by Francisco Noguera

This week saw the launch of OpenIDEO, a new collaboration platform where you can literally work with IDEO staff and other design thinkers around the world. OpenIDEO was conceived to encourage collaboration and apply the principles of design thinking to critical social challenges. A catchy video with an accent whose origin I've not yet deciphered (IDEO's take on the "About Us" section) explains in a couple of minutes how you can actually contribute to design-driven solutions to social challenges, while increasing your Design Quotient and creating a name for yourself as a capable "designer for social impact."

The days when you needed an introduction to get your resume to the right person are long gone. If you want to work with IDEO, go and do it. Start by collaborating on the fascinating challenge related to affordable private schools, part of the Enterprising Schools project of Grey Matters Capital.

This post originally appeared on NextBillion.

Editor's Note: See other stories about IDEO in the Worldchanging archives:

• Easy Latrine: Best in Show Winner at the 2010 IDEA Awards -- Amanda Reed, 1 Jul 10
  
• When Councils Get Clever -- Green Futures, 21 May 09
  
• The i-team: Turning Local Governments into Innovation Powerhouses -- Julia Levitt, 3 Mar 09
  
• Recession and Innovation -- Julia Levitt, 22 Dec 08
  
• South-South Design Flourishes at MIT Summit -- Jonathan Greenblatt, 14 Aug 07
  
• The Ripple Effect and the Water Crisis -- Jonathan Greenblatt, 25 Jan 07
  
• Biomimicry For Green Design (A How-To) -- Jeremy Faludi, 26 Oct 05