Graphic Design Summer Career Camp in London for Ages 15-18

Course Description: Graphic Design Summer Career Camp in London for Ages 15-18

Course Description: Graphic Design Summer Career Camp in London 🎨

This hands-on Graphic Design Summer Career Camp gives students aged 15 to 18 a real taste of life as a designer in the heart of London. You research a mock client, then build their brand identity across Illustrator, Photoshop and lino printing. It is practical from day one, so you leave having actually made something, not just watched a demo.

No previous art or design experience is needed. The programme starts with the basics of design principles, colour and layout, and suits complete beginners as well as students who already study art or design at school.

Location 📍

The camp takes place in central London, close to the city's major cultural and creative hubs. Residential students stay at Ramsay Hall, part of the University College London (UCL) campus, and experience life as a university student in one of the world's great design capitals.

Lesson Plan 📚

Choose a 1, 2 or 3 week programme. Teaching is delivered through creative workshops, studio-based projects and tutorials led by industry professionals.

Week 1: Foundations and Client Project

• Introduction to Graphic Design: layout, colour, typography and composition

• Practical Studio: sketching

• Client Research and Client Creation

• Critiquing and Creative Thinking

• Setting Guidelines and Touchpoints

• Intro to Photoshop: creating touchpoints

• Studio Illustrator: Client Challenge

• UCAS Application, Careers and Pathways

Week 2: Typography, Print and Brandbook

• Typography, Text and Image

• Studio: Intro to InDesign

• Brandbook Redesign and Extracting Prints

• Lino Printing

• Studio: Seamless Patterns and Application

• Final presentation to peers and industry partners

Week 3: Career and Life Skills

Three-week students finish with a Career and Life Skills week and professional networking, designed to strengthen university applications and build skills for life beyond school.

Small Class Sizes 👩‍🏫

There are no more than 12 students in each programme group, so mentors give real feedback on real work through small group teaching, one-to-one mentoring and personalised guidance on your portfolio.

Meet Your Mentors

Design workshops are led by Georgia, a London-based artist and Ruskin School of Art (University of Oxford) graduate who is also the director and creative lead of a publishing company. Judith C., an accredited UCAS adviser and former Head of English, Head of Creative Arts and Head of Sixth Form in Kent grammar schools, runs the UCAS and personal statement sessions.

Skills You Will Take Away

• Sketch and refine concepts using thumbnail and observational drawing

• Give and receive structured design critique with confidence

• Build a client brand identity in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop

• Carve and hand-print original lino designs for posters and cards

• Present a finished brandbook and portfolio to industry partners

• Leave with portfolio pieces suitable for UCAS applications and creative courses

A Day in the Life: Daily Routine ⏰

Teaching runs from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday. A typical first week looks like this:

• Monday: Introduction to Graphic Design, lunch, Practical Studio (Sketching). Evening: cinema

• Tuesday: Client Research, lunch, Client Creation. Evening: escape room

• Wednesday: Critiquing and Creative Thinking, lunch, Setting Guidelines and Touchpoints. Evening: bowling

• Thursday: Intro to Photoshop, lunch, Studio Illustrator Client Challenge. Evening: Covent Garden

• Friday: UCAS Application, lunch, Careers and Pathways, graduation, then check-out for residential students

Dinner and evening activities are for residential students only. Timetables may be subject to change, and students receive their finalised timetable by the end of May.

Accommodation at UCL Ramsay Hall 🛏️

Residential students stay at Ramsay Hall, part of University College London (UCL) in central London. Day students attend all sessions and return home each day.

• Move-in: Sunday before the start date, from 3:00 pm. Arriving between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm is advised, to join dinner with the cohort and the evening activity

• Move-out: Friday, the last day of the programme

• Rooms: private single rooms with shared bathrooms, or upgrade to a private ensuite room

• Bathrooms: shared, typically used by up to three students

• Bedding and towels: sheets and towels are included

• Supervision: 24/7 building security and safeguarding, with on-site guardians living in the accommodation (1:10 ratio)

• Student safety: boys and girls are housed on separate floors

Meals 🍽️

• Residential students: breakfast, lunch and dinner daily

• Day students: lunch is provided

• Students may bring a few snacks for the day, which must be nut free

• Bring a refillable water bottle

Activities and Evening Programme 🎳

Residential students enjoy a social programme every evening. Recent examples include cinema, an escape room, bowling, theatre and an evening in Covent Garden. All residential evening activities are covered by the fee.

Excursions and Industry Visits 🚍

• Industry visits to leading companies and design studios during the teaching week

• Talks from designers, art directors and creative professionals in branding, publishing and digital media

• Weekend activities for residential students staying two or three weeks. Previous excursions have included a day trip to Cambridge, shopping in London and London sightseeing

Transportation ✈️

• Transport to different venues and excursions during the programme is covered

• Travel to and from the programme is not included in the fee

• Optional arrival or departure car service from London Heathrow: £300

Dates and Fees 📅

Programme Start Dates: Summer 2027

Programmes begin on a Monday, with weekly start dates across the summer:

• 28 June

• 5 July

• 12 July

• 19 July

• 26 July

• 2 August

• 9 August

Fees

• £1,799 for 1 week of the programme (day)

• £2,999 for 1 week of the programme plus residential package (all meals, lodging)

• £2,999 for 2 weeks of the programme (day)

• £5,499 for 2 weeks of the programme plus residential package (all meals, lodging)

• £3,999 for 3 weeks of the programme (day)

• £7,499 for 3 weeks of the programme plus residential package (all meals, lodging)

Extras

• Arrival or departure car service from London Heathrow: £300

• Extra night of accommodation: £100, subject to availability

• Ensuite upgrade: £250 per week

What Is Included in the Programme Fee ✅

• Residential accommodation at UCL Ramsay Hall in a private single room (residential package)

• 24/7 security and safeguarding

• Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner daily for residents; lunch for day students

• 60 hours of career-focused learning over 2 weeks

• Interactive workshops and guest speakers

• Industry visits to leading companies

• Expert UCAS admissions coaching

• Personal mentor (Oxford, Cambridge, UCL or Imperial graduate)

• Weekend excursions and London activities

• Evening social programme

• Certificate of completion

• Personalised letter of reference from your programme mentor

Certificates and Awards 📜

• Certificate recognising your participation, ideal for your CV and university applications

• Personalised letter of reference from your programme mentor

• Opportunity to fulfil the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Residential requirement

• A portfolio of real client work, from sketches and an Illustrator brand piece to hand-pulled lino prints and, for two-week students, a finished brandbook

How Fluent Do I Need to Be in English? 🗣️

All teaching and workshops are delivered in English. Students should have a basic level of spoken and written English so they can follow instructions, join discussions and take part in group activities comfortably. International students are welcome and supported throughout the programme.

What Should I Bring? 🎒

• A notepad and pen, or a device to write on

• A water bottle

• Nut-free snacks if wanted

• Some spending money for residential students, especially on two-week programmes

A packing list and preparation materials are sent by mid June.

Safety and Support 🛡️

All sessions take place in a secure, structured environment. Staff are DBS-checked and follow strict safeguarding policies. Students with additional learning needs or disabilities are welcome; share any requirements in advance so adjustments can be arranged.