programs & labs

structured to ship. free, always.

every mmaadd program and lab is free to join — no tuition, no hidden cost. what you get instead is structure: fixed-length sprints, real briefs, working tools, and a public outcome at the end.

apply to mmaadd → sponsor a cohort

every lab and program runs at no cost to fellows.

tools, briefs, mentorship, and studio access are funded by mmaadd institute and its sponsors — not billed to participants.

two shapes. one academy.

labs are short, vertical sprints inside one specialty. programs are longer, horizontal pathways that move a fellow across two or more labs and specialties over a full cycle.

labs 6 weeks · accelerated sprint

vertical and focused: one lab, one specialty, one shipped body of work. story lab, media lab, or build lab.

  • single specialty per sprint
  • weekly briefs and reviews
  • one deliverable, portfolio-ready
  • can be taken standalone or inside a program
programs 3 months · horizontal cycle

mmaadd young and mmaadd women run horizontally — cutting across two or more labs and specialties: design, animation, 3d, sound, and more.

  • multiple specialties in one cycle
  • cohort-based, guided by staff and mentors
  • stipend support where funded
  • ends in a public showcase and portfolio

the programs.

who joins, and what a 3-month cycle looks like.

mmaadd young

tools, briefs, and business pathways for young makers

a horizontal creative-technology pathway that moves fellows across design, animation, 3d, sound, and ai-assisted media over one cycle — building fluency, not just a single skill.

  • ai tools
  • media production
  • digital design
  • animation
  • 3d
  • venture testing
duration
3-month cycle
who
emerging creatives, students & nysc corps members
cost
free
cohorts
west africa, east africa, caribbean, nysc pilot
mmaadd women

women building digital futures

a horizontal pathway for women building creative, technical, and income-ready skills across two or more specialties, from concept to a public, income-ready body of work.

  • ai workflows
  • creative production
  • portfolio dev
  • paid briefs
  • digital services
duration
3-month cycle
who
women pursuing creative & technical income pathways
cost
free
cohorts
africa · more regions rolling out

the labs.

each lab is a focused, 6-week accelerated sprint inside one specialty — and the building block every program cycle is made from.

story lab

writing, visual storytelling, cultural research, children's books, scripts, campaigns, and narrative systems.

  • scripts
  • story bibles
  • campaign copy
  • pitch decks

media lab

design, video, sound, animation, image direction, reels, campaigns, and digital publishing.

  • short-form video
  • motion graphics
  • sound ids
  • campaign assets

build lab

websites, ai workflows, prototypes, 3d objects, digital tools, and venture concepts.

  • website concepts
  • ai workflows
  • 3d objects
  • storefront concepts

a sample packet.

how one 6-week lab sprint runs, start to finish — the same rhythm mmaadd young and mmaadd women repeat across labs over a 3-month cycle.

week 1kickoff & brief. tool access is switched on, the sprint brief is issued, and fellows scope their concept with staff.
week 2–3production. guided studio time, daily tool support, and structured critique on work in progress.
week 4midpoint review. a formal review against the brief, with a revision plan for the back half.
week 5finishing. polish, packaging, and portfolio formatting — getting the work ready to show.
week 6showcase & handoff. public showcase, portfolio publishing, and a handoff into the next lab or studio pathway.

the tools, by track.

access to the working stack is switched on for every fellow, for free, for the length of their lab or program.

thinking + promptschatgpt · gemini visual designcanva · figma · adobe firefly image directionmidjourney · leonardo · firefly short videocapcut · runway · pika · luma voice + soundelevenlabs · suno · capcut audio 3d + objectsspline · blender · meshy · tripo ops + publishingnotion · google drive · zapier

who can apply.

we're looking for curiosity, consistency, taste, and the willingness to build in community — not a finished portfolio.

  • emerging creatives across africa, the caribbean, latin america, and the diaspora
  • students, recent graduates, and nysc corps members
  • women pursuing creative & technical pathways (mmaadd women)
  • self-taught makers without a formal portfolio
  • anyone able to commit to weekly briefs and reviews
  • no prior professional experience required

what's included — at no cost.

the full seat, funded by mmaadd institute and its sponsors.

  • ✓tool access. the full working stack above, switched on for the length of your lab or program.
  • ✓weekly briefs & reviews. guided assignments, structured critique, and staff + mentor feedback.
  • ✓portfolio development. support turning finished work into a public, shareable portfolio.
  • ✓public showcase. every cycle ends with a public showcase of fellow work.
  • ✓stipend support where funded, for fellows in eligible cohorts.
  • ✓pathways into the studio — paid production work once you've completed a program.

ready to build with mmaadd?

apply to join an upcoming mmaadd young, mmaadd women, or caribbean cohort — or fund a cohort's tools, stipends, and studio time.

apply to mmaadd → sponsor a cohort