For centuries, students of design have learned in the atelier. Atelier, pronounced “ah-tuh-LYAY,” is French for “workshop” or “studio.” In the atelier, students learned by working alongside experienced artists, designers, architects, and craftspeople, developing their skills through close mentorship and a rigorous commitment to practicing their craft. The Design Studies Institute carries the tradition of the atelier forward in the digital age.
A Studio for Every Student
The atelier centers on close mentorship between student and practitioner. In a DSI course, students engage with asynchronous videos, readings, and assignments that provide a foundation for their learning. They then meet with a faculty member for a synchronous one-on-one conversation about their work, questions, ideas, and challenges. Like the traditional atelier, the emphasis is not simply on receiving information, but on developing a design practice through dialogue and critique with an experienced practitioner. Every student is at the center of the conversation in the DSI atelier.
Designed for the Digital Age
Technology is the infrastructure of the DSI atelier, allowing students and their faculty mentors to collaborate across distance and place. Video conferencing, messaging, live chat, and other digital tools create a connected environment that supports close engagement. Our digital-first learning environment is complemented by in-person residency experiences. Residencies extend the atelier, creating space to build community in the practice of design.
A Focus on Applied Problems
The atelier connects learning with making and doing. At DSI, students don’t just complete assignments; they develop responses to meaningful problems drawn from professional design practice. Through problem-based and project-based learning, students develop tangible designed solutions through the iterative process of making and reflection.
Learning Through Iteration
Design knowledge develops through cycles of iteration: making, testing, critiquing, reflecting, and making again. Each assignment is an opportunity to experiment and refine ideas. Students are not in this process alone; faculty guidance helps them evaluate their decisions and consider new possibilities. In the DSI atelier, the process of design is itself a process of learning.
Developing a Bespoke Practice
The goal of the atelier is not to teach students what to think, but to help them develop how they think and practice as designers. As students progress in their studies, they take increasing ownership of their own inquiry. Through this process, students develop an independent design practice grounded in the pursuit of original questions and meaningful contributions to the design field.
