Become Ambidextrous!

Join the community

Ambidextrous Magazine exists to bring together the wider design community. Ambidextrous is a project of the Stanford d.school; it is written, edited, illustrated, and photographed by volunteers. We are happy to have people join in, and grateful for assistance and participation.

Three quick ways to get involved:

1. Sign up for our mailing list.
2. Invite the Ambidextrous community to your design-related events.
3. Let us know what you think of the magazine, the blog, or anything else Ambidextrous!

Contribute to the magazine

We are looking for features writers, artists, photographers, interviewers, interviewees, professional case studies, academic design theory, product dissections, business analyses and event listings. We welcome everyone--from students to gurus, artists to engineers, generalists and specialists--to join in. [Ambidextrous is not a forum for wanton self-promotion, however.]

Issue 4's theme is Danger. Issue 5 will focus on Picking Things Up (learning, dating, and moving heavy stuff).

Ambidextrous contributors are generously compensated in fun, fame and free issues of the magazine-- but not $$$! Don't ask. To submit story ideas (either as an author, as a subject or just as an friendly suggestion) write to submissions@ambidextrousmag with a one-paragraph proposal (multiple proposals in an e-mail are typical and welcome). To volunteer as a writer/photographer/dissector for Starters, Interviews, Functional Dissection, Profiles, Materials or Reviews, write to volunteer@ambidextrousmag.

The following are detailed descriptions of the different submission types. We are always open to other ideas.

EVENTS: Events is a listing of exhibits, conferences, parties, competitions and other events relevant to the Ambidextrous community. Submit a summary of <100 words, along with name, location and date.

POINT OF VIEW: Point of view is a forum for personal reflection on design-related topics. This is the place to be funny, touching, irksome, irate--to be yourself. Articles are roughly ~750 words in length and generally accompanied by visual materials supplied by the author.

STARTERS: Starters are stories about people and companies which are creating something new. They are not about the wonders of new product. Articles are written by Ambidextrous writers (not by PR agents) and are a good way for students and free-lance writers to get involved. Articles are roughly ~750 words in length.

HIGH CONCEPT: High Concept articles are short (<500 word) pieces anchored by sketches, drawings, snapshots, etc from the authors that help to illuminate some abstract idea or research topic. Authors provide writing, supporting materials and a rough sketch layout of the 2-page spread.

INTERVIEW: Interviews are vignettes of people in the design community. Interviews are conducted by Ambidextrous writers and are a good way for students and community members to get involved. Suggestions for interviews should include a quick bio of the interviewee, and a 1-sentence pitch for why the design community would be interested in her/him.

FUNCTIONAL DISSECTION: Functional Dissections uncover the functional beauty and mechanical elegance hidden withing the products of our lives. We welcome suggestions and volunteer assistance for each issue's dissection.

THINKING: Thinking features a wide array of full-length (~1500 word) articles pertaining loosely to the theme. Case studies, intellectual explorations, position papers and the like are welcome here. Submit 1 paragraph story ideas.

PROFILE: Profiles cover people, places, and processes of interest to the larger design community. They are not promotion pieces. Profiles can be full length (~1500 word) or short-length (~750 word) articles. They are written by Ambidextrous writers.

MATERIAL: Material articles cover tools, materials or processes which might be used by designers in their work. They are succinct (~500 words).

REVIEWS: Reviews cover books and products that the design community is talking about. Reviews are succinct (400-750 words).

OBJECT OBITUARY: The object obituary is a first-person tribute to a product you love dearly which has recently departed. The goal of this section is to highlight the long-term and deep-felt relationships we have to designed objects. Obituaries are generally invited pieces, but that doesn't mean we don't want you to suggest stories.

Information furnished by Ambidextrous Magazine, Inc. is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, no responsiblity is assumed by Ambidextrous Magazine for its use; nor for any infringements of patents or other rights of third parties which may result from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of Ambidextrous Magazine, Inc.