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Discovering Design DNA

Hand made architecture on the ground
  1. Academics
  2. SUMMER@AUC
  3. Summer@AUC Bootcamps
  4. Discovering Design DNA

Liberal Arts Education

While design is often taught in silos, architecture in one room, fashion in another, Design DNA Discovery breaks these walls. It is an intensive five-day studio experience that gives an insight into the design discipline with applications in various fields.

Led by a professional architect, this bootcamp deconstructs the world around us to reveal the fundamental "DNA" of the design process. Through 30 hours of hands-on design experimentation, students will walk through the different phases of the design process, including briefing, ideation and prototyping. Participants will master architectural logic, explore anthropometry and build 3D models. They shall explore the shared principles of structure, proportion and utility that exist across all design scales while experimenting on different group and individual projects.

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Learning Outcomes

  • Explore personal preferences for design and creativity
  • Understand and apply the various stages of both the design process and design thinking on multiple scales
  • Learn about design-related concepts such as scale, anthropometry, aesthetics and utility
  • Master idea generation techniques following de Bono’s lateral thinking techniques
  • Experiment with prototyping and model making on projects of different scales

 

Duration and Location

  • July 26-30, 2026
  • Sessions will run daily from 9 am to 3 pm
  • AUC New Cairo campus
  • Fridays and Saturdays off
  • Official Holidays are compensated for with extra hours

 

Fees

  • EGP 4,400 (price including materials needed)
  • The following discounts are offered:
    • 10% discount for siblings
    • 10% discount for AUC faculty and staff
    • 15% discount for AUC alumni

 

Who Can Apply?

Students aged 15-18 years

 

Certification

All the boot camp participants will receive a certificate of participation from The American University in Cairo.

 

Transportation 

The AUC Bus Service is available for an extra fee. Details on the schedule will be shared before the program's start date.

 

Accommodation 

Accommodation is offered at the University Residences if needed. 

 

About the Instructor

Doha M. Essa

Doha M. Eissa holds a PhD in architecture and urban design. She studied design at several universities in Egypt, Italy, the UK and Germany. With over 20 years of experience as an architecture practitioner and lecturer, Eissa has witnessed firsthand the impact of design education on her students' creativity and problem-solving abilities, as well as the development of their fine motor and visual skills.

Driven by her passion and strong belief in the role of education, she has been committed to extending these benefits to younger generations. In 2013, she developed a simplified curriculum for children and teenagers, introducing the fundamentals of design thinking and creativity. This curriculum has since been delivered in various venues across Cairo and Dubai.

 

Refund Policy

A 100% refund of the program fees will be granted if the request is submitted at least two weeks before the course start date, or if the request is due to one of the following reasons:

  • Course cancellation
  • Medical withdrawal
  • Visa denial

A 75% refund will be granted if the request is submitted within the last two weeks before the course start date.

No refund will be issued if the request is submitted after the end of the last working day (4 pm) and before classes begin, including the weekend prior to the course start date, or after the course has begun.