Weekend Workshops

The Design Lab offers Weekend Workshops for high school students at our Design Lab studio here at the College of Design. Our workshops are brief, immersive design education experiences, offering a wide range of opportunities for teens interested in design. From skill-building to design thinking to concept-based projects to interdisciplinary design mash-ups and more, our talented instructors guide students in developing knowledge and experience in their focus area. Please continue to visit our website from time to time to learn about new workshops and programs we’re offering.

Spring 2026 // Weekend Workshops

We will announce more details in early February 2026!

Join our newsletter to stay-up-to-date on program offerings.

The Design Lab is excited to offer six in-person Weekend Workshops this spring for high school students. Each workshop will take place on Saturdays from 9:00am – 4:00pm with lunch at noon. See the weekend workshop schedule below. Students can register any time between October and one week in advance of each workshop, and students can register for as many weekend workshops as they are interested in.

Workshops will introduce students to design thinking and the design process through challenge-based activities. Through these workshops, students will have the opportunity to develop a better understanding of our designed world and find answer to these questions: What is design? How do designers think?

Please send questions to designlab_k12@ncsu.edu. Thanks!

Architecture // * TITLE COMING SOON *

*** DESCRIPTION COMING SOON ***

Grade Range: 9th – 12th Grade
Total Seats: 20
Cost: $100

Instructor // Brenna B.

Hello everyone! My name is Brenna and I’m currently a fifth-year Architecture student at NC State University, also studying Landscape Architecture and Psychology. I’m fascinated by how design influences behavior, community, and social experience, and how those factors shape design in return. I enjoy thinking through design by diagramming, researching, and iterating, and I believe diverse approaches to problem-solving lead to richer outcomes.

I see design as a playful and collaborative process that requires both knowledge of the user and understanding of the impact of your design on the community. In my downtime I enjoy reading, going to the gym, and skating in the park. I look forward to exploring new approaches with you all!

Media Arts, Design and Technology // * TITLE COMING SOON *

*** DESCRIPTION COMING SOON ***

Grade Range: 9th – 12th Grade
Total Seats: 20
Cost: $90

Instructor // Sophie G.

Hi! I’m Sophie G., a recent graduate from the College of Design, Media Arts, Design and Technology program with a concentration in Animation. I think of storytelling as the most creative way of connecting and communicating with the people and the world around us, and there’s an endless amount of ways to do it. I enjoy telling stories that bring people together and encourage us to listen, learn, and keep growing. Animation happens to be my favorite way of doing this!

Architecture // * TITLE COMING SOON *

*** DESCRIPTION COMING SOON ***

Grade Range: 9th – 12th Grade
Total Seats: 20
Cost: $100

Instructor // Tanighya A.

Hello ! My name is Tanighya Alvin . I am a current graduate student here at NC State for the Masters (Track 3) Architecture Program. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Architecture along with minors in African American and Diaspora Studies and Consumer, Apparel , and Retail Studies from UNC Greensboro.

When it comes to Architecture I found that I have a strong interest in community development. Developing spaces that are inclusive , responsive , have a positive impact on different demographics in the community, and implements the cultural identity of the community. My passion for community based design was fueled by an internship that I did which focused on address a housing crisis that was occurring within the Greensboro area. Creating tiny houses for the homeless and lower income communities in the area is what I focused on. That Internship had pushed me to consider how a design could impact a community and what steps I could make as a designer to make even the smallest change.

I enjoy teaching others about how much of an impact Architecture can make and how even as a designer a something sublet can creates a major changes. In my leisure I like to travel, build miniature houses , spend time with family , and try new foods,

Media Arts, Design and Technology // * TITLE COMING SOON *

*** DESCRIPTION COMING SOON ***

Grade Range: 9th – 12th Grade
Total Seats: 20
Cost: $90

Instructor // Lydia S.

Hello, I’m Lydia! I’m a recent graduate of the Media Arts, Design and Technology Program. I’m a 3D digital artist professionally, but I enjoy both physical and digital design work. From painting, to garment construction, to 3D and 2D animation; I’m a generalist, a designer of all kinds. I love entertainment media because it is the intersection of all things, and incorporates all disciplines of design into one product. If one can become fluent in the language of visual design and storytelling, they can make media that people fall in love with. If you love thought-provoking stories that are well told through visual media, you are in the right place.

Some of my favorite media includes Arcane, the Spider-Verse movies, the Bear, Scavenger’s Reign, Wes Anderson’s Stop Motion films (and Grand Budapest Hotel), Attack on Titian, and Severance.

Graphic & Experience Design // * TITLE COMING SOON *

*** DESCRIPTION COMING SOON ***

Grade Range: 9th – 12th Grade
Total Seats: 20
Cost: $90

Instructor // Jimmy R.J.

Hello, I’m Jimmy. A latin graphic designer that’s passionate about all forms of design ranging from visual and digital design to physical product and garment design. At it’s core design is about communicating, I as a designer take interest in all mediums to ensure that the products I deliever are best suited for the user in mind. I love exploring and pushing design rules to their limits to keep design fun, weird and functional.

Industrial Design // * TITLE COMING SOON *

*** DESCRIPTION COMING SOON ***

Grade Range: 9th – 12th Grade
Total Seats: 20
Cost: $100

Instructor // Caleb Z.

Hi! My name is Caleb Zander and I am a current Master’s student in Industrial Design at NC State and former science teacher. I enjoy industrial design as a way to blend creative and logical thinking on projects; taking function and form to make interesting solutions to problems. Some of the most exciting parts of design are working as part of a team, bouncing ideas off of each other, and learning from each other’s perspectives to make things that spark creativity in others.

Prior to Registering, Please Read the Following:

Registration Process and Policies

Registration will open in February 2026.
The registration fee for each online workshop ranges from $90 – $100. Payment is due upon registration. Students may register for multiple weekend workshops at a time, but SHOULD only register for one workshop per Saturday. All forms and payment must be completed in order for registration to be finalized.
Registration will remain open for each workshop up until 5 calendar days prior to its date (ie. registration will close for a workshop on the Monday prior to when it’s being held).
Those who have completed registration and payment will receive a confirmation email immediately. And all registrants will receive an email at least 5 business days prior to the start of their workshop with further information on procedures and protocols.
Each workshop will take place on Saturdays from 9:00am – 4:00pm with Lunch at noon. Lunch will be provided for all workshops; our staff and instructor will accompany students to Clark Dining Hall, near our location on campus.
Students should arrive between 8:45am – 8:55am and students must leave or be picked up no later than 4:15pm. Drop-off, Pick-up, and Parking information will be shared after registration is complete.
Cancellations for Weekend Workshops: We must receive request for cancellation in writing via email to designlab_k12@ncsu.edu. Cancellations made 10 calendar days prior to a workshop are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made 5 calendar days prior to a workshop are eligible for a 50% refund OR request to have their program fees donated to our Design Lab outreach funds. If the workshop is cancelled by the Design Lab, full refunds will be issued. Refunds can only be issued by the same means of the original payment.
- Due to the upfront costs of our workshops, this is a firm policy, as we are not able to provide refunds for money that has already been allocated towards workshop expenses.

If you have any questions, please email designlab_k12@ncsu.edu.

Click Here to Register for Weekend Workshops

Registration for Spring 2026 workshops will open in February!

Archive of Past Workshops

Design Lab Newsletter Signup

To receive monthly updates on our programs, including information on Design Camp, please sign up for our newsletter.

"*" indicates required fields

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Email*

First Name*

Last Name*

I am a:

Middle School Student

High School Student

Parent

Teacher

Guidance Counselor

Design Lab/Design Camp Alumni

Parent of Design Lab/Design Camp Alumni

Community Member/Other

High School Graduation Year (if student):

School Name

School Address

School Address Line 2

City

Postal/Zip Code

County

Example: Wake County

State

Country

How did you hear about our programs?

CAPTCHA

Additional Resources