Since launching in 2016, the student fellowship run by Be Original Americas has immersed two undergraduate students in the real world of design practice each summer. The month-long program seeks to expand on the nonprofit's commitment to preserving original design by giving the next generation of talent a firsthand look at how the process unfolds in the real world.

From June 15 to July 17, selected fellows will travel to the showrooms, headquarters, and factories of participating studios, all of whom are members of the Be Original Americas organization. The list for this year's edition hasn't been finalized yet but past years included visits to Bernhardt Design, Carnegie, Chilewich, Design Within Reach, Emeco, Herman Miller, Ligne Roset and Vitra.

Along the way, fellows are exposed to every stage of the design process—from concept design and hands-on manufacturing to sales, marketing, and distribution—so they get a strong sense of how everything is connected while exploring a wide range of possible career paths.

The fellowship program is open to undergraduate students who have completed two or three years of study and who reside in the United States. This year's deadline is March 27, 2020. Find out more about the process and download the application here.