Design Summer Schools around the world in 2020
This year's selection of creative summer camps are in the fields of graphic design, typography, media arts, and critical thinking. The guide focuses mainly on independent summer schools, who have announced their course dates. Which means we don't show "to be announced" programs. When those design summer schools announce their program dates we will add them here. When you're organizing or attending a summer school that isn't listed here, feel free to fill out this form. We're happy to add, and when you subscribe to our newsletter you will be the first to know.
Our selection is ordered on date. The first starts on March 23rd and is virtual. The last starts on July 13 in Porto or Reading in the UK.
For every school we have made an overview of the most important facts that you need to know, to make a quick comparison. Like application deadline, fee, who are the instructors, do I get credit points etc. At the bottom of the article you find a comparising table.
March
Bedroom Bootcamp
Launching March 23rd, Global
What is Bedroom Bootcamp:
- 2 weeks of classes daily Monday – Friday starting March 23
- 3 hour class, 5 hours for homework daily
- One-on-one coaching session with Frankie
- Make global design connections in class
- Private intros to your fav industry people
- An accountability buddy
🙋♀️🙋♂️For whom?: Fresh graduates or designers of under 10 years experience
⏰Application deadline: March 22
💵Fee: $750 USD
👩🏫👨🏫Instructors: Frankie Ratford
⛺️Including accommodation: NO
🏅Credits: NO
🍳Including Meals: NO
✈️ Including Travel cost: NO
Type Paris [canceled]
POSTPONED INDEFINITELY, Paris, France
TypeParis is a 5-week typeface design program, which started in 2015. Over the course of the program, industry leaders will teach and mentor students in both traditional and modern craft techniques of typeface design. Located in the center of Paris, students will be able to enjoy the culture of the city and will also receive access to historic materials at key libraries in the city. Renowned guest critics, will compliment the daily program with unique perspectives around typography and design.
🙋♀️🙋♂️For whom?: No prior degree necessary. However, previous studies or knowledges in graphic design or typeface will be considered a plus during the selection process.
⏰Application deadline: 27 March 2020
💵Fee: '€ 4600
👩🏫👨🏫Instructors: Jean François Porchez (founder of TypeParis), Mathieu Réguer, Marc Rouault, Gina Serret, Julie Soudanne and Malou Verlomme. Special sessions planned with Rainer Erich Scheichelbauer and Georg Seifert from Glyphs. Our weekly international confirmed guest critics for #typeparis20 are Paul Barnes, David Brezina, Louise Fili, Alexandra Korolkova and Martin Majoor.
⛺️Including accommodation: No
🏅Credits: No
🍳Including Meals: No
✈️ Including Travel cost: No
June
ReProgram [canceled]
June 7 - 28, 2020. The Hague, The Netherlands
ReProgram is an intense three-week international graphic design program that connects students with some of the best designers and design thinkers in the Netherlands. The program, based in Den Haag, will change your approach to design thinking and practice by introducing and challenging you to new design methodologies. Projects place less focus on the finished artifact and more on the critical evolution of what informs the design.
🙋♀️🙋♂️For whom?: Design Students
⏰Application deadline: 02/03/2020
💵Fee: $4,300
👩🏫👨🏫Instructors:
⛺️Including accommodation: YES
🏅Credits: YES
🍳Including Meals: NO
✈️ Including Travel cost: NO
Wix Design Playground [moved online]
June - August 2020, New York, USA
3-month web design program in NYC. Attend exciting workshops by award-winning designers and bridge the gap between design school and the professional world. Complete 3 major projects: a non-profit website, an online marketing campaign and your own portfolio.
🙋♀️🙋♂️For whom?: design school graduate, a freelance designer, or work in design-related fields.
⏰Application deadline: -
💵Fee: Free
👩🏫👨🏫Instructors: TBA
⛺️Including accommodation: -
🏅Credits: Yes, you may earn internship credit by participating
🍳Including Meals: -
✈️ Including Travel cost: -
📝Apply to Wix Design Playground
🌐Wix Design Playground website
Design West Summer School [canceled]
June 20 - July 3, 2020, Letterfrack, Ireland
Third edition of Design West Summer School. Ireland’s International Design Summer School, set in Connemara on the Wild Atlantic Way. Design West facilitates both individual and collaborative approaches to the making of 2D and 3D design expressions, including visual communication, installations, abstract and environmental design.
⏰Application deadline: Friday 22 May 2020
💵Fee: € 1800
🙋♀️🙋♂️Instructors: Cidália, Joana, Sofia, Erik Brandt, Brankica Harvey, Ken, Conor Clarke
⛺️Including accommodation: Yes
🏅Credits: Yes
🍳Including Meals: -
✈️ Including Travel cost: NO
📝Apply to Design West Summer School
🌐Design West Summer School Website
NØ SCHOOL NEVERS [rescheduled]
New date: August 24 — September 5, 2020. Nevers, France
NØ SCHOOL is a unique international summer school, held in Nevers in Burgundy, aimed at students, artists, designers, makers, hackers, activists and educators who wish to further their skills and engage in critical research around the social and environmental impacts of information and communication technologies.
🙋♀️🙋♂️For whom?: Students, artists, designers, makers, hackers, activists and educators
⏰Application deadline: -
💵Fee: € 1,400
👩🏫👨🏫Instructors: -
⛺️Including accommodation: On request
🏅Credits: NO
🍳Including Meals: Lunch
✈️ Including Travel cost: No
Basel Summer Workshops [canceled]
June 29 – July 24, 2020. Basel, Switzerland
The Visual Communication Institute HGK, Basel offers workshops for students, educators and graphic designers. Our four unique weeklong workshops afford insight into topical themes in Visual Communication in a study program reflecting the rich tradition of the Basel School of Design. During these four weeks, lectures and input sessions by the faculty and with designers from outside the university will accompany the workshops’ program, as well as field trips.
Poster Design, Leander Eisenmann, June 29 – July 3, 2020.
Inquiry by Design, Michael Renner, July 6 – 10, 2020.
Type Design, Philipp Stamm, July 13 – 17, 2019
Algorithmic Design, Gregory Vines / Theodore Davis, July 20 – 24, 2020
⏰Application deadline: April 30, 2020
💵Fee: CHF 900 (1 week); CHF 1700 (2 weeks); CHF 2400 (3 weeks); CHF 3000 (4 weeks)
🙋♀️🙋♂️Instructors: Leander Eisenmann, Prof. Michael Renner, Ted Davis, Gregory Vines, Prof. Philipp Stamm
⛺️Including accommodation: NO.
🏅Credits: YES, 1.5 ECTS per Workshop
🍳Including Meals: NO
✈️ Including Travel cost: NO
📝Apply to Basel Summer Workshops
🌐Basel Summer Workshops Website
Design Writing and Research Summer Intensive [moved online]
June 3–14, 2019. New York, USA
The New York School of Visual Arts MA Design Research studio has created a two-week intensive summer program devoted to research and writing about design. Participants will be introduced to a range of techniques for constructing compelling narratives about images, objects, and spaces.
🙋♀️🙋♂️For whom?: -
⏰Application deadline: April 15, 2019
💵Fee: $ 1950
👩🏫👨🏫Instructors: Adam Harrison Levy, Molly Heintz, Steven Heller, Karrie Jacobs, Jennifer Kabat, Robin Pogrebin, Craig Taylor, Rob Walker
⛺️Including accommodation: SVA housing available
🏅Credits: -
🍳Including Meals: -
✈️ Including Travel cost: No
📝Apply to Design Writing and Research Summer Intensive
🌐Design Writing and Research Summer Intensive Websitee
July
TDi 2020 [canceled]
July 13 - 24, 2020, Reading, UK
The TDi is two weeks of learning about typeface design and typography with exceptional tutors, and unparalleled resources. This happens in an environment where we can spend enough time to go deep into the interests of every participant, and follow the threads of inquiry into areas in which people have little experience.
🙋♀️🙋♂️For whom?: graphic designers and typographers, web designers of all orientations, educators, researchers, developers, and people who work with type designers
⏰Application deadline: -
💵Fee: £2780 for the full course (£1,120 for returning participants, for one week)
👩🏫👨🏫Instructors: Gerry Leonidas, Fred Smeijers, Fiona Ross, Eric Kindel, Ewan Clayton, Vaibhav Singh, Mohammad Dakak, Laurence Penney
⛺️Including accommodation: NO. Accommodation is available on-campus.
🏅Credits: -
🍳Including Meals: -
✈️ Including Travel cost: No
TDi in 2021, from 12 to 23 July.
Porto Design Summer School [canceled]
July 13–25 2020. Porto, Portugal
The Porto Design Summer School, about to embark on its 8th edition, is an intensive two week workshop led by renowned international graphic designers where participants can explore the creative possibilities of editorial design, by examining typographic systems, hierarchy and composition, narrative structure, navigation, cover design, editing and notions of authorship.
🙋♀️🙋♂️For whom?: Graduate and post-graduate design students, professional designers, and in general people who have a passion for books, for making, for exploring, testing themselves and sharing with others.
⏰Application deadline: -
💵Fee: €1650
👩🏫👨🏫Instructors: Andrew Howard, Hamish Muir,
Ronnie Fueglister. There will be another (guest) tutor, to be announce shortly.
⛺️Including accommodation: Yes
🏅Credits: Yes
🍳Including Meals: No
✈️ Including Travel cost: No
📝Apply to Porto Design Summer School
🌐Porto Design Summer School Website
Typoclass Bozhentsi 2020
July 27 - August 8, Bozhentsi, Bulgaria [rescheduled]
Typoclass is a design camp for people who love letters. The fourth edition program contains two five-day intensive lettering and calligraphy workshops with remarkable professionals in the field.
The program is suitable for both beginners who will try lettering and calligraphy for the first time, as well as experienced professionals who want to develop and improve their skills.
🙋♀️🙋♂️For whom?: Students, designers
⏰Application deadline:
💵Fee: €499
👩🏫👨🏫Instructors: Jakob Engberg Petersen, Oleksiy Chekal
⛺️Including accommodation: NO But arranged for around €20 p.night
🏅Credits: NO
🍳Including Meals: NO
✈️ Including Travel cost: NO
📝Apply to Typoclass Bozhentsi
🌐Visit Typoclass Bozhentsi website
Compare the Design Summer Schools mentioned on, periode, price, credits points and if accomodation is provided.
If you are thinking of joining one of the mentioned summer schools, but are not sure which one or you are not sure if it is soemthing for you. Just hit the chat button and drop us a line. We are happy to help you find the right fit for you.
If we missed the one our you are organizing or attending, please let us know.
📲 Checkout our Design Summer School app for Android or iOS!
🏨Find a place to stay: Hotels & Hostels or Airbnb
✈️Book your trip
Have a great summer.
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