Four Weeks. Limitless Experimentation.
June 29 – July 24, 2026
Making+Meaning
Open to creative individuals, inspired professionals, and curious students from around the world, Making+Meaning is SCI-Arc’s four-week summer studio for career exploration and portfolio building. Through fast-paced design challenges, cutting-edge digital tools, and a collaborative studio culture, participants explore architectural experimentation in a dynamic and inclusive environment.
Coordinator: William Virgil (M.Arch 2, '16)
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“Making+Meaning is a space where curiosity meets technology. We bring together people from all over the world to experiment, play, and challenge themselves, using tools that open the door to ideas they never imagined possible.”
Why Join M+M
Making+Meaning is an immersive introduction to design that prepares participants for the future of creative work. The program embraces emerging technologies, including AI, as powerful tools for exploration and communication. AI serves as an equalizer, giving participants from any background the ability to generate and develop ambitious ideas quickly, regardless of previous design experience.
Over four weeks, students will:
- Learn core principles of design and visual storytelling
- Work in a professional studio environment that encourages experimentation and risk-taking
- Gain confidence with new tools for ideation, modeling, and presentation
- Build a polished portfolio that reflects your creativity and technical skills
- Present your work in a public exhibition with feedback from leading architects and designers
Whether you are considering a career in architecture, expanding your creative practice, or exploring design for the first time, M+M gives you the mindset, methods, and community to bring your ideas to life.
A Studio for the Future
The M+M curriculum moves fast and encourages big thinking. Assignments begin with focused exercises that open up into larger, more complex projects. Faculty guide you through processes that blend imagination with technology, from concept generation to final presentation. You will learn how to navigate both digital and physical worlds through design, creating work that is bold, clear, and deeply personal.
The Power of AI
In M+M, AI is not just a tool, it is a catalyst. You will explore how AI can expand creative possibilities, speed up iteration, and transform the way ideas are developed. We integrate AI into both design exploration and portfolio creation, helping you craft work that is visually compelling and professionally presented.
Beyond the Studio
Los Angeles becomes part of your learning experience. Through lectures, and discussions, you will connect with the city’s rich design culture and its network of practicing architects and artists.
Portfolio Ready
Each week includes time dedicated to developing your portfolio. You will learn strategies for layout, sequencing, and storytelling so your final presentation is more than just a record of work, it is a persuasive visual narrative. By the end of the program, you will have a portfolio that reflects your skills, curiosity, and creative potential.
The Final Exhibition
M+M concludes with a public exhibition where you present your projects to an audience of architects, critics, and peers. This is both a celebration of your four weeks of intense work and an introduction to a wider design community.
Making+Meaning is equivalent to 3 units. Students who enroll in a program at SCI-Arc after completing M+M can receive credit for one Visual Studies (VS) elective course.