# FAQ

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is World Studios?

World Studios is a global community of student-led studios, where members take on projects and turn their ideas into something real.

### Who can be a member of World Studios?

Any young adult aged 18-25, currently enrolled at an academic institution offering bachelor’s degrees or higher.

### What do you do as a member of World Studios?

You work on projects that address meaningful challenges alongside your studio team. Around that work is the World Studios OS—connecting you to people, resources, experiences, and opportunities across the broader network that support and extend your studio experience.

### What are the benefits of being a member of a studio?

Joining a studio means becoming part of an active community. You’ll connect with peers, and a global network of other studios. Together, you’ll be working on real projects with real outcomes, and have the chance to take on real leadership roles. Along the way, you’ll be supported by coaches, experts, and World Studio’s staff.

### What kind of projects do members pursue?

Members pursue one of two different kinds of projects. One, members identify issues they care about, locally or globally, through observation, research, and lived experience. Or two, studios respond to an opportunity from a partner, campus, competition, or current event and assess its fit with their interests, capacity, and goals.

Each Studio determines which approach suits them best.

### What will I learn as a member of World Studios?

World Studios is built around a set of core competencies that grow through practice. World Studios gives members access to the skills, spaces, and people that help turn their ideas into action.

Members develop the skills to work through complex, real-world challenges — researching deeply, collaborating across differences, navigating ambiguity, communicating ideas, and moving work forward.

Relationships with peers, coaches, mentors, community partners, and the broader network extend that learning beyond the project.

### What does it cost to be a member of World Studios?

There is no cost to be a member of World Studios.

### My campus or community doesn’t have a studio, how can I start one?

We offer 1-1 support to help students launch new Studios Reach out to us at support@world-studios.org to get started.

### Who funds World Studios?

World Studios is supported by [Watson](https://watson.foundation/), the international education foundation, global impact partners, and individuals with similar beliefs about supporting young adults.

### How can I support World Studios?

There are a few ways to support World Studios. Organizations can bring a real project to World Studios HQ, or a student-led studio, as a Project Partner, providing members a genuine challenge to solve. Funders can also become Impact Partners and support World Studios directly.

### Is World Studios a non-profit organization?

Yes. World Studios is an independent 501(c)(3) organization that conducts programs that were developed with Watson. It holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, granted in 2026.

### Where is World Studios headquartered?

World Studios is headquartered in New York City.

### What is an Open Project?

An Open Project is a real-world challenge — set by a sponsoring partner around a specific theme and place (a single country, a region, or globally) — that anyone eligible can join, no studio or membership required. It’s the easiest way to try the World Studios Method and community. If you have a desire to take action, join a live Open Project, work through the Method with coaching support, and if it clicks, you can join or start a studio.

### When was World Studios founded?

World Studios launched in 2026, and brings together decades of international education experience.

It's supported by the Watson Foundation who has backed thousands of young adults through its experiential programs for over 55 years, and adapts and integrates Design for America’s award-winning studio model that has produced over 1700 student-led projects over 15 years.

### Who leads World Studios?

For a list of staff, advisors, and board members select [here](/about).