Design Camp

NC State Design Camp

Design Camp is a pre-college summer program for middle school and high school students organized by the NC State Design Lab for K12 Education and Outreach. Held each summer, Design Camp informs students about the study of design and raises awareness of the impact of design on all aspects of our everyday lives. The design thinking skills and creative experience gained can empower students on their path toward becoming innovative problem solvers and prepare them to tackle the challenges of the future.

Design Camp’s 45th Anniversary!

Summer 2025 marks 45 years of Design Camp! Check out our 45th Anniversary website for more details. And stay tuned for updates on celebration events!

Summer 2025 Design Camp

Registration for Design Camp 2025 is closed.

We will open registration for next summer in January 2026.

Day Camps

Middle School Day Camps

Rising 6th, 7th and 8th Grade

JULY 7 – 11, 2025   OR   JULY 14 – 18, 2025   OR   JULY 28 – AUGUST 1, 2025

A week-long day camp that focuses on introducing middle school students to design thinking through hands-on 2D and 3D-making design projects, and an exploration of the range of design disciplines offered at the College of Design. Studio activities aim to strengthen students’ creative problem solving skills and visual literacy. 

Ideal for: This camp is perfect for middle school students interested in learning more about design, and improving creative problem solving and visual literacy.
Cost: $750 (includes meals, instruction, supplies, activities, and insurance)
Student-Staff Ratio: 5:1
Total Seats: 40 per program
Sample Program Schedule: Click Here (Please note this is a sample schedule. Final schedules will be sent to registrants in May.)

Registrations after April 11 will incur a $50 late fee.

Design Fundamentals Day Camp

Rising 8th and 9th Grade

JULY 7 – 11, 2025

This week-long camp serves as a bridge between our Middle School Day Camps and High School programs, offering students an immersive introduction to design thinking and process. This program has been created to introduce students to design thinking through dynamic, hands-on projects in digital, 2D, and 3D design. Participants will engage in a range of design disciplines offered by the College of Design, enhancing their creative problem-solving abilities and visual literacy. Throughout the week, students complete three studio-based projects and take part in activities that promote creative problem solving skills beyond the studio setting. Additionally, they gain valuable insights into college-level design pathways through discussions with current College of Design students, helping them explore potential futures in design and related fields.

Ideal for: This camp is perfect for students finishing out middle school, and who are interested in improving their critical and creative thinking skills and learning about pathways to design career fields.
Cost: $825 (includes meals, instruction, supplies, activities, and insurance)
Student-Staff Ratio: 5:1
Total Seats: 60
Sample Program Schedule: Click Here (Please note this is a sample schedule. Final schedules will be sent to registrants in May.)

Registrations after April 11 will incur a $50 late fee.

High School Explorations Day Camp

Rising 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th Grade

JULY 28 – AUGUST 1, 2025

A week-long program that introduces participants to the design process through brief projects covering the range of studio disciplines offered at the College of Design: Architecture, Graphic and Experience Design, Industrial Design and Media Arts, Design and Technology. In addition to completing 4 studio projects throughout the week, students participate in critical thinking activities outside of the studio, as well as view presentations to help inform students about possible paths to college-level study in design and beyond.  

Ideal for: This camp is perfect for high school students interested in exploring all of the undergraduate studio based majors offered at the College of Design.
Cost: $875 (includes meals, instruction, supplies, activities, and insurance)
Student-Staff Ratio: 5:1
Total Seats: 80
Sample Program Schedule: Click Here (Please note this is a sample schedule. Final schedules will be sent to registrants in May.)

Registrations after April 11 will incur a $50 late fee.

Residential Camps

High School Explorations Residential Camp

Rising 10th, 11th and 12th Grade

JUNE 22 – 28, 2025

An exploratory residential program covering the range of studio disciplines offered at the College of Design: Architecture, Graphic and Experience Design, Industrial Design and Media Arts, Design and Technology. Residential camp projects require more time in the studio, making the daily schedule much like that of an actual College of Design student. Students also participate in evening activities aimed at strengthening their critical creative thinking, deepening their understanding of the design fields, and preparing them for college level study. 

Ideal for: This camp is perfect for rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students interested in exploring all of the undergraduate studio based majors offered at the College of Design, and experiencing what residential life is like for College of Design students.
Cost: $1500 (includes housing, meals, instruction, supplies, activities, and insurance)
Student-Staff Ratio: 4:1
Seats Total: 120
Sample Program Schedule: Click Here (Please note this is a sample schedule. Final schedules will be sent to registrants in May.)

Registrations after April 11 will incur a $50 late fee.

Design Immersions Residential Program

Rising 11th and 12th Grade

JUNE 17, JULY 13 – 19, 2025

An immersive, pre-college program introducing students to fundamentals of design through the creation of a week-long design project in a studio environment. Prior to camp, students will attend an online summer orientation, on June 17, to gain access to online Design Fundamentals videos and activities, and have the chance to rank their choice of studio projects to complete. During residential week, students will complete one studio project, aiming for portfolio quality work, and participate in critical and creative thinking activities preparing them for college level study in design. 

Ideal for: This program is perfect for rising 11th and 12th grade students interested in aiming to complete a portfolio quality project, and experiencing what residential life is like for College of Design students.
Cost: $1550 (includes online prep modules, housing, meals, instruction, supplies, activities, and insurance)
Student-Staff Ratio: 4:1
Seats Total: 100
Sample Program Schedule: Click Here (Please note this is a sample schedule. Final schedules will be sent to registrants in May.)

Registrations after April 11 will incur a $50 late fee.

Want to Provide a Design Camp Scholarship or Sponsorship?

If you are interested in providing a scholarship to help send a student in need to Design Camp, or if you are a non–profit or educational organization serving underserved, underrepresented and/or rural students and would like to sponsor a student, please review our Sponsorship & Scholarship Guidelines.

Questions? Ready to get started? Email us at designlab_k12@ncsu.edu. We look forward to working with you!

Want to donate to the Malecha Dream Scholarship?

Marvin Malecha was a dean emeritus of NC State University and in 2015, he and his wife, Cindy, established an endowment to the Design Lab to make this scholarship possible. To learn more and to donate to this scholarship fund, please visit our support page.