced designer-CEO
* Cross-cultural experience (UK & East Africa)
* Portfolio development from research to build
* Fair pay (£11.44–15/hour) + expenses
* Potential for future roles
Practicalities
* Duration: 6–12 months
* Time: 1-2 days/week (flexible)
* Location: Remote + occasional UK site visits
* Start: April/May 2026
* Reports to: CEO / Design Lead
How to Apply
Send to Subject: Design Intern – [Your Name]
Include:
* Portfolio (3–5 pieces): design work, technical drawings, and/or research
* Short letter (max 300 words): why this role + what you want to learn + availability
* CV
Selection Criteria
We assess:
* Portfolio quality (potential over perfection)
* Curiosity and a learning mindset
* Alignment with CARES values
* Practical design and documentation skills
* Commitment to the role