Skip to main content

Weekend Workshops Archives

The Design Lab offers workshops for high school and middle 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.

Explore past Weekend Workshops below.

2016-2017 Weekend Workshops

High School Architecture Workshop : Abstraction as a Creative Process

  • Saturday, October 8, 2016
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Ehsan Sheikholharam

Abstraction is a fundamental concept in design. By removing inessential characteristics of a structure or object, you gain an understanding of its form and most important elements.

In this workshop, students will practice the creative process of abstraction by gaining inspiration from real-world works of architecture to create and build physical models of abstracted structures. Through creative thinking, sketching, and model building, students will gain an understanding of how to move from pure imitation to generating a structure that is both novel and original.

About the Instructor:

Ehsan Sheikholharam is a PhD student and Teaching Assistant in Architecture at North Carolina State University College of Design.  He has also taught and served as a lecturer at the University of Miami School of Architecture; as well as served as a guest critic at Duke University, Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University.  He has experience practicing architecture and is the principal of the architectural firm ACFORM.

High School Graphic Design Workshop : Mapping the Mind

  • Saturday, October 29, 2016
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Dajana Nedic

Dive into the design process and learn about some of the creative and critical thinking tools Graphic Designers use when brainstorming and developing their ideas. Participants will practice mind mapping and ideation techniques and apply these skills to create a design-thinking booklet to serve as a resource for future design projects.

About the Instructor:

Dajana Nedic is a graduate student in Graphic Design at North Carolina State University College of Design. She received her BFA in Interior Architecture from University of North Carolina Greensboro. Her background consists of installation design and interior product design. She is interested in design thinking and how it can be implemented in educational systems and curricula.

High School Fibers Workshop – Fiber to Fine Art

  • Saturday, November 5, 2016
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Gabrielle Duggan

This Art + Design: Fibers Workshop will introduce students to the foundations of textile and fashion work. Starting with the raw fiber, students will learn how to build a strand element (yarn) that will be worked into a plane (fabric) which holds potential for uses in Art (Fiber Sculpture, Printmaking) and Design (Fashion, Architecture). Students will learn through traditional and unconventional processes how to make yarn and cloth, and derive unique prints from these creations.

About the Instructor:

Gabrielle Duggan (born Buffalo, NY) material research builds from professional experience as a Textile Lab Technician (Bureau Veritas) and Studio Assistant (Susan Brandeis, Vita Plume, Shoplifter, ThreeAsFour); education in Fine Arts and Fashion (SUNY Buffalo, Fashion Institute of Technology) and Fibers and Surface Design (North Carolina State University, Master of Art and Design); and experiments in fiber cultivation (cotton, wool, alpaca, quiviut) and production technology (hand and digital: woven, knit, and off-loom).

Duggan’s work has been supported by the NC Arts Council (Regional Artist Project Grant), Art on the Atlanta Beltline, Artspace PopUp, and exhibitions at Flanders (Raleigh, NC), Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (Out of Fashion), and Garis & Hahn in New York, NY (Linear Tensions by AH Arts.), as a Fellow (Anchorlight, Salem Art Works), as an Artist in Residence (Ponyride, Musk Ox Farm, IndieGrits, Governors Island Art Fair, Artspace NC), and as an Educator (Georgia State University, North Carolina State University).

Middle School Animation Workshop – Make It Stop

  • Saturday, November 12, 2016
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Hal Meeks

In this Art + Design: Animation workshop, students will be introduced to the stop-motion animation technique. Working with a variety of materials, including clay and paper, students will design short 30 second animations with sound. Along the way, students will learn the basics of storyboarding, creative problem solving and stop motion software.

About the Instructor:

Hal Meeks has a Master’s in Art+Design, teaches at NC State University and is a PhD candidate in NCSU’s Communication, Rhetoric, & Digital Media program. His background is in Digital Media, Animation and Video production. His cellphone is chronically full of pictures and video.

High School Architecture Workshop – What A Relief:

Designing a Response to Hurricane Matthew

  • Saturday, December 3, 2016
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Marie Schacht

Natural disasters cause a lot of damage. They also open the door to new possibilities. In this workshop, students will explore the impact and opportunities caused by Hurricane Matthew in Raleigh and the NCSU Campus. They will design a small pavilion using a downed tree caused by Matthew. Through the process, students will practice skills in interviewing, site research, ideation, refinement, prototyping, and presenting their design.

About the Instructor:

Marie Schacht believes in the importance of design in helping address critical issues facing the world today. A graduate of the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, she has found unique ways to apply her architectural knowledge as a professional. Currently, she serves as the Director of Hopscotch Design Festival, designs courses for the Acumen Fund, and coaches for the altMBA, an online leadership course for change-makers. In the past, she’s been a writer at New Kind, a fellow at Design Corps, and a program manager at the University of Virginia Morven Program. Marie loves education and finding ways to share her knowledge and curiosity with students.

High School Graphic Design Workshop – VR Space: A Look at How Design Shapes a Virtual Reality Environment

  • Saturday, January 28, 2017
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM // $75
  • Instructor: Luis Zapata

In this Graphic Design workshop, high school students will be introduced to the world of Virtual Reality (VR). Students will design a VR exhibition space curated around a central theme. Students will practice research and mind-mapping skills, as well as explore design concepts and principles pertaining to graphic design and its exciting impact on the world of VR.

About the Instructor:

Luis Zapata is a graduate student in Graphic Design at North Carolina State University College of Design. He received his Bachelors of Industrial Design from North Carolina State University. His background is in 3-Dimensional forms and photography. His interest are in the use of game design in virtual reality and how that is used in the classroom to encourage participation and  academic achievement for students.

Middle School Architecture Workshop – Get Wild!

Designing a New Wildlife Viewing Station Near Downtown Raleigh

  • Saturday, February 4, 2017
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM // $75
  • Instructor: Marie Schacht

Outdoor space is an essential part of a healthy and vibrant city. It gives citizens a place to explore and experience fun while interacting with nature. Design serves an important role in making these spaces highly usable and memorable for citizens. In this workshop, students will explore buildings, green spaces, and their larger urban landscapes. They will design a solution to a usability challenge in a park near Downtown Raleigh. Through the process, students will practice skills in interviewing, site research, ideation, refinement, prototyping, and presenting their design.

About the Instructor:

Marie Schacht believes in the importance of design in helping address critical issues facing the world today. A graduate of the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, she has found unique ways to apply her architectural knowledge as a professional. Currently, she serves as the Director of Hopscotch Design Festival, designs courses for the Acumen Fund, and coaches for the altMBA, an online leadership course for change-makers. In the past, she’s been a writer at New Kind, a fellow at Design Corps, and a program manager at the University of Virginia Morven Program. Marie loves education and finding ways to share her knowledge and curiosity with students.

High School Industrial Design Workshop

  • Saturday, February 25, 2017
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM // $75
  • Instructor: Prasad Joshi

In this workshop, students will design a customized product for their friend. The problem statement will be open ended with some interesting constraints which will challenge students to be creative and design an innovative object for the intended user. Focus will be given on the understanding of the design process and thinking beyond obvious.

About the Instructor:

Namaste, I am Prasad. An international student from India studying Masters of Industrial Design at NC State. My background is in Mechanical Engineering but Design is my passion. I have worked with three Design consultancy firms as an Intern and finished three successful projects with LG, Coca-cola, Burt’s Bees and Under Armor. I have enjoyed my time at Design lab teaching Industrial Design during Design Camp 2016 and I am excited to meet all budding Designers at the weekend workshop.

2015-2016 Weekend Workshops

High School Architecture Workshop : Let’s Ride

  • Saturday, December 5, 2015
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Marie Schacht

Transportation is an everyday part of our lives. People move from place to place in a variety of ways—whether by car, bike, walking, or public transportation.

The bus system at NC State University is called the Wolfline. It is one of the key ways students and staff travel around campus. Suppose the NC State Transportation Department is building more shelters at bus stops to address issues riders have with the current system. They want to engage designers in the process to make the stops innovative and distinct.

Each student in the workshop will design a bus stop that aims to address the needs of riders as well as serve as a gathering place. This workshop is great for students interested in architecture, urban design, or industrial design.

About the Instructor:

Marie Schacht studied Architecture at the University of Virginia. Since graduating, she’s been using her design knowledge to create impactful experiences, businesses, and places. She currently works in Raleigh at New Kind, a creative agency blending design thinking and open-source philosophy to offer a unique community-centric approach to marketing and communications. Before joining New Kind, Marie completed a fellowship with Design Corps, a non-profit working to use architecture as a catalyst for positive social change. She’s been an instructor at NCSU Design Camp the past two summers.

High School Art + Design Workshop – Visual Storytelling

  • Saturday, January 30, 2016
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Patrick Fitzgerald

In this one day workshop, students will watch PIXAR shorts, analyze visual story structures and even make a short film! Students will learn how to create storyboards and gain an understanding of the visual storytelling strategies of PIXAR directors and animators. Students will then apply their storytelling strategies by collaborating in groups to develop, write and film a short story of their own. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn basic story constructs and film grammar in this hands-on workshop.

About the Instructor:

Patrick FitzGerald has a BA from Southern Methodist University and an MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Prior to joining the faculty of the College of Design at NC State University, Professor Patrick FitzGerald served as an instructor, artist and manager at the Kodak Center for Creative Imaging in Camden, Maine.

His work has been exhibited across the United States and Japan. A lead professor in the Advanced Media Lab for the College of Design, FitzGerald’s research and teaching span the full range of multimedia production, from digital video to interactive 3D animation.

Professor FitzGerald has received national and international awards for his digital illustrations. In 1999, he received a North Carolina Fellowship for the Visual Arts. Recent projects and installations include the 2010 opening of the new NCMA gala (with AML), 2009 Zoom Raleigh (with AML in downtown Raleigh ), 2007 The Consumer Culture Garden (with EAT at NCMA), and GoMAP2.0 (interactive prototype for PDA).

High School Graphic Design Workshop : Breaking and Building a Brand

  • Saturday, February 6, 2016
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Allison McCulloh

Walt Disney’s signature. The packaging for an iPhone. A city skyline. Brands and identities are not just symbols: identities can reinforce belonging, tell stories, evoke memories, and spur conversations. In this workshop, students will use the design process and core visual design principles to break down what makes up a brand, and then use those ingredients to create (or recreate) an identity for a community or group that each student either belongs to or has a connection with. This workshop is ideal for students interested in graphic design, communications, design studies, or any student interested in the art of telling stories through images, typography, and experiences.

About the Instructor:

Allison McCulloh is a designer, pursuing her Masters of Graphic Design at North Carolina State University. Both in research and practice her work is guided by the premise that all design disciplines are connected, and that communication is at the core of moving beyond boundaries and creating positive, systems-level change. Allison spent six years at SOM in Chicago collaborating with urban designers and architects to tell stories surrounding the places and systems where we live, work and play. Her design experience ranges from exhibition design to book design to user experience. Allison is currently a teaching assistant for undergraduate typography and graphic design theory at the College of Design. Allison graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design from Iowa State University.

High School Graphic Design Workshop : Designing an Interactive Digital Postcard

  • Saturday, February 20, 2016
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Brandy Luce

In this workshop, students will create an interactive digital postcard from a place they might have visited or would like to visit over a break or weekend. The emphasis of this project will be on designing an exciting animation to entice the postcard recipient to interact with the postcard to learn more about the location. Students will use graphic design to visually communicate factual and interesting information about the location.

About the Instructor:

Brandy Luce is currently a master of graphic design student at North Carolina State University and a graduate teaching assistant. She graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communications and Design. Prior to coming to NCSU, Brandy worked for SCORR Marketing as a graphic designer where she developed brand and corporate identity systems, trade show exhibits, and marketing materials. She is passionate about teaching the fundamental skills and principles of design.

High School Fiber Arts Workshop – Design, Cut, Stitch!

  • Saturday, March 19, 2016
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Kelly Kye

In this high school art + design workshop, students will explore the field of fiber arts through collage. Participants will learn stitching techniques, compositional skills and color theory. This hands-on workshop will provide a strong foundation for students interested in creating future design projects in fiber arts and fashion.

About the Instructor:

Kelly Kye is a fiber artist and craftsperson, specializing in hand dyed fabrics and hand stitched, one of a kind quilts. Her mother, grandmother and great grandmother introduced her to textile work, especially quilting, and continue to inspire the work that she creates today. Kye calls downtown Raleigh home, working in a small studio called The Pink Building in Olde East Raleigh.  She hopes to share her love of making and craft with as many people as possible through fibers related workshops and the textiles that she creates. Kye holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts from East Carolina University with a concentration in Textiles and Surface Design and a Masters of Art + Design from North Carolina State University.

High School Architecture Workshop – An Introduction to Architectural Model Building

  • Saturday, April 9, 2016
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Rob Allen

This workshop will guide students in developing a fundamental understanding of how materials come together. Building architectural models is not unlike building model cars or planes, but we will be learning how to create our own “kit of parts” while developing the narrative that will be used to communicate our ideas.

About the Instructor:

A native of Raleigh, Rob Allen received his Bachelor of Architecture from NC State University in 2005. Since 2002, Rob has worked for award-winning local firms Cannon Architects, Vernacular Studio and is currently an Architectural Designer with Gensler. He has served on numerous juries at NC State’s College of Design and has taught a variety of design education programs at the Design Lab for K-12 Education. Both in and out of the office, he is an advocate for functional design, positive environmental impact and a good cup of coffee.

2014-2015 Weekend Workshops

High-School Graphic Design Workshop: Information is Beautiful- Except When It’s Not

  • Saturday, November 22, 2014
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Robin Vuchnich

Information is Beautiful- except when it’s not! Designing beautiful visualizations that capture ugly problems. In this workshop, students will learn to use graphic design as a means of communicating information and building awareness around issues and ideas. Students will explore visual and impactful ways to represent facts, ideas, data, and information. This is a great workshop for any students wanting to build skills in design and communication for any field.

About the Instructor:

Robin Vuchnich is a UX designer at IBM Design and also an educator. Her work and teaching focus on user experience design, information visualization, design research, and user interface design. Prior to earning her Masters in Graphic Design at North Carolina State University, Robin held the Creative Director position at an interactive marketing agency, Signal Design. She also opened an independent design business in 2008 after several years of practicing as a senior designer at local agencies. She has led design teams on numerous print and interactive initiatives for companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, Quintiles, Lulu Publishing, and several North Carolina universities and government agencies. Over the past decade, Robin’s work has been recognized by the AIGA, and the Addy’s and has appeared in PRINT Magazine several times. In 2011 she served as a juror of the AIGA Alaska Competition. Her current personal work is focused on experimentation with open source programming tools for data visualization and generative art.

High School Architecture Workshop: Drawing Like an Architect

  • Saturday, December 6, 2014
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Lorena Akin

In this skill-building workshop, students will learn the basics of architectural drawing, utilizing the tools and techniques used by professional architects. This is an excellent workshop for students interested in studying architecture in college or taking their drawing to a new level.

About our Instructor:

Lorena is originally from Mexico where she studied Architecture at the Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas. She earned her Masters’ in Architecture from NC State University College of Design where she was a teaching assistant for the sophomore level architectural drawing courses. Lorena now works for Jacobs (formerly known as Kling Stubbins). She believes that the fastest way to execute an idea is by drawing.

High-School Architecture Model Building Workshop

  • Saturday, January 31, 2015
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Rob Allen

In this workshop, participants will learn about architectural model construction. With a focus on proper technique and safety, students will be surprised how quickly their skills develop using readily-available materials and simple tools. The workshop will open with a few exercises introducing students to model building technique, moving forward into developing a finished product – a scaled architectural model – and closing with tips for documenting the models through digital photography.

During the workshop, each student will be building a one-room “cabin”. Participants will be challenged to consider shelter in its simplest form: protection from the elements while maintaining daylight and views to the surrounding landscape. We will work together to understand concepts of form, structure and spatial design over the course of this workshop.

About the Instructor:

A native of Raleigh, Rob Allen received his Bachelor of Architecture from NC State University in 2005. Since 2002, Rob has worked for award-winning local firms Cannon Architects, Vernacular Studio and is currently an Architectural Designer with Gensler. He has served on numerous juries at NC State’s College of Design as well as at CAM Raleigh for the Spaces + Places Summer Studio. Both in and out of the office, he is an advocate for functional design, positive environmental impact and a good cup of coffee.

High-School Digital Illustration Workshop

  • Saturday, February 7, 2015
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Emil Polyak

Digital ​illustration ​uses computer-based design tools to create and manipulate ​images. During this workshop we will use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to manipulate digital photography and text. This is a great workshop for anyone interested in studying art, design, and/or photography.

About the Instructor:

Emil Polyak ​is an Assistant Professor of Art and Design at NC State University. He has a Master​s degree in Art and Design​, and currently teaches animation and digital media with the College of Design.

High-School Graphic Design Workshop

  • Saturday, February 21, 2015
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Brandy Luce

This workshop is an introduction to type and typography. We will explore type as both a functional and expressive tool for graphic design. This is a great workshop for anyone interested in graphic design, typography or visual communication. This is also a great skill-building opportunity for anyone interested in Graphic Design.

About the Instructor:

Brandy Luce is currently a master of graphic design student at North Carolina State University and a graduate teaching assistant. She graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communications and Design. Prior to coming to NCSU, Brandy worked for SCORR Marketing as a graphic designer where she developed brand and corporate identity systems, trade show exhibits, and marketing materials. She is passionate about teaching the fundamental skills and principles of design.

High School Digital Photography Workshop

  • Saturday, March 7, 2015
  • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Instructor: Ben Scott

This workshop will focus on digital photography techniques in portraitures. Students will be expanding their knowledge of digital cameras (provided) and of techniques used by professional photographers. This workshop is great for students looking to further explore digital photography or for anyone looking to document their portfolio pieces.

About the Instructor:

Ben Scott graduated with a Masters in Art+Design from NC State University in May 2014. His graduate research focused on the impact past works of art can have on photography and video. He used these mediums to create visual stories through the use of color, light, and layering. This style allows for modern fashion and editorial portraits. He is always looking for experimental opportunities to push the visual medium in creative ways.

High School Animation Workshop: Seconds in Paper

  • Saturday, March 7th, 2015
  • 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. // $60
  • Instructor: Ryan Grady

About the Instructor:

Ryan E. Grady is a visual artist and animator based in Raleigh, NC. The concepts of Ryan’s work focuses on the advantages and consequences of desire.Ryan has created concept art, animation, 3D models, and illustration for a variety of projects including the ASPECT project at NC State. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art at Appalachian State University and has her Master of Art + Design from NC State University.

Middle School Spaces and Places Workshop : An Introduction to Architecture

  • Wednesday, March 11th, 2015
  • 4:00pm – 5:30pm // $35
  • Instructor: Marie Schacht

In this workshop, students will gain a broad understanding of basic principles of Architecture through hands-on activities and team collaboration. Students will individually design a space and build a model that will become part of a larger city system. The workshop will explore ideas of building infrastructure, sustainability, and appearance.

About the Instructor:

Marie Schacht studied Architecture at the University of Virginia. Since graduating, she’s been using her design knowledge to help create impactful experiences, businesses, and places. She currently works in Raleigh at New Kind, a creative agency blending design thinking and open-source philosophy to offer a unique community-centric approach to marketing and communications. Before joining New Kind, Marie completed a fellowship with Design Corps, a non-profit working to use architecture as a tool for positive social change.

High-School Animation Workshop

  • Saturday, April 11th, 2015
  • 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. // $60
  • Instructor: Hal Meeks

This workshop will focus on digital animation. Students will work on a short digital animation. This workshop is great for anyone expanding their portfolio or who is interested in learning more about Animation. Please note that this workshop is different than the Animation workshop that we offered earlier in the year.

About the Instructor:

Hal Meeks has a Master’s in Art and Design from North Carolina State University, and currently teaches at NCSU. He has worked in the field of digital media for over 25 years. Hal has taught in many capacities with the Design lab, including teaching Animation for Design Camp for several summers.