Hampshire College

What is the Center for Design?

The Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for Design offers a unique laboratory for the exploration of design and fabrication. This facility is open to all Hampshire College students, and promotes a shop equipped for work with metal and plastics and a design lab for manual and computer design.

Students may use the facility for both academic and personal projects. There are no prerequisites to use the facility and all skill levels are welcome.
 
Using the Center for Design

Gaining access to the center for design can be as simple as dropping in or setting up an appointment with the facility staff. The facility is supervised by two full-time staff members and is open six days a week, including three evenings. Whether you have a specific project in mind, or would like to simply learn how to use some equipment, we are available to help. We will work with you on design issues, teach you how to work safely in the shop, give instruction on the equipment you need to use, and provide on-going assistance and supervision. You are also welcome to attend an information session, training, or workshop to help you become familiar with the facility and what you can do here. There are a wide range of faculty and staff involved in the center for design.

Training is a great way for students to familiarize themselves with our facility. Training covers the use of shop equipment, and is conducted in the first half of each semester and during January Term. A full schedule of training, workshops, and courses is published at the beginning of each semester and for January Term.

The design lab is available to all students for design-related work and is open any time that the facility is open. It contains computer workstations running a number of 2D and 3D drawing and modeling programs, as well as manual drafting equipment.
 
MAJOR FACILITY CAPABILITIES

Computer Aided Design (CAD)
Machining
Welding
Sewing and industrial sewing
Sheet metal work
Electronics
Plastic thermoforming
Wrought iron work
Blacksmithing
Glass work
General mechanics
Plasma cutting

The Studio Arts Building is located in the Longsworth Arts Village and provides a large sculpture studio, two large painting /drawing studios, individual studio space, and critique rooms for Hampshire's visual artists. The sculpture studio is equipped for work with wood, plaster, and clay, as well as sculptural computer aided design work.
 
Design Conspiracy

The design conspiracy is an informal weekly gathering for those with interests in design. Anyone is welcome to attend, as frequently or sporadically, as s/he wishes. The primary goal of the gathering is to provide a forum where students can receive input, feedback, and support for a design idea or project from other students and Lemelson Center for Design staff. The forum also serves as a casual networking venue where students can exchange information and learn about what is going on in the design world at Hampshire.

Community Service

Students are encouraged to consider fulfilling their Hampshire community service requirement while learning to work with their hands at the center for design. By donating their time to work on a project for the shop, the campus, or the larger community, they can fulfill their academic requirement, learn about design and fabrication techniques, have fun, and provide something tangible for the community.