Design Camp for ages 11 to 14: Digital Illustration

This engaging workshop introduces young people to digital illustration, combining creative exploration with practical skill-building in a supportive environment.

Participants will discover fundamental principles that bring illustrations to life – composition, colour, and visual hierarchy, while drawing inspiration from the museum's remarkable architecture. Through guided exercises and experimentation, they'll learn the basics of the Photoshop interface by exploring key tools such as brushes, shape creation and transformation, and the possibilities of layers and masks.

A combination of guided sessions and creative practice will allow participants to build confidence as they develop their own digital compositions. Each young person will create original artwork inspired by the museum's distinctive features, progressing from simple exercises to a final illustration they can share with the group and take home.

Learning outcomes:

• Basic design principles such as composition, colour, visual hierarchy, contrast and scale

• Navigating Photoshop with confidence

• Using essential drawing and transformation tools

• Understanding layers and masks, and how to use them

• Creating digital illustrations using multiple tools

Please note:

• This workshop is suitable for young people aged 11–14. All participants must be dropped off and picked up by an adult. You can find additional information in the sections below

• Capacity is limited. We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment

• All equipment and materials will be provided, but participants will need to bring a packed lunch

• All participants must be dropped off and picked up by a parent, carer or responsible adult. A member of our team will greet you on arrival and sign participants in.  

• We ask all bookers to provide an emergency contact name and number. Please ensure this person is available for the duration of the session.  

• Workshop content is tailored to a specific age group. Participants outside the advertised age range may find the session less accessible or engaging.  

• If there’s anything we can do to support your child’s participation, whether around mobility, communication, sensory processing, emotional regulation or anything else, you’re welcome to let us know at checkout. Sharing access needs is completely optional and helps us prepare the session in the most inclusive way.  

• This session has space for up to 20 participants. It will be led by one or two facilitators, with a typical adult-to-child ratio of 1:10.  

• If your child receives additional support in their education setting, you are welcome to bring a supporting adult with them at no additional cost. Please note that we are not able to provide one-to-one support ourselves.  

• If you have any questions or want to discuss specific access requirements, feel free to contact us at DMAcademy@designmuseum.org.

'I liked learning how to use different digital tools and I really liked the teachers.'

'I very much enjoyed how we were free to explore and chose what we wanted.'

'It was fun to discover new things and take a small look around the museum.'

'I’m happy that I met new friends.'