Carnegie Mellon Summer: Pre-College Design

Discover Design: Investigation, Innovation, and Impact

Pre-College Design introduces students to the discipline of Design, provides a foundation of skills, and gives a clear idea of what to expect from a college-level accredited program.

Curriculum Overview:

Design has never been in greater demand than it is now. Businesses, government, and local communities are turning to designers for innovation and problem-solving creating new roles for designers in every sector of the marketplace.

Pre-College Design students will have the opportunity to attend classes taught by full-time Carnegie Mellon faculty where they are given an introduction to the design principles and practices that are the cornerstones of the undergraduate School of Design program.

Modeled after the first-year college experience, sessions will consist of studio learning, lectures, critiques, field trips to museums, workspaces, and community spaces, as well as guided work sessions with faculty. Students will be assigned their own personal studio space, providing them with their first foray into “studio life.” By the end of the program, participants will have portfolio pieces that have been critiqued by School of Design faculty. There will also be a showcase that will feature all the work students have completed during the program, for fellow classmates, faculty, and parents to see.

The Pre-College Design curriculum consists of expert instruction in the following areas:

Studio Design for Products, Communications, & Environments

Design Drawing

Design Photography

Design Research & Problem-Solving Methods