System Innovation Lab Intern – Creativity and Design

This is an opportunity to join the System Innovation Lab at Forum for the Future, where we experiment and learn, ensuring we remain at the forefront of sustainability.

This is a chance to learn how ambitious collaborations and experimental projects are at the cutting edge of sustainable development, and how design is playing a part in pushing such experiments forward. If you’re interested in the role design and innovation can play in creating a sustainable future, and you want to drive social and environmental change, then we’d like to hear from you.

We’re looking for someone proactive to take on the role of ‘creative engine’, contributing design skills, tonnes of ideas, and general support for the wider team. Tasks might be anything from creating a visual identity for a conceptual project, to creating assets such as films and graphics to expose ideas externally.

The role will be based at our UK office in London, lasting three months from May/June 2015 to July/August 2015. We do consider remote internships as well which can be conducted through skype.

1            Role Summary

An exciting chance to hone your creative and professional skills, learn about system innovation and sustainability collaborations through supporting the work of the Lab. This is a truly multidisciplinary role in which you’ll carry out research, contribute to communication and design of projects, and learn the adaptability necessary to support a project as it evolves.

2            Benefits of the Internship

 The intern will gain and/or further develop:

• Experience being part of an innovation team at the cutting edge of experimental projects and collaborations, pushing the approaches taken to sustainability challenges.
• An opportunity to use your creativity to contribute to the innovative potential of Lab projects.
• A chance to develop design and communications skills and contribute to the external facing materials and assets.
• Research skills in a professional setting, an understanding of how research can provide a foundation for success.
• Knowledge and experience of sustainable development and how to create change in systems, in particular through collaboration with business.
• Wider knowledge and experience relating to Forum for the Future’s mission, through access to our resources, expertise, experience and learning opportunities

3            Person Specification

You will need to have:

• An understanding of and interest in sustainable development, particularly around systems thinking and innovation.
• An interest in how business works, and in the role of business in driving positive change
• Design skills including design thinking and prototyping. Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and experience with digital and web a big plus.
• Creative ideas and approaches for how to get things off the ground and make things happen.
• Excellent, demonstrable research and communication skills
• Proficiency in Word, PowerPoint and Excel
• Ability to follow instructions, work independently and be pro-active
• A commitment to the values and mission of Forum for the Future

4            Internship details

This internship is three to five days a week for three months, either office based or performed remotely. The internship is unpaid, with lunch expenses up to £5 a day and travel within London Zone 1-6 reimbursed.

To apply, please send your CV with a covering letter explaining how you meet the requirements and why you would like to join the System Innovation Lab, a design portfolio if you have one, together with an equal opportunities form to Sophie Kennedy, HR Assistant, Forum for the Future, London EC1V 3QN or by email to recruitment@forumforthefuture.org.

Deadline for applications: 9am Wednesday 15^th April 2015

Interviews: w/c 20^th April 2015

Internship start date: Monday 4^th May 2015

Due to the high number of applications we receive, if you do not hear back from us by close of business on 22^nd April, we will not be taking your application further.