#HTE
Amble Offers a New Type of Sabbatical for Designers that Includes Freelance Work
Often times during vacations and sabbaticals we feel this compulsive itch to keep working, which is why Amble’s business model is so intriguing. The new program is offering designers the chance to lodge in exclusive properties otherwise not available to the public in exchange for the completion of a design project—like a break from work, except not really. Amble partners with nonprofits, conservancies, and small towns to provide the design briefs as well as discounted upscale lodging in return.
The program recently launched online with a pilot program happening this November in Yosemite National Park. The first program’s lodging options include a private or shared cabin located in the Wawona neighborhood in the heart of the park and a 340 acre old ranch property in Mariposa, located less than one hour away from the park. Amble plans to start small with the Yosemite program with future plans to expand to more locations in the US.
Amble is currently seeking professionals in many areas, including more design-centric ones like visual designers, UX designers, photographers and videographers.
The main catch we’re stumped by is the pricing structure, as designers are still required to pay a fee for lodging, and they are not compensated for food and travel. So essentially, participating designers would be paying to work while on sabbatical. We reached out to Amble Co-Founder Ilyssa Kyu to get some clarity on the costs:
“As far as the exchange of skills/time for lodging, Amble provides an affordable, reduced rate for 1-month of lodging. We do not cover meals or transportation at this time. Lodging in this area at market rate would cost you around $7,000 for one month. We are offering lodging in Wawona at $1,800 for a private room (in a shared cabin) or $2,200 for a private cabin. These are also accommodations otherwise unavailable to the public—you can really only stay in Wawona by camping or by hotel otherwise, so it’s a unique and exclusive opportunity. In a nutshell, the work on a project with our community hosts (who provide the lodging) help offset the costs of lodging.”
If you were participating in the program, would you feel as though the discounted cost of lodging evens out with the design work you’d be doing? Would you participate in this program? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.
Applications are open until July 27th, so if you’re interested in the experience, apply here. Overall, we think Amble is on to something, but it is still a new program with some kinks to work out.
http://www.core77.com/posts/78225/Amble-Offers-a-New-Type-of-Sabbatical-for-Designers-that-Includes-Freelance-Work