Summer Studio 2027
June 2027 (dates TBD)
held in collaboration with INTBAU USA
Spend two weeks in the beautiful, walkable city of Charleston, SC, exploring its charm and vibrant urbanism while gaining hands-on drawing and design studio skills, boosting your portfolio and career, and connecting with peers, mentors, and industry leaders who share your passion for human-centered cities.
Summer Studio 2027 (June 2027, dates TBD) invites you to explore the artistry and mechanics of urban forms that have shaped flourishing communities for centuries. With a focus on beauty and resiliency in human-scaled city building, you’ll learn how timeless design principles can be applied to modern development opportunities.
This immersive studio will not only sharpen your design skills but also empower you as a creator. Through a hands-on approach to drawing, you'll develop a deeper understanding of urban form through the act of physical creation. Whether you're new to hand-drawing or looking to refine your skills, our program offers the support and resources to help you thrive. By the end of the two weeks, you’ll have hand-crafted work ready for your professional portfolio - plus, you'll build valuable connections with industry leaders and peers.
The course runs for eight hours a day, Monday through Saturday, over two weeks. You’ll engage in a mix of guest lectures, drawing analyses, and intensive design studio sessions, all culminating in a final presentation to top industry professionals. This is your opportunity to gain the skills, confidence, and insight to become a leader in urban planning, design, or architecture!
If you have questions, email us at team@citymakerscollective.org
"The past few days have completely changed my mindset as an urban planner."
- Andres (Summer Studio 2025)
"My eyes have been opened."
- Hudson (Summer Studio 2025)
“Every lecture was extremely engaging. I loved the variety and diversity of speakers. There was not a single boring moment throughout our long days — which is very difficult to accomplish with Gen Z. I enjoyed the pacing and how every learning experience built onto the next.”
- Sky (Summer Studio 2026)
“This program exceeded all my expectations. It was truly an unforgettable experience.”
- Anonymous (Summer Studio 2026)
The Citymakers studio really opened my eyes about the macro and micro scale of the built environment. As an architecture student, we really only focused on the building itself, with some consideration of the materials and site context of the area, but we never really talked about how buildings interacted with the streets. This program taught me that human-centered urban surroundings are just as important as the buildings we look at every day.
- Anonymous (Summer Studio 2026)
During the two weeks with the Citymakers Collective, I really was able to learn a lot, apply that knowledge to a real project, and make some meaningful connections. I went from having some knowledge of urban design and architecture — alongside wanting to craft meaningful communities — to finding real ways to do so through real-world examples and being able to work together to build one myself. The tours were absolutely amazing, and I was really treated like an equal and ended up making things I did not know were possible. This program will always be missed and was one of the best opportunities granted to me.
- Jacob (Summer Studio 2026)
I loved being able to wander through the streets of Charleston and sketch whatever I stumbled upon: a pineapple fountain, a Charleston single house, a terminating vista. It's a beautiful city, full of history and culture, and it's important to cherish it, learn from it, and use those lessons in future projects.
- Leah (Summer Studio 2026)
It was also incredible how fast you can form quality friendships just by being involved with something others share an interest in, and I cannot overstate how important it was that the program was just plain fun. Learning was a blast, and the 2 weeks I spent doing it was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had so far!
- Len (Summer Studio 2025)
I left the program feeling more confident, connected, and energized to contribute to community-centered solutions.
- Kimberly (Summer Studio 2026)
Getting to meet with people who are in the industry helped me learn so much about how it really works — different from an academic point of view.
- Anonymous (Summer Studio 2026)
Read Our Founding Letter
The great news is that a revival of city-making spirit and knowledge is happening right now across the world. We’re planting our flag alongside those other brave pioneers who believe there’s a better way.
This summer school is being organized in collaboration with INTBAU USA.
Want to attend the summer school, but the location or dates aren't convenient for you? Feel free to check out other similar summer schools hosted in collaboration with other INTBAU chapters here.
