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Summer school
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Pre-Design

Where your creative journey begins
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duration2 weeks
languageEnglish
locationMadrid
IntakeJuly 5th - 17th
formatIn-person
For whoHigh school students graduating in 2026 or 2027

Hands-On Design Experience Before University

The Pre-Design Summer Program is a dynamic, two-week experience for students interested in exploring Design, Architecture, and Fashion before entering university.

Through study workshops, collaborative projects, and visits to inspiring sites on IE University’s Madrid and Segovia campuses, participants develop creative thinking, learn core design processes, and build portfolio-ready work.

Guided by expert faculty, students explore sustainability and digital innovation while getting a real taste of what it’s like to pursue a Bachelor's in Design, Architecture, or Fashion.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Days to start your best summer

199days
:
13hours
:
53minutes

WHO IS THIS PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR?

  • This program is right for you if…

    … you’re a creative, curious student looking to explore Design, Architecture, or Fashion, develop core skills, build a portfolio, and decide if this is the right path before university.

  • Participant profile

    You’re entering your final year of high school and under 18 at the start of the program, eager to learn through hands-on studio practice. No prior experience required.

Course Overview – Typical Day in the Pre-Design program

This two-week immersive pre-university program offers high school students an authentic introduction to pre-university-level study in architecture, design, and fashion. Through a carefully balanced curriculum that combines studio-based learning, conceptual exploration, and exposure to real-world design contexts, participants gain insight into the creative processes and academic culture of IE University. Delivered across Segovia and Madrid, the program offers a dynamic educational experience that combines historical inspiration with contemporary creativity, giving participants a true sense of the academic, professional, and cultural ecosystem of design education.

  • A young woman is focused on crafting at a well-lit workspace.

    Week 1: (Madrid)

    • Morning: 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Classes
    • Builds the fundamentals: students strengthen their drawing, sketching, and visualization skills; explore spatial thinking and 2D-to-3D transformation; and learn to prototype and communicate design ideas effectively. They also engage in discussions around design theory, sustainability, digital innovation, and cultural relevance, core themes that define contemporary creative practice.
    • Afternoon: Extracurricular activities
  • Two students working on architectural models in a studio.

    Week 2:  (Segovia or Madrid)

    • Morning: 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Classes
    • Invites students to specialize in Architecture, Design, or Fashion Design. Under the mentorship of practicing faculty, they develop focused projects suitable for inclusion in university application portfolios, while receiving personalized feedback and guidance on portfolio preparation and presentation.
    • Afternoon: Extracurricular activities
    • Friday: (Madrid)
    • Final presentations, graduation, and awards ceremony

Focus Areas

Throughout the two-week program, students will explore key areas of design that reflect the creative, strategic, and interdisciplinary nature of the field.

  • 01.

    1. Design Thinking & Creative Process

    Learn how designers approach challenges through empathy, ideation, and experimentation to create meaningful solutions.

  • 02.

    1. Visual Communication & Representation

    Build skills in sketching, storytelling, and layout to express ideas visually and effectively.

  • 03.

    Spatial & Human-Centered Design

    Explore how spaces, objects, and environments are shaped with the user in mind—functionally, emotionally, and socially.

  • 04.

    Portfolio Development & Reflection

    Start building a personal design portfolio while reflecting on your interests and identifying your creative strengths and direction.

Unique Value

A genuine studio experience led by expert faculty, combining hands-on projects in Design, Architecture, and Fashion with insight into studying at a top design school and producing portfolio-ready outcomes.

Learning Outcome

By the end of the program, students will have a foundational understanding of design, a starter portfolio, and greater clarity about whether a creative academic path is right for them.

Program Structure

What You're going to do
2 Weeks
Week 1
    Week 2
      Week 2 - Final Phase
        The final Project
          What You're going to do
          2 Weeks
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          OUR PROGRAM LEAD FACULTY

          Maria Esteban Casañas - Architecture Faculty Lead

          • Project Lead at MITdesignX, a program at MIT focused on design innovation and entrepreneurship.
          • Holds a Master’s in Architecture Studies from MIT, earning the MIT Thesis Prize for research connecting machine learning, ethics, and design.
          • Former researcher at MIT’s Self Assembly Lab and collaborator at Harvard’s Wyss Institute, specializing in programmable material technologies.
          • Exhibited and lectured internationally (Boston, Chicago, London, Seoul, Venice) and worked with leading architecture firms; holds degrees from UCL’s Bartlett School of Architecture, the University of Edinburgh, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
          • Recipient of the Rome Prize in Architecture.
          • Currently leads design and research projects at MITdesignX and is an Adjunct Professor at IE University, earning Teaching Excellence Awards (2022–2025) while pursuing a PhD in Architecture and Urbanism.
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          Joana Burd

          Joana Burd - Design Faculty Lead

          • Artist and researcher working at the intersection of technology, sensory experience, and creative experimentation.
          • PhD in Advanced Artistic Productions, specializing in haptics, sound, and interactive installations that explore emotion, memory, and embodiment.
          • International teaching and research experience across Europe, Latin America and the US, bringing a global, multidisciplinary lens to the classroom.
          • Active creator of installations, sculptures, and sensory-driven works, inspiring students to push boundaries and explore new creative possibilities.
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          Ernesto Naranjo - Fashion Faculty lead

          • Spanish fashion designer blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary innovation.
          • Trained at Central Saint Martins, presenting his work at London Fashion Week through the Alexander McQueen Scholarship.
          • Professional experience at Maison Margiela under John Galliano and at Balmain with Olivier Rousteing.
          • Recognized talent with multiple nominations in the Vogue Fashion Fund and Fashion Trust Arabia awards.
          Abstract for Tuition | IE

          TUITION

          2 WEEK PROGRAM
          5,900€

          From Summer to Your Future at IE: Explore your path toward a bachelor in design  

          Build on your Pre-Design experience and take the next step with our Bachelor in Design, Architecture, or Fashion Design.

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          Learn more about our Bachelor Programs

          THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS

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          1. Online Application

          You will need to complete the online application with the following documents:

          1. Academic transcripts.  
          2. CV (cv template).
          3. Video Assessment: in this section you will complete two live video questions on general knowledge topics.

          *You must complete all sections of the application in order to submit it.

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          2. Submit your Application

          Once you complete all sections you may submit your online application to be evaluated by our team.


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          3. Admissions Final Decision

          Within 2 weeks of submitting, the Summer School Team will contact you with the final resolution of your Admissions process. Should it be positive, you will be guided through the next steps for your enrollment.

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          START YOUR APPLICATION

          Spaces are limited, so enroll now to guarantee your place!

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          START YOUR APPLICATION