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Celebrating 45 Years of Design Camp

Design Camp is Turning 45!

Get ready to celebrate 45 amazing years of Design Camp at NC State’s College of Design! Since 1980, Design Camp has sparked creativity and shaped the dreams of thousands of young designers. While we had to hit pause on our big 40th anniversary celebration in 2020 (thanks, COVID), we’re making up for it this summer with a celebration to remember! Stay tuned!

We’re excited to commemorate this milestone by gathering stories from alumni and staff who have helped make Design Camp what it is today. Click the link below to share your story.

If you have been a part of Design Camp, we want you to tell us your story! (click here)

Join us as we look back, reconnect, and plan special reunion activities. Stay tuned for more updates—this is a celebration you won’t want to miss!

1980-2024 Slideshow

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Design Camp history

Professor Charles Joyner was excited about introducing minority students to the potential of design education.
Design Lab Employment

Share your story

If you have been a part of Design Camp over the years, we want you to tell us your story!
Design camp attendees

Give to the Design Lab

Did you know that all programs at the Design Lab are funded through registration fees and external gifts?

45th Anniversary Events

We are excited to announce the following opportunities for Design Camp alumni and supporters (see below).

Mark your calendars! We hope you can join us!

Friday, July 18 | Design Immersions Week

Reconnect with Design Camp! Enjoy a lunch at Clark Dining Hall, attend a tour of our Design Immersions Residential Program in action, and get updates on the latest Design Camp developments. Observe and participate in Design Camp studio critiques and see pre-college students in action, then wrap up the day with a group dinner at Clark Dining Hall.

  • Seats: 25 participants 
  • Cost: $25
  • Agenda:
    12:00 pm // Lunch at Clark Dining Hall
    2:00 pm // Design Camp Tour & Program Updates 
    3:30 pm // Studio Critiques 
    6:00 pm // Dinner at Clark Dining Hall

Saturday, July 19 | Alumni Studio & Design Camp Reception

Step back into the studio with Andrés Téllez, former Design Camp instructor and current faculty member at the College of Design. Participate in a hands-on design session, followed by lunch at Clark Dining Hall. The day concludes with attendance at our Design Immersions Residential Camp’s reception where alumni will also showcase their studio work and reconnect with the Design Camp community. 

  • Seats: 25 participants 
  • Cost: $25
  • Agenda:
    9:00 am // Alumni Studio
    12:00 pm // Lunch at Clark Dining Hall
    3:30 pm // Reception Attendance & Alumni Studio Showcase

Friday, July 25 | Mid-Summer Meet & Greet

Join us for a fun and interactive gathering of alumni and staff! Enjoy a meet-and-greet lunch with current Design Camp staff and counselors, and a behind-the-scenes look at Design Camp. Then take part in a creative design challenge featuring guest judges and exciting prizes. 

  • Seats: 25 participants 
  • Cost: $25
  • Agenda:
    12:00 pm // Camp Staff & Alumni Lunch Meet and Greet 
    1:30 pm // Design Camp Tour and Updates
    2:30 pm // Design Challenge  
    5:30 pm // Challenge Ends and Judging at 5:45 pm 
    6:30 pm // Dinner at Clark Dining Hall

Saturday, July 26 | Alumni Studio

Immerse yourself in a hands-on design session led by Andrés Téllez, a former Design Camp instructor and College of Design faculty member. Work alongside fellow alumni, enjoy lunch together, and reconnect with the Design Camp experience before wrapping up in the afternoon.

  • Seats: 25 participants 
  • Cost: $25
  • Agenda:
    10:00 am // Start 
    12:30 pm // Lunch at Clark Dining Hall
    5:00 pm // End 

ID Studio at Design Camp 2024

45th Anniversary Event Registration

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Stories from Design Lab + Design Camp

The K-12 Digital Design Lab: Thriving Through Adaptation

Check out this article from 2021 to learn more about how the Design Lab adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic. As all good designers do, the Design Lab approached this design problem and considered their users, the context, their limitations, and their resources to come up with an innovative solution to deliver digital design experiences.

Read more

Hal Meeks Leads Students to Explore Animation Through Design Camp

For as long as Hal Meeks can recall, he’s had a passion to tinker. Hal has been teaching at Design Camp and in our Design Lab programs since 2008! Check out this article from 2019 and meet Hal.

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Happy Campers_2017

Aspiring Designers Share a Dream

The Marvin and Cindy Malecha Dream Scholarship is intended to assist K-12 students who want to experience Design Camp but might not be able to afford it. Students recipients arrive with the confidence of knowing that NC State Design believe in their talents. Check out this story about our Malecha Dream Scholarship recipients from 2017.

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Teaching the Future of Design

Design thinking doesn’t start the moment students step onto a college campus their freshman year. Check out this article from the College of Design’s Designlife Magazine, Fall 2015.

Read more

Additional Resources