A recent feature article in the New Haven Independent highlighted the transformative experience of students who took part in Southern Connecticut State University’s 2025 Summer Studio—an immersive, five-week graphic design course for rising high school juniors and seniors.
Founded by Connecticut designer DJ Haddad in partnership with AIGA Connecticut, Summer Studio equips high school students with hands-on experience in Adobe Creative Suite, weekly exposure to new design challenges, and access to college-level instruction—all at no cost to participants.
“This was a really good group,” said Haddad. “Over the past five years of Summer Studios, there have always been standouts. This year, the whole group was the standout.”
Last year, 2024, was the first year that Summer Studio was held on Southern’s campus.
Melanie Uribe, co-founder, director of Summer Studio, and assistant professor of art and design at Southern, echoed the program’s impact: “Make sure you praise yourself,” she told students at the final showcase. “The Summer Studio was a place to gain skills and create a portfolio, but it was also a small universe where students could practice being designers.”
Click here to read the full article in the New Haven Independent
