How to Register:

1. Create a registration account and begin your registration.

Design Camp 2026 registration opened on January 28, 2026, and closed on Friday, April 24.

Registration for Design Camp 2027 will open at the end of January 2027.

Household account: Our online registration system requires families to create a household profile from which to submit their application. If you have registered for our programs through our online portal in the past, you will use the same email and password you used in the past to login and register through your existing household account. The email address used to set up your account should be that of the parent/guardian who will be the main point of contact for all Design Camp communications. Parents and guardians, PLEASE keep track of your login information, as you will need to revisit your account throughout the registration process, and during your student’s week of camp. This account will also provide you with financial records of fees paid.

Selecting a camp: Within the application, you will have the option of selecting which program you want to join. Once you select a camp, that is the camp you will be placed in.

Spaces are limited, so register early: 

• Middle School Day Camps // Rising 6th – 8th grades 
  • 40 spots per camp
• Design Fundamentals Day Camps // Rising 8th and 9th grades 
  • 60 spots
• High School Explorations Day Camp // Rising 9th – 12th grades 
  • 80 spots
• High School Explorations Residential Camp // Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grades
  • 100 spots
• Design Immersions Residential Program // Rising 11th and 12th grades
  • 110 spots

If a camp fills up, you may select to join a waitlist.

What is included in the registration system: The registration system asks for basic information on your student, a “statement of interest” to be written by the student, and requires completion of a medical form and other program related forms. If you wish to register for financial assistance, please visit our Financial Assistance Page for information on additional materials required for submission. 

For the student’s statement of interest, we ask that students respond to the following:

• Prompt: Why are you interested in design? (In your own words, tell us what interests you about design, why you want to participate in Design Camp, what you hope to gain from the experience, and anything else you’d like us to know about you as a beginner designer.)
• A Note About Student Responses: We want to hear from students, in their own voice. Students, please answer in your own words, without using AI to write or rewrite your response or asking a parent or someone else to write it for you. We’re interested in your individual thoughts, experiences, and interests, not perfect spelling or grammar. It’s okay to make mistakes! What matters most is that your response reflects who you are as a beginner designer and why you’re interested in design. Your statement will be shared with our staff to help them get to know a little about you before you arrive.
• Length: Approximately 300–500 words

We encourage everyone to allow adequate time to review and carefully complete the registration process. You may save your work and complete your registration in more than one sitting if need be.

Communications: Keep an eye out for communications about Design Camp, and check any email settings that may filter automatic replies from your inbox.

Early registration is HIGHLY encouraged. Registration fills quickly and will close on April 10, 2026. Please note, all applications received after April 10 will incur a $50 late fee.

It is the policy of NC State to provide equality of opportunity in all education programs and activities.

2. Submit your deposit.

A $100 non-refundable deposit for ALL Design Camp applicants is due upon registering to Design Camp, including those registering for Financial Assistance. We must receive your $100 deposit in order to submit your application. Non-refundable fees are not transferable to other programs. When submitting your application, credit/debit card payments will be completed directly through the online registration system. Your payment will be immediately reflected on your household account balance.

3. Submit final payment.

Final payment for remaining fee balances are due April 10, 2026. If you have applied for Financial Assistance, the payment deadline is April 24, 2026. For information on other Financial Assistance deadlines, please visit our Financial Assistance Page. 

If you have registered and paid the $100 non-refundable deposit, but have not completed full payment by April 10, your spot will be forfeited to someone on the waitlist.

Please see “Payment” section for more details.

4. Once you have submitted final payment your registration is complete!

5. In May, review the Design Camp information provided. 

In mid-May 2026, we will send out a packet with details on your week of Design Camp. The packet will include important information for you to keep and use in preparing for Design Camp. PARENTS AND STUDENTS, PLEASE REVIEW THE PACKET VERY CAREFULLY. You will be required to follow instructions provided as you prepare your student for camp, and upon checking them in on the first day of the program. 

6. Once we have received your final forms and updated information, we will be in touch closer to your camp week!

We will be in touch one week prior to camp via email when we will send you directions and any final details or updates you will need in preparing for camp.

Payment and Fees:

• Payment Deadlines: The $100 deposit is due at registration. The remaining camp balance is due April 10, 2026.
• Full payment must be received by April 10, 2026 in order for your registration to be complete. Those who have not completed full payment by the deadline will forfeit their registration to a waitlisted student.
• Late Registration and Payment: Registrations submitted after the April 10, 2026 deadline must be paid in full at the time of application and are nonrefundable. A $50 late registration fee applies. Late registration ends on April 24, 2026.

2026 Camp Fees:

• $775* for Middle School Day Camps ($675 after deposit)
• $870* for Design Fundamentals Day Camp ($770 after deposit)
• $925* for High School Explorations Day Camp ($825 after deposit)
• $1650* for High School Explorations Residential Camp ($1550 after deposit)
• $1700* for Design Immersions Residential Program ($1600 after deposit)
• *Early registration pricing. Applications submitted after April 10, 2026 incur a $50 late registration fee.

**RESIDENTIAL CAMPS ONLY** Lost Dorm Key Policy: 

NC State University Housing charges $150 per lost hall-style dorm key to cover the cost of re-coring the lock. Families of residential campers will be responsible for this charge if their camper loses their dorm key.

Waitlist Policy:

If all available spaces in a camp are full, a waitlist will be established. You may submit an application once a camp is in waitlist status, but will not be charged deposit or fees until a spot can be offered.

• Early Registration will close on April 10, 2026.
• Those on the waitlist will be notified by Wednesday, April 15, 2026, as to whether or not a spot has opened for them. 
• Waitlisted registrants will then have until Monday, April 20, 2026 to complete full payment.

Those remaining on the waitlist as of April 16 will have the option to stay on the waitlist or withdraw their application.

If you are placed in a camp after April 16, a payment deadline will be given to you in your placement email.

All registrations, including pending waitlist applications, will close on April 24, 2026.

Cancellation/Refund Policy:

• Standard Cancellation Policy: Cancellations received before April 10, 2026 are eligible for a refund, minus the $100 non-refundable deposit. We must receive requests for cancellation in writing via email to [email protected].  Refunds will be issued by the same means of the original payment that is being refunded. Cancellations received after April 24, 2026 are NOT eligible for a refund.
• Financial Assistance and Scholarship Recipients: The final payment deadline for students receiving financial assistance or scholarships is April 24, 2026. Students receiving financial assistance or scholarships who cancel by that deadline may request a full refund, including the $100 deposit.
• Refund Processing: Refunds will be issued using the same payment method as the original transaction. We do not provide refunds for last-minute cancellations or for students dismissed from a program while camp is in session. Fees are nontransferable to other programs. Due to upfront program costs, these policies are firm. If the Design Lab cancels a camp session, full refunds will be issued.
• Cancellations Due to Illness or Other Emergencies: For cancellations due to illness or other emergencies received after the final payment deadline on April 24, 2026 and up to one day before the start of a camp week, families may request a refund of up to 40% of program fees. Families may alternatively request that 40% of their program fees be donated to Design Lab outreach funds. All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing by email to [email protected]. Due to upfront program costs, we are unable to provide full refunds for cancellations made after the final payment deadline, even when cancellations are due to illness or other emergencies.
  • If a student develops symptoms of an illness during camp, their parent/guardian will be notified, and the student will be separated from other participants until they can be picked up. If a student must leave camp due to illness after participating in more than half of the program, the Design Lab will work with the family to determine an appropriate refund amount.

• Why Our Cancellation and Refund Policy Is Firm
  • Design Camp is a fee-funded program, and significant expenses are committed well before camp begins. These include advance payments for meals and housing, as well as supplies, materials, and program merchandise ordered based on enrollment numbers. Once these expenses have been paid or orders have been placed, we are unable to recover those costs, even if a student cancels.
  • Late cancellations also prevent us from offering the vacated spot to another interested student, particularly when cancellations occur close to the start of a program. For these reasons, we cannot guarantee full refunds for cancellations made after the published cancellation deadline. Our refund policy allows us to cover costs already incurred and maintain the financial sustainability of our programs.
  • We encourage families to carefully review program descriptions, schedules, and areas of study before registering to ensure that Design Camp is a good fit for their student’s interests. We appreciate your understanding that these policies help us provide quality programming for all participants.

Communications Policy:

Please note that we handle all program registrations, cancellation, and other important communications through our online registration system and email ([email protected]) as a means of keeping organized communication records. The parent/guardian who creates the registration account will be the main point of contact for their student’s registration. The email address used when logging into your account will be used for all pre-camp contact. PLEASE KEEP TRACK OF YOUR LOGIN INFORMATION. students should not be the main point of contact for the registration account. We will need phone numbers for parents/guardians as well as students for use during camp, in the event of an emergency. When creating your household account and completing your registration, PLEASE ensure that all information provided is thorough and accurate.

If you need to reach the Design Lab staff, email is the preferred and quickest way to reach us. If you have a question, concern or request regarding registration, placement, cancellations, or student needs, we ask that you email us. If you would prefer to discuss an issue over the phone, please email us with the nature of your request, and we will contact you as soon as possible.

Please check your spam filter and any firewalls to make sure you can receive emails from these addresses. Adding us to your address book will also ensure all of our communications reach you. We ask that you please read emails that you receive from us promptly, and respond as needed in a timely manner. This will allow us to better serve you. Due to the high initial volume of applications, and because applications must be processed carefully and individually by our staff, we appreciate your attention to communications from our team, and your patience with the process.

Equal Opportunity Policy:

If you are a person with a disability or special concern and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in Design Camp, please contact us at [email protected] to discuss accommodations prior to completing your registration. It is the policy of NC State to provide equality of opportunity in all education programs and activities. NC State engages in equal opportunity and affirmative action efforts and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. For more information on NC State’s Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy, please visit policies.ncsu.edu.