Designer-in-Residence Internship

LFCDS, located on a 30‑acre campus about 30 miles north of Chicago, Illinois, is a co‑educational, independent day school serving 400 students from age 2 through eighth grade. The school has a long tradition of producing thoughtful, confident, and successful students. Children are known, loved, and challenged at LFCDS, and a state‑of‑the‑art facility provides a remarkable setting for inspired teaching, academic rigor, and attention to individual needs.

Lake Forest Country Day School seeks a Junior or Senior undergraduate student for a semester‑long unpaid internship based out of our Innovation Space. The ideal candidate is an expert in their area of design (physical, digital, or otherwise) and is comfortable with sharing their expertise across the LFCDS community.

LFCDS is a Microsoft Showcase School with a 2,800 square‑foot Innovation Space where students have access to a multimedia center, Lego Robotics Lab, and an Innovation Space stocked with everything from woodworking tools to 3D printers. Beyond classes pushing into the ‘iLab’ for Project‑Based Learning and Design Thinking units, we pride ourselves on having a STEAM‑related “open shop time” where students can utilize the space for any project both before and after school as well as during recess.

The Designer in Residence will work with students across all age ranges on our campus in formal classroom settings and informal makerspace times. In addition, this candidate will partner with the Innovation Space Director to design a designated area in the Innovation Space to be a hub for the DIR’s content area of focus. The DIR will also be invited to consult with departments on campus that may benefit from their expertise.

We seek a candidate who has a high degree of expertise and is a strong communicator. The person will be enthusiastic, dedicated, and excited to share their knowledge with young students. You should work best in a collaborative environment where you can help bring ideas to life. The ideal candidate will have a programmatic vision that they can articulate.

This unpaid internship is for 10–20 hours/wk. The Intern will commit 10 to 15 hours per week on our campus. Ideally, the DIR will be prepared to pivot to a remote learning environment if needed.

• Work in partnership with the Innovation Space Director to create an original design curriculum built around the DIR’s specialty
• Co‑teach classes and lead small groups of students through project‑based learning
  Attend relevant department and grade‑level meetings
• Provide consultation to departments that could benefit from the DIR’s expertise.
• Work within the Design Thinking model and LFCDS design scope and sequence and New Literacies goals

• Expertise in a design area
• Past experience working with children preferred
• Flexibility and adaptability with a client‑centered approach to work
• Comfort level with working and teaching through the lens of design thinking.

Through inspired teaching and partnership with families, Lake Forest Country Day School nurtures a love of learning and builds a foundation of strong character, preparing students to navigate their path with purpose.

Childhood is Championed, Community is our Core, Curiosity is a Gift, We Aim High

Please submit a cover letter and resume to greg.mcdonough with the email heading “Design Internship”.

Lake Forest Country Day School seeks and embraces diversity among our faculty, staff, and student body. LFCDS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, religion, marital status, disability, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, order of protection status, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.

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