If you’re in high school and thinking about a future in design or a creative field, joining a design research program online can be a smart move. These programs are meant for students like you who want to try out design seriously before college. If you enjoy drawing, editing photos, building things digitally, or just like creating ideas and turning them into something real, these programs can help you take the next step.
In these online design research programs, you learn how to use professional tools like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Rhino, SketchUp, or even animation software. You get to go through the full process, starting with an idea or a sketch, building it out using digital tools, and then turning it into a finished design.
What’s more useful is that you’ll be working on real research projects. These can be added to your portfolio, which is something many colleges and design schools ask for. It’s also a good way to figure out if design is something you want to keep studying in college or as a career.
To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 15 online design research programs for high school students!
15 Online Design Research Programs for High School Students
1. Horizon’s Academic Research Program – Art / Design Track
Cost: $5,950 (Full financial aid available)
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September)
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts. The summer II cohort application deadline is June 22.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
The Horizon Academic Research Program – Art / Design Track gives high school students a chance to work on a serious creative research project with support from professors or PhD mentors. Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Art Track
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
Program Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, Spring cohort from March to June
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The deadline for Summer Cohort II is June 23
Eligibility: Open to current high school students.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week research program where high school students work one-on-one with a PhD mentor. You’ll choose a subject that interests you and develop an independent research paper by the end of the program.
You can pick from a wide range of subjects, including psychology, economics, physics, chemistry, engineering, data science, computer science, and international relations. After choosing a topic, your mentor will help you shape your research question, plan your work, and write your paper.
3. Rhode Island School of Design Advanced Program Online
Cost: Tuition is determined by the number of courses you enroll in. If you choose to complete the certificate, the total program cost is $5,520. Scholarships are available.
Program Dates: Spring: Session I: March 1- March 30, Session II: April 12 – May 11; Summer: Session I: June 14 – July 12, Session II: July 13–August 10
Application Deadline: Spring: Session I: February 27, Session II: April 10; Summer: Session I: June 12, Session II: July 10
Eligibility: High school students in 10th through 12th grade, ages 15 to 18.
The Rhode Island School of Design Advanced Program Online is a four-week virtual course for high school students interested in art and design. You’ll take part in college-level studio work and focus on building skills in drawing, design, and visual storytelling.
As a participant, you’ll work on experimental art and design challenges that encourage you to think critically and push your creative boundaries. You’ll also explore how research connects to the artistic process by looking into materials, themes, and cultural references.
4. SAIC’s Early College Program Online Summer Institute
Cost: $1,848 for the half-day course, $3,696 for the full-day course
Program Dates: June 16 – June 27
Application Deadline: Application typically closes in March
Eligibility: Students must be at least 15 years old and not older than 18 years, and must have completed their sophomore year of high school to enroll.
The Early College Program Summer Institute (ECP), offered by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), is a four-week online summer course for high school students interested in art and design. You can choose from a range of focus areas such as drawing, painting, animation, architecture, graphic design, fashion, and more.
The program is designed to give you an in-depth studio experience guided by SAIC faculty. At the end of the program, you’ll have developed a portfolio that can support college applications and receive college credit for your participation.
5. Syracuse University Summer College Online – Architecture
Cost: $3,165
Program Dates: July 21 – August 8
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, or recent graduates
The Syracuse University Summer College Online – Architecture is a three-week online course for high school students interested in exploring architecture. You’ll learn the basics of architectural design by working on physical and digital projects. This includes mechanical drafting, model-making with simple materials, and digital tools like Rhino, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop.
The program combines virtual lectures, studio work, and tours of architectural spaces. You’ll study how space and form work together and apply what you learn in a final design project. This project is presented to guest critics, giving you a chance to practice presenting your ideas clearly and visually.
By the end of the program, you’ll have created work that can be included in your college portfolio. You’ll also earn a certificate of completion, which can be useful when applying to architecture schools or related programs.
6. Harvard Division of Continuing Education- Introduction to 2D Animation
Cost: $4,050
Program Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: June 17
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 years.
Harvard’s Introduction to 2D Animation course is designed for high school students who want to learn how animation works through hands-on digital projects. You’ll study how to animate characters and objects, tell stories visually, and use professional animation software.
The course focuses on core animation principles like timing, motion, and visual expression. As you work on short projects, you’ll build technical skills and learn how to create scenes with movement and emotion. By the end of the program, you’ll have a small portfolio of your animated work.
7. UCLA Design Media Arts Summer Institute
Cost: Starting from $2,036
Program Dates: July 21 – August 1
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: High school students.
UCLA’s Design Media Arts Summer Institute is a two-week program where high school students explore creative fields like graphic design, motion design, and interactive media. You’ll work with UCLA faculty and use professional tools to complete hands-on projects in each area.
The program introduces you to design techniques and software that are used in college and industry. You’ll learn how to create digital work that communicates ideas clearly, and you’ll begin building a portfolio that reflects your style and interests.
8. University of Arkansas Design Camp
Cost: $100
Program Dates: June 23 – June 27
Application Deadline: May 19
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 – 12.
The University of Arkansas Design Camp is a one-week online program where high school students explore architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture through guided projects and live sessions. Each day, you’ll attend Zoom classes with faculty from the Fay Jones School and get feedback as you work on design challenges.
You’ll join a small group studio setting where you can share your ideas and learn from others. The program also sends you a materials kit so you can do physical sketching and model-making at home. By the end of the week, you’ll have built practical design skills like 3D visualization and concept development.
9. School of Visual Arts’s Pre-College Program
Cost: $2,800
Program Dates: July 7 – July 25
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-18
SVA’s Pre-College Program offers high school students a chance to study 3D animation, comics, graphic design, and other visual arts subjects through college-level online courses. Each course is led by working artists and designers who guide you through the full creative process.
You’ll complete hands-on projects such as animated shorts, digital illustrations, or full comics using industry tools. You also earn college credit and produce portfolio-quality work, which can be useful if you plan to apply to design or animation programs in the future.
10. Academy of Art University – Pre-College Art & Design Experience
Cost: None
Program Dates: January 29 – March 11
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
The Academy of Art University’s Pre-College Art & Design Experience (PCADE) is a free program for high school students interested in fields like architecture, fashion, animation, and game design. The program is scholarship-based, making it accessible without cost.
In the architecture track, you’ll work on building spatial models and learn to use digital tools such as SketchUp and AutoCAD. At the end, you’ll take part in a final exhibition where you can showcase the work you’ve created during the program.
11. Harvard University’s The Architectural Imagination
Cost: Free for audit. $249 with certificate.
Program Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Anyone can sign up.
Harvard University’s The Architectural Imagination is a free online course available through edX. It introduces high school students to architecture as both a form of cultural expression and a technical skill.
In this course, you’ll learn to analyze architectural drawings and explore important historical and social contexts behind different styles. Taught by Harvard faculty, the course is well-suited for students interested in architecture or design.
12. MoMA’s free Massive Open Online Courses
Cost: Free
Program Dates: All courses are self-paced
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Anyone can sign up
The Museum of Modern Art offers free online courses for high school students interested in art, design, and architecture. These courses are self-paced, letting you learn at your speed.
You can explore topics like “Fashion as Design,” “Reimagining Blackness and Architecture,” “Modern Art and Ideas,” and “What is Contemporary Art?” The courses include videos, readings, virtual gallery tours, and interactive forums led by MoMA curators and artists.
13. LCIEducation: Graphic Design Essentials by EdX
Cost: Free to audit. $99 for certificate.
Program Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible
LCIEducation’s Graphic Design Essentials course on EdX introduces high school students to key principles of graphic design. You’ll learn about visual communication, creating images, typography, and color theory.
The course guides you through clear modules where you’ll practice interpreting client briefs and develop final design concepts. Projects focus on applying design basics to real-world problems. This program helps you build a solid foundation in visual storytelling and design thinking, skills useful for future work in design fields.
14. Graphic Design Masterclass: SkillShare
Cost: Free (you need to subscribe to SkillShare)
Program Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: High school students
Graphic Design Masterclass on SkillShare is made for beginners and covers both basic and advanced design skills. You’ll work on real projects to learn typography, color theory, branding, layout, and photo editing.
The course teaches you how to use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign through hands-on practice. You’ll create logos, branding packages, and magazine layouts. By the end, you’ll have a professional design portfolio that shows your skills and can help with future opportunities.
15. Smithsonian – Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Internship Program
Cost: None
Program Dates: Varies by the course
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Open to current high school students
The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Internship Program lets high school students use design skills in real cultural projects. You’ll explore how design helps tell stories about different cultures. As an intern, you’ll work on graphic and web design for exhibitions, festivals, and public programs.
This gives you experience in visual communication, digital media, and arts management. You’ll build your portfolio while learning from professionals who work in museums and cultural programs.
Image source – Smithsonian
