Celebrating 45 Years of Creative Awakening at Design Camp
For 45 years, the NC State College of Design’s Design Camp has been inspiring generations of middle and high school students to explore their creative potential and imagine a future in design. What began as a bold initiative by Professor Charles Joyner in 1980 has grown into a transformative experience that has touched the lives of nearly 12,000 pre-college students and educators. This milestone anniversary offers a moment to reflect on the profound impact Design Camp has had on individuals and the broader design community.
A Vision Rooted in Inclusion
At a time when access to creative fields was often limited by racial and socioeconomic inequities, Joyner sought to provide immersive, hands-on learning experiences. Over the years, this vision has evolved to embrace a broader mission of inclusivity, ensuring all students have access to transformative design education. Initially, the camp was an extension of outreach road trips to high schools in Eastern North Carolina, where design students shared their work and invited interested teens to participate in a summer “Design Boot Camp.” As former Design Camp instructor Percy Hooper ‘78 recalls, “It consisted of one design experience after another — sketching, planning, building, testing and critique. Students learned about the cumulative power of thoughtful trial and error.”
Over time, the program evolved to include more disciplinary focus on the college’s majors. Today, the camp also cultivates foundational skills in problem-solving, innovation and collaboration through engaging projects like designing sustainable communities, prototyping everyday products and mobile app development. Reflecting on the camp’s early days, Hooper shares, “The vision of Charles Joyner continues to stimulate design thinking and offer expanded educational horizons for the pre-college students of North Carolina and beyond.”
Transformative Experiences
The impact of Design Camp is perhaps best expressed through the voices of those who have participated. As former camper and staffer Betsy Peters Rascoe ‘11 shares, “The one immersive week as a camper absolutely blew me away.
I began to understand how design could be a career path. It changed my trajectory and goals for college applications. Later, once a student at the college, I wanted to give back to my experience as a camper by applying to be a camp counselor. One year later, I was part of the lead staff.”
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Student shows off project from Design Camp 2024. -
Students from the Design Connections program showcase their work from 2023. -
Student presents project to Charles Joyner in 2023 as part of Design Camp. -
Students from Design Camp 2024 celebrate another year of successful programming. Campers are pictured in white t-shirts, while support staff wear black in the first row. -
Student instructor with Design Campers in 2023. -
Charles Joyner at Design Camp in 1987. -
Closeup of student work from Design Camp in 2024. -
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A photo from 1997 shows campers creating in much the same way they do today — at studio tables in a collaborative environment.
For many staff members, Design Camp has been a platform for growth and discovery. Raja Manikam ‘23 credits the camp with giving him the confidence to embrace teaching: “Who said Design Lab benefits only the campers? It has had a profound effect on me as well. Throughout my journey at the College of Design, I couldn’t help but reflect on the pivotal role that Design Lab has played in shaping my academic, professional and personal growth. The exposure to diverse social circles and the opportunity to inspire students through teaching have been truly transformative. I am immensely grateful to the Design Lab for taking the risk and providing me with the role of an instructor. This opportunity made me discover that I am capable of something… teaching. Which I wouldn’t have found out without being a part of Design Lab’s team.”
“Who said Design Lab benefits only the campers? Throughout my journey at the College of Design, I couldn’t help but reflect on the pivotal role that Design Lab has played in shaping my academic, professional and personal growth.”
For others, the camp’s collaborative environment has sparked lifelong friendships. PhD graduate, former camp instructor, and current college faculty member Andrés Téllez ‘17 reflects, “Beyond the curriculum and the projects, Design Camp offered me an incredible community of colleagues and friends. It was a place where I learned to be comfortable as a teacher in a new country and culture. The friendships I built at Design Camp extended beyond professional connections; they became a support network that made me feel at home. I am proud to be working alongside such talented individuals, whose insights on organization, pedagogy and educational approaches have greatly influenced my role as an educator.”
A Lasting Legacy
One of Design Camp’s greatest achievements is its ability to inspire young people to pursue design education and careers. Former lead staff and industrial design graduate Jecori Owens-Shuler ‘19 says: “If you find your calling, Design Camp can be the starting point of your lifelong creative journey. My time taught me valuable multitasking and time management skills. I learned to cook under pressure, a skill that has proven invaluable in various situations. I also developed the ability to make quick, informed decisions, even under tight deadlines.” Roughly 20% of incoming NC State College of Design students have participated in Design Lab programming, with many citing their camp experience as pivotal in their decision to apply.
The program’s reach continues to expand, thanks to donor contributions, grant funding and the dedication of the Design Lab team and interns. Recent years have seen the introduction of new initiatives, including a new week-long, no-cost summer program for students called Design Connections, ensuring that Design Camp remains committed to the goals Charles Joyner set 45 years ago.
Looking Ahead
As Design Camp celebrates its 45th anniversary, it remains dedicated to fostering creativity, inclusion and lifelong learning. The camp’s emphasis on adaptability, collaboration and critical thinking equips participants with skills that extend far beyond the studio.
Reflecting on the camp’s enduring significance, longtime instructor Hal Meeks ‘11 says, “Design Camp is a rare opportunity to work as a designer in multiple disciplines. You don’t know fully what you’re capable of until you try new things. Don’t self-edit your life when opportunities await.”
Through its rich history and forward-looking vision, Design Camp continues to challenge students and staff to question preconceived notions about what design is and who designers are, and cultivates an environment where creativity thrives. Here’s to the next 45 years of empowering creative thinkers and shaping the future of design.
For more, visit Design Camp’s 45th anniversary page.
This article first appeared in the spring 2025 issue of Designlife magazine. Explore other articles from this issue.
