Architecture & Design Academy

The Summer Academy is structured as a flexible, multi-week experience. All students begin with a required virtual foundation week before selecting in-person or online deep-dive experiences aligned with their interests.

Week 1: July 13–17 (Required, Online)

Foundation Week

• Architecture Career Discovery Week
• Design Profession Discovery Week
  (Industrial Design, Graphic & Web Design)

Students explore a range of design disciplines, build foundational skills and gain exposure to career pathways across the built environment and creative industries.

Daily: Time TBD
Location: Zoom

Week 2: July 20–24 (East Falls Campus)

Deep Dive: Graphic & Web Design

This in-person week is ideal for students who love visual storytelling—designing brands, websites, apps, and interactive experiences. Work in professional studios to develop a complete design project for a real community partner. Learn industry-standard digital tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, P5.js), create physical artifacts (screen printing, bookbinding, laser cutting), and practice user-centered design research. Present your final work at Friday's showcase.

Daily: 9:00am–4:00pm, Monday–Friday
Location: Hayward Hall Design Studios

Week 3: July 27–31 (East Falls Campus)

Deep Dive: Industrial & Product Design

This in-person week is ideal for students interested in industrial and product design—designing physical objects like sneakers, furniture, wearable tech, smartphones, and medical devices. Experience the full industrial design process from user research through fabrication. Learn professional sketching and 3D visualization, build physical prototypes using Jefferson's fabrication facilities, and develop a complete product design project. Present your prototype at week's end.

Daily: 9am–4pm, Monday–Friday
Location: Hayward Hall Design Studios

Week 4: August 3–7 (East Falls Campus)

Design-Build Experience

• Design-Build Project

Students work together to conceptualize, design and construct a project, applying skills developed throughout the program in a fully immersive, team-based environment.